Nick Harvey, Armed Forces Minister has made an astonishing U-turn on a proposed Inquiry into the Deepcut barracks deaths which emerged between 1995 and 2002, something i have been increasingly interested in over the last couple of years.Harvey, whilst in opposition had repeatedly called for an inquiry into the deaths after the shambolic report of Sir Nicholas Blake that lacked the thorough investigation promised when somebody dies in the care of the state, even gaining backing from Nick Clegg who had promised to investigate if Lib-dem gained power (coalition or no coalition) but has now said ''After coming into the office of Armed Forces Minister it is clear that officials have looked into this issue in depth, given the extensive investigations that have already taken place there is no public or service interest in pursuing a public enquiry.''
Me, Amongst others including many of those families who lost son's and daughter's at deepcut find this simply disgusting. After promising so much whilst in opposition, within days of getting into power, they dump the plan in the bin, hoping that what they clearly view as such a small issue will simply be swept under the carpet.
Private Eye recently wrote a remarkable expose of new evidence that has come to light in the Deepcut case where 4 soldiers lost their lives, and only one was deemed to be suicide. The other 3 cases were left with an open verdict. The article made for one of the best, but most disturbing articles i have read in recent times. The evidence pointing away from suicide, and uncovering internal efforts to cover the death's up is simply remarkable, and an inquiry in my opinion should be undertaken immediately.
The Eye focusing on the case of female soldier Cheryl James reported evidence provided by statement from the attending camp Doctor and medical officer, Dr Alexandra McClenahan who told surrey police that several things struck her about the death of Cheryl James.
1. It was extremely uncommon for women to commit suicide by shooting, and for someone said to be very depressed and anxious, enough to kill themselves, the shot seemed to be to accurately positioned.
Private Eye recently wrote a remarkable expose of new evidence that has come to light in the Deepcut case where 4 soldiers lost their lives, and only one was deemed to be suicide. The other 3 cases were left with an open verdict. The article made for one of the best, but most disturbing articles i have read in recent times. The evidence pointing away from suicide, and uncovering internal efforts to cover the death's up is simply remarkable, and an inquiry in my opinion should be undertaken immediately.
The Eye focusing on the case of female soldier Cheryl James reported evidence provided by statement from the attending camp Doctor and medical officer, Dr Alexandra McClenahan who told surrey police that several things struck her about the death of Cheryl James.
1. It was extremely uncommon for women to commit suicide by shooting, and for someone said to be very depressed and anxious, enough to kill themselves, the shot seemed to be to accurately positioned.
2. The positioning of the body, the arms especially for someone who had shot themselves appeared extremely strange, and
3. The rifle was placed far to neatly beside the body, she also added that the practice nurse who also attended the scene, shared the same opinion.
You may ask why she hadn't mentioned something sooner, well, she did, he told police and commanding officers but said she came under pressure to suggest that Cheryl must have committed suicide.
The police files were kept secret from the families, and showed remarkable missing key features. Cheryl's clothes had been burnt, there were no tests of her hands or forehead for gunshot residue and most disturbing of all, no fingerprints were taken from the rifle. Deliberate, or otherwise extremely embarrassing. Dr Alexandra McClenahan was excluded from attending the post mortem and the internal inquiry.
You may ask why she hadn't mentioned something sooner, well, she did, he told police and commanding officers but said she came under pressure to suggest that Cheryl must have committed suicide.
The police files were kept secret from the families, and showed remarkable missing key features. Cheryl's clothes had been burnt, there were no tests of her hands or forehead for gunshot residue and most disturbing of all, no fingerprints were taken from the rifle. Deliberate, or otherwise extremely embarrassing. Dr Alexandra McClenahan was excluded from attending the post mortem and the internal inquiry.
Point number 4. By the way is this. Ex police ballistics expert Frank Swann was called in by the family who concluded that murder was the more likely scenario arguing that the black deposits seen in pictures were consistent with her trying to force the weapon away from her face. A POLICE BALLISTICS EXPERT.
Without doubt this is more than enough evidence to launch any inquiry. Immediately. this should be out in the wider press, getting the publicity it deserves.
And as for Nick Harvey, and the Lib-dem promise, what a disgrace! Armed Forces Minister? You have let down the servicemen and women of this country, prevented their families from finding the truth and closure, and the public for denying a thorough investigation into what has clearly been an extreme mishandling of evidence, and maybe even a miscarriage of justice.
