Select Committee on Defence Written Evidence


Memorandum from Mrs Elaine Higgins

INTRODUCTION

  On behalf of Families of Soldiers who have lost their lives overseas during peacetime, I thank the Defence Select Committee for their time and ask that the Defence Select Committee look into the duty of care responsibilities to all army personnel and their families and the handling into all investigations when a peacetime death occurs overseas.

  At present, investigation of suspicious deaths outside the United Kingdom are investigated by the Special Investigations Branch and the Royal Military Police, and, where appropriate, in conjunction with the local civilian police force.

  I was recently asked to represent all overseas families, but I have not as yet been mandated by them to deal with their particular issues, so I will refer only to my own personal details which, if required, can be substantiated by documentation. I therefore submit issue appertaining to the death of my own son Trooper Aled Martin Jones.

TROOPER ALED MARTIN JONES KILLED IN BOSNIA, 18 JULY 1996

BACKGROUND

  My son had been a member of the First Queens Dragoon Guards for 18 months; by virtue of his acknowledged qualities he had been selected to serve as the Commanding Officer's driver. The unit had deployed on operations to Bosnia in June 1996.

  On 17 July 1996, Aled had been engaged in his routine duties and completed work for the day at 19:30 hrs. During the evening of the 17th, he was seen acting normally at the squadron bar within the camp. He consumed a quantity of alcohol and departed the bar shortly after midnight on 18 July; he was later seen using the facilities in the washroom where again his activities and manner had been described as normal. Aled proceeded to the guardroom, correctly dressed for duty where he signed out his personal issue 5.56 mm rifle citing a driving detail with the Commanding Officer as justification.

  At 00:58 hrs 18 July, members of the Queens Dragoon Guards Battle Group reported hearing a high velocity shot being discharged. Upon investigation, the first army personnel on the scene found Aled alone lying on a bed of the Transit Accommodation with a gun shot wound to his head and his personal rifle clutched to his chest.

  Aled was pronounced dead at 01:36hrs 18 July 1996.

HOW WAS HIS DEATH INVESTIGATED?

  Aled's death was investigated by the Special Investigation Branch along with the Royal Military Police, no civilian police were involved at any time.

  I totally believe that all investigations following Aled's death were not completed according to regulations, and, after much perseverance to try and find out the truth surrounding my son's death, I am now in possession of a vast amount of evidence, including the post mortem report, the board of inquiry report and the special investigation report. My concerns that I wish you to look into are as follows—

    —  It has become clear that a factor in Aled's case was poor control of the provision of alcohol. The "Two Can Rule" was not enforced. I have statements that Aled's was not the only case where this failure of procedure has occurred.

    —  The Board of Inquiry Report into Aled's death contains statements that seriously contradicted each other. A letter from the MoD has stated that it is common to have contradictions in Board of Inquiry Reports. It is my opinion that the contradictions in the statements leading up to the last hour of Aled's life are serious and should have been cleared up and not left outstanding.

    —  According to the Board of Enquiry Report, Aled left the bar area somewhere between 00.01 and 00.30 hrs on the morning of 18 July wearing a t-shirt, trousers, and boots. He was then seen in the guardroom from 00.30 to 00.35 hrs wearing full combats and beret. From 00.35 to 00.40 hrs, Corporal *** spoke with Aled in the washroom. Aled was then wearing his t-shirt, trousers and boots. At 00.45, ***, saw Aled walking from the guardroom in combats and beret. At 00.57 hrs, Aled was found with a head injury wearing his "issue combats". The Board of Inquiry Report cannot even give clear indication of the last hour of Aled's life.

    —  Previous to this, Aled's Commanding Officer Lt. Col. ***, spoke with Aled on camp at 18:30 hrs of 17 July, yet MT Driver *** saw Aled leave the camp for "a mail run" at 17.00 hrs and did not return until 19:30 hrs. Yet another example of Aled being in two places at the same time.

    —  When comparing the Examination Report of the weapon used in Aled's death, between another similar case, the reports are so alike that it appears to be standard issue statement.

  I find it hard to accept that a civil police inquiry, under British Law, would have allowed contradictions to remain unresolved. The more information that I receive, the more convinced I become that my son's death was not as the army would have me believe. In the Board of Inquiry Report, Lance Corporal *** stated that he assumed Aled collected his rifle when he was in the Guard Room, yet at the Coroner's Inquest, Lance Corporal *** stated that he actually handed the rifle to him. It is very difficult for us to sit back and accept all this.

THE RIGHTS OF BEREAVED FAMILIES

  When a death occurs overseas by what means is the protection of rights to an independent, prompt and effective investigation?

  Where do the family complain when they feel something untoward has taken place?

  Why is the law different from British law when investigating any death within the armed forces overseas?

  All forces personnel, while serving overseas are still classed as British citizens on British soil, so why the difference in laws?

  Civilian police investigate any death that occurs in Britain yet if a death occurs overseas it is very rarely investigated by civilian police, most deaths are only investigated by SIB/RMP.

  How do families know that a full and thorough investigation has taken place, as there seems to be a rush to judgement, the presumption that the death was self-inflicted/suicide.

  There appears to be insufficient gathering of forensic evidence or interviewing of parties.

  Why are families not involved in any of the investigations?

BILLETING ARRANGEMENTS

  From previous Board of Inquiry Reports, it was recommended that billeting arrangement would maintain the group together, yet Aled was billeted with the Canadian armed forces.

April 2004





 
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