Families of Chinook crash victims press on with legal action against MoD
RAF Chinook ZD576 was carrying 25 British intelligence personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness when it crashed in foggy weather on June 2 1994 on the Mull of Kintyre.
All 25 passengers – made up of personnel from MI5, the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the British Army – were killed, along with the helicopter's four crew members.
The families launched legal action in a 'letter before action' to the UK Government sent earlier this month on the 31st anniversary of the crash.
They said they will now pursue a judicial review after the MoD responded and rejected their demands for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash, and for access to files which have been sealed for 100 years.
Nicola Rawcliffe, whose brother Major Christopher Dockerty was killed in the crash aged 33, said: 'I am furious and disgusted with the MoD's decision to summarily dismiss our claim.
'The MoD is continuing to deceive our families and disrespect our loved ones' memories by claiming that the many previous inquiries investigated all the facts, but we now know the aircraft was not airworthy. They didn't know half of what we know now.
'The Government may have sealed the files for 100 years, but we, the families of those who died, are firmly united, strong and defiant, and we will get to the truth, no matter what it takes.'
Following the crash, the Chinook's pilots, Flight Lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper, were accused of gross negligence, but this verdict was overturned by the UK government 17 years later following a campaign by the families.
A subsequent review by Lord Philip set out 'numerous concerns' raised by those who worked on the Chinooks, with the MoD's testing centre at Boscombe Down in Wiltshire declaring the Chinook Mk2 helicopters 'unairworthy' prior to the crash.
The MoD said the crash was a 'tragic accident' and while its sympathies remain with the families and friends of the victims, there have been several investigations and inquiries and it believes it is unlikely another would reach any new conclusions.
Andy Tobias, who was eight when his father Lieutenant Colonel John Tobias, 41, was killed, said: 'My childhood was stolen from me because someone decided my dad and his colleagues should be put on a helicopter that was not fit for purpose.
'My mum, my brother, I and all the families deserve the truth and the MoD must repay the honour and integrity that those on board had shown in their years of service to their country. That's why we formed the Chinook Justice Campaign and we will not rest until we get the truth. If that takes a judge to rule in court, then so be it.'
The families, who have coalesced into the Chinook Justice Campaign, said failing to order a public inquiry is a breach of the UK Government's human rights obligations.
Solicitor Mark Stephens, from law firm Howard Kennedy, said: 'This decision by the MoD to dismiss our claim is an unforgivable betrayal of service people who gave their lives for their country and an undisguised slap in the face for their long-suffering and bereaved families.
'So much for the Government's so-called commitment to duty of candour.
'We will now seek a judicial review into the Ministry of Defence's decision to deny the families truth, transparency and justice.'
An MoD spokesperson said: 'The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died.
'We understand that the lack of certainty about the cause of the crash has added to the distress of the families.
'We provided a detailed and considered response to the pre-action protocol letter stating the reasons why we cannot accept the demand for establishing a new public inquiry.
'It's unlikely that a public inquiry would identify any new evidence or reach new conclusions on the basis of existing evidence.
'The accident has already been the subject of six inquiries and investigations, including an independent judge-led review.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Telegraph
8 hours ago
- Telegraph
‘British women and girls are paying the price for Labour's lax immigration laws'
Most European countries use detention centres but Britain puts undocumented men in accommodation while British families struggle under taxes
Scottish Sun
9 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
International man hunt launched to find Brit fugitive who ‘mowed down two holidaymakers before fleeing scene' in Magaluf
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN international arrest warrant has been issued for a British man accused of mowing down two tourists in a horror Magaluf hit-and-run before vanishing. Jack Benjamin Hulme, 31, was arrested after the March 2023 smash but freed on bail by a Spanish judge just 36 hours later. 5 An international arrest warrant is out for Jack Benjamin Hulme, accused of a Magaluf hit-and-run that injured two tourists Credit: Solarpix 5 Hulme allegedly mowed down a Polish woman and a Brit, who survived without serious injury Credit: Solarpix 5 Horror footage shows the couple being hurled to the ground by a car Credit: Solarpix Court officials now say he is on the run after failing to respond to repeated attempts to contact him. The fugitive faces trial on five offences – including reckless driving and two counts of wounding – with prosecutors demanding a four-year prison sentence if convicted. His ongoing case has been suspended until he is tracked down and extradited. Chilling video of the incident shows a 20-year-old Polish woman lying unconscious on her back with her shirt open after being hurled to the ground by the car. Read more world news HOLS HORROR Drugged, stalked & ambushed - dark crime wave terrorising Brits in hols hotspot A 19-year-old Brit was also knocked flying as Hulme allegedly mounted the pavement outside a fast-food joint. Three other people standing just feet away only escaped by sprinting out of the car's path as it veered towards them. Police said the victims had no involvement in the row that preceded the hit-and-run and were simply 'in the wrong place