Minister announces Deepcut review
An independent review into the deaths of four soldiers at Deepcut army barracks has been announced by Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram.
The investigation will be led by human rights lawyer Nicholas Blake QC, who works at Matrix Chambers, where Cherie Blair is based.
Its brief is “urgently to review the circumstances” surround the deaths of Geoff Gray, 17, Cheryl James, 17, James Collinson, 17, and Sean Benton, 20, at Princess Royal Barracks between 1995 and 2002.
All four cadets died of gunshot wounds and the families have refused to believe the verdicts of suicide.
“I expect that this review will be thorough and rigorous. It is the right way to proceed. Mr Blake will have the full cooperation of the MoD and the army,” said Mr Ingram.
“I would like to stress that the review is independent from the Government and that Mr Blake’s report will be published in full.”
He accepted that the families of the dead soldiers had called for a public enquiry but stressed that the review would “focus on the issue at the heart of public concern”.
With Mr Blake due to publish his report early next year, the minister added that the review would be much faster than a public inquiry.
Geoff Gray, whose son was found dead at Deepcut in 1991 with two bullet wounds to the head, welcomed today’s announcement.
“It doesn’t go the full mile and give a public inquiry but it is a good day for us,” he said.
“If you’ve got serving soldiers being interviewed in private that’s got to be a good thing and they’ll not be afraid of giving evidence.”
Today’s review came after more than 150 allegations of bullying, violence and sexual abuse at the barracks were revealed in the annex of a report into the deaths by Surrey Police.
Commenting on the announcement, Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch said that the review was welcome – but only as far as its goes.
Mr Keetch said: “Mr Blake must be allowed to look at the background of abuse that was apparent at Deepcut beyond these four individual cases.
“He must also answer the central question that many in Parliament and in Britain want answering: should there be a full, independent public inquiry?
“If he fails to answer this question his review will have little value.”