And as for Nick Harvey, and the Lib-dem promise, what a disgrace! Armed Forces Minister? You have let down the servicemen and women of this country, prevented their families from finding the truth and closure, and the public for denying a thorough investigation into what has clearly been an extreme mishandling of evidence, and maybe even a miscarriage of justice.
A remarkable decision. Why has he taken it? If he believes that the information already available is sufficient then he must explain why it is. Not just bin the report.
ReplyDeletePrivate eye have been a little desperate with some of their reasons for another enquiry but the missing ballistics, clothing, the numbers of deaths and the lack of proper supervision all require an explanation.
As a strategy I don't know why he doesn't just honour the pledge. Lib Dems in particular are beginning to look very much a party that never dreamed it would get near power, and just shouted populist ideas from the sidelines.
I agree Bill, Strategically it is a disaster to call for the inquiry for so long only to turn their noses up at the idea when they get into the position to do so.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that The Eye is not always the best judgement of character, and is not always reliable beyond opinion, but in the case of Deepcut i have to say that the arguement for an inquiry is pretty compelling.
This has been done to death already and anyone who takes the trouble to read the findings of The Deepcut Report published about two years ago will be satisfied with the findings. There is no great conspiracy here, just an unfortunate series of unconnected events over a period of 4 years or so and involving a holding unit of the rather humdrum and unglamourous Royal Logisitics Corps, aka "The Blanket Stackers", it wasn't the French Foreign Legion at Sidi bel Abbes c.1953 or the Waffen SS or a punishment battalion of the Red Army in 1944. All this talk of conspiracies is utter horse-sh*t, for a start, any conspiracy would have had to involve hundreds of individuals from the Army,the local Police, the force who reviewed the initial Police enquiry, the Forensic Science Service and the Coroners office. Is that even remotely plausible? As for the so-called "ballistics expert" hired by the families, Mr. Frank Swann, he was shown to be a complete charlatan and little better than a fantasist. He had no qualifications whatsoever and should have been prosecuted, in my opinion,for the mental anguish he inflicted upon the families of the deceased by his ridiculous and baseless "conclusions". I'm not surprised they've dropped any plans for a further enquiry, any sensible person reading the report would come to the same conclusion. There was an interesting discussion on the Army Rumour Service (ARRSE) website a few years ago which disected this whole thing in some detail, well worth a read if you have time. By the way, I spent 22 years in the Army and 11 in the Police, take it from me, any talk of a conspiracy or cover-up is absolute bilge.
ReplyDelete15 June 2010 00:05
This is as much about a government minister who has failed to fulfill a promise as it is about any conspiracy, which I rarely buy into as they are almost certainly flawed. But deliberate or a not (and this is for an inquiry to judge) there is a distinct lack of forensic investigation. I'm not on any side heren but I do think an inquiry is needed and if the outcome was found to be suicide I would be satisfied with the result knowing that a full forensic inquiry had been made. My issue lies with Nick Harveys U-turn and lack of respect he has shown for something so important to so many people on a promise he made.
ReplyDeleteBut there WAS an Enquiry and it's findings were published in The Deepcut Report.In fact this is the self-same Blake report which you describe as "shambolic".
ReplyDeleteHave you actually read it? I have, and I wouldn't describe it as shambolic or anything like it. In fact, as an ex-soldier and serving police officer, I found it entirely plausible and convincing. I suspect that Mr.Herbert, having made series of ill-considered and no doubt popular, statements about this while in Opposition, has now taken the trouble to properly inform himself of the facts and, with some degree of embarassment I suspect, has concluded that in fact, there is nothing more to be said in the matter and it would be better to move on. I agree with him.
Thank you for your Comments. Yes i have read the report, in fact i have a permanent copy in my files. And although the report does look into what recomendations can be made, it is also the same report that concludes - ''the review is aware of some unresolved issues concerning the methodology or mindset of surrey police investigations. The precise conductions of the civilian police is not within the constitutional remit of the state''
ReplyDeleteThis is an internal enquiry. With the new evidence that has come to light, and with the great disattisfaction that the blake report admits it leaves the families of those dead, who were refused a public enquiry, and disclosure of surrey police records, a PUBLIC enquiry surely should be sought.
I agree there should be a Deepcut enquiry. But with Saville reporting right now, perhaps another enquiry would play into the hands of sinister groups whose agenda includes using whatever rods they can to beat the Armed Forces with (for instance refusing to send them the necessary body armour and helicopters...)
ReplyDelete