at the wrong time.' Miraculously, both survived without serious injury. It is understood Hulme had stormed off following a bust-up with another Brit after their partners reportedly clashed. Moments later, he allegedly ploughed into the innocent pair in his hire car before speeding away. Shocking moment mob beats up Brit tourist after he 'ploughs into woman while pulling wheelie on motorbike' in Thailand He was arrested at nearby Son Matias beach following a police manhunt. During his first court appearance, he reportedly claimed he hadn't meant to run anyone over and blamed his poor vision on someone 'spraying him in the eyes with an aerosol.' As part of his bail, Hulme was ordered to register his contact details with court officials and notify them of any move. But after failing to comply, a judge declared him in contempt and issued an international arrest warrant. A Spanish police spokesman confirmed at the time: 'A British man who was on holiday in Majorca has been arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide following an early-hours hit-and-run incident in Magaluf. 'He was held at nearby Son Matias beach after a police search for him and his vehicle. 'The incident was preceded by some sort of argument that is still under investigation. 'One of the people hurt was a Polish woman and the other a British man. Both were also on holiday in the area.' The case echoes a string of violent incidents involving Brits in Magaluf. In 2019, Brit Max Barnes, 25, also went AWOL after being bailed for a bottle attack on a nightclub bouncer. He was eventually tracked down and handed an 18-month suspended sentence after paying his victim £35,000. And in 2018, Manchester woman Kemi Coaker, then 30, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after running over her ex's new girlfriend in a hate-fuelled rage. She later admitted wounding with a dangerous weapon and was given a two-year suspended jail term plus a restraining order. 5 He was bailed but failed to contact court officials, leading to the arrest warrant Credit: Solarpix
Rhyl Journal
12 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Pro-Palestine protesters chant ‘RAF shame on you' at air base demonstration
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered along the barbed wire fence of RAF High Wycombe on Saturday afternoon at the protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Protesters held banners that said 'end British military collaboration with Israel' and '61,000+ killed, 600 RAF spy flights'. There were chants of 'RAF you work for us, Israel is not your boss', 'RAF shame, shame – killing children in your name' and 'RAF blood on your hands'. A large Palestine flag was erected in front of a replica Second World War Hurricane fighter plane outside the entrance to the air base, with organisers bussing in protesters from High Wycombe railway station. The demonstrators assembled outside the air base held a large red banner as they chanted 'we are the red line, UK for Palestine', with protesters banging pots and drumming throughout the protest. Thames Valley Police said no arrests were made at the protest. Speaking at the demonstration, Adnan Hmidan, chairman of the Palestinian Forum in Britain, said: 'The RAF is not just a bystander, it is a partner in collective punishment. 'It is a partner in ethnic cleansing and the most important thing is it is a partner in the genocide against the people in Gaza. 'Every war plane that reaches Israel with British parts or British support makes this country complicit in the killing of children.' Addressing the crowds, activist Andrew Feinstein said: 'For the last 22 months, there are more RAF spy planes flying over Gaza than there have been Israeli Air Force spy planes. 'That information then gets relayed to the IDF to inform what they call their targeting decisions, but we know that their targeting is totally indiscriminate. 'So, the people who sit in these buildings are the ones guiding the IDF around Gaza. That is active participation in a genocide. 'The people sitting in these buildings should sit for the rest of their lives in The Hague in prison for their participation in genocide.' The Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: 'On 16th August, as part of our summer of action for Gaza, we will be surrounding RAF High Wycombe, drawing on the legacy of protest at air bases like Greenham Common, and showing the strength of the public demand for an arms embargo.' A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said: 'We are aware of a protest being planned to take place in High Wycombe today. 'We will work with the organisers, partners and the public to facilitate peaceful protest, balancing the rights of all and to keep our communities safe.' RAF High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire houses Headquarters Air Command and was originally designed to house RAF Bomber Command in the late 1930s. The station is also the headquarters of the European Air Group and the UK Space Command. Last weekend in central London, 15,000 people demonstrated peacefully in support of the Palestinian cause with only one arrest, the Metropolitan Police said, adding that 522 were arrested 'for an illegal show of support for Palestine Action on the same day'. The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that a further 60 people will be prosecuted for 'showing support for the proscribed terrorist group Palestine Action'. The force said this follows the arrest of more than 700 people since the group was banned on July 5, including 522 in central London last Saturday. More prosecutions are expected in the coming weeks and arrangements have been put in place 'that will enable us to investigate and prosecute significant numbers each week if necessary', the Met said. Last week, the Met confirmed the first three charges in England and Wales for offences against section 13 of the Terrorism Act relating to Palestine Action. Palestine Action was proscribed by the UK Government in July, with the ban meaning that membership of, or support for, the group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000.
