Latest news with #MullOfKintyre
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Telegraph
Chinook crash families ‘disgusted' after MoD refuses public inquiry
Relatives of those killed in a Chinook helicopter crash said they were 'furious and disgusted' after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) refused their request for a judge-led public inquiry. 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 in the Mull of Kintyre on June 2 1994. 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 would now pursue a judicial review after the MoD rejected their demands for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash, and for access to files that 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, Flt Lt Richard Cook and Flt Lt 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' before 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 Lt Col 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 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.' 'Tragic accident' An MoD spokesman 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.' It is understood the sealed documents contain personal information relating to third party individuals and the early release of this information would breach those individuals' data protection rights.
Sky News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News
Son of 1994 Chinook helicopter crash victim 'furious' as documents 'sealed for 100 years'
The son of a victim of the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash has called for "truth and transparency" after the Ministry of Defence dismissed demands for a judge-led public inquiry. Families of the 29 people who died in the disaster have vowed to press on with seeking a judicial review in the High Court over the MoD's decision. RAF Chinook ZD576 crashed on the Mull of Kintyre en-route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George in Scotland, killing all those on board, including 25 British intelligence personnel and four crew. A finding of gross negligence against the Chinook's pilots, Flight Lieutenants Richard Cook and Jonathan Tapper, was overturned by the UK government 17 years later following a campaign by the families. The families launched legal action in a "letter before action" to the UK government, sent on 2 June - the 31st anniversary of the crash. They said they will now pursue a judicial review after the MoD rejected their demands for a public inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Andy Tobias, who was eight when his father Lt Col John Tobias died in the crash, told Sky News he and other relatives of the victims were "absolutely furious" to learn files have been sealed for 100 years. "All it's done is create a huge vacuum of suspicion regarding what's in those documents, and what does it mean about our fathers and our brothers who died in that crash," he said. "It feels very deceitful, it feels very unfair, and you don't lock stuff away unless there's something you really don't want people to know." Mr Tobias said he wants to know why his father boarded an aircraft that was not airworthy, adding: "All we're after is truth and transparency about the circumstances of that crash." He added: "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. "The MoD had a duty of care to those on board, and they failed that catastrophically by making them fly in an unairworthy aircraft with well known and documented issues and by doing so they stole their right to life. "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." The families, who have formed the Chinook Justice Campaign, claim failing to order a public inquiry is a breach of the government's human rights obligations. Nicola Rawcliffe, whose brother Major Christopher Dockerty was killed in the crash, said she was "furious and disgusted" with the MoD's decision. "The MoD is continuing to deceive our families and disrespect our loved one's memories by claiming that the many previous inquiries investigated all the facts, but we now know the aircraft was not airworthy." She added: "My brother was only 33 years old. He gave his life in service of his country and all we have had in return is dishonesty, deception and disdain from the Ministry of Defence." An MoD spokesperson said the Mull of Kintyre crash was "a tragic accident" and "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," the spokesperson added. "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."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Families of Chinook crash victims press on with legal action against MoD
The families of those killed in the 1994 Chinook helicopter crash have said they will press on with seeking a judicial review after the Ministry of Defence (MoD) dismissed their demands for a judge-led public inquiry. 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.' It is understood the sealed documents contain personal information relating to third party individuals and the early release of this information would breach those individuals' data protection rights.
The Independent
21-06-2025
- The Independent
Simon Calder's top 11 UK beaches to head to for summer sun
After months of rain and miserable weather, it's finally here: the Great British heatwave. With reports that temperatures could reach as high as 33C, it's all systems go to make the most of the sun, and what better way to do that than by visiting one of the many beaches we Brits have been blessed with? With nearly 8,000 miles of coastline (some estimates even say 11,000), there are many places to enjoy the heat in peace and quiet – so no need to squeeze yourself into a sun lounger on Brighton beach... From picturesque shores along the Scottish coast to vibrant spots stretching from Durham to Scilly, these are some of best areas to pay a visit. So don that sun hat, fire up the disposable BBQ and slap on that sun screen: it's time to hit the beach. To be alone and at one with the elements, aim for the beach at Luskentyre on the Isle of Harris. The outer shore of the Outer Hebrides is the raw edge of Britain, where the soundtrack rumbles with the weary roar of an ocean at the end of a 3,000-mile journey. You'll find turquoise water of implausible clarity and ice-white sand, sculpted into unworldly shapes by the west wind. Ballycastle, County Antrim This is a broad beach with a view. The hills of County Antrim subside into the sea, and beyond the tumbling cliffs, through the mist, stands the Mull of Kintyre, that bulky punctuation at the end of Scotland's Argyll Peninsula. And at the end of the day, if you wish, you can sail across to Campbeltown on the 4.30pm ferry – watching Northern Ireland retreat in your wake. St Agnes, Scilly I count this fickle stretch of sand as the southernmost in Britain – and given the difficulty in reaching this corner of the kingdom, you can expect to enjoy the place in relative solitude. If you don't have your own yacht, take a boat from Penzance or a plane from one of several southwest airports to St Mary's – then a local boat across to St Agnes. Paignton, Devon The morning sun brings Torbay to life, with Paignton shining brightest. A traditional resort with the benefit of an interesting hinterland: fishing-village Brixham to the south, post-Fawlty Torquay to the north, and the gorgeous River Dart just southwest. Ryde, Isle of Wight Two retro transport options earn the otherwise unremarkable beach at Ryde its place: Britain's last surviving hovercraft roars off to Southsea several times an hour, while an ancient former Tube train rattles down the pier, the opposite end of the railway spectrum from the Trans-Siberian. Rhossili, Gower Peninsula The Welsh mainland has a ridiculous number of excellent beaches, but this is my favourite: the sweep of sand that bookends the Gower Peninsula, with a wild, western aspect that makes it ideal at the end of a warm summer afternoon. Aldeburgh Bay, Suffolk For sheer diversity, head to England's easternmost county. On the 'Suffolk Heritage Coast' between Aldeburgh and Southwold, you find rich flora and birdlife; the Sizewell B nuclear plant; the artists' colony of Walberswick; Alain de Botton's 'balancing barn', a short way inland; and miles and miles of beaches that face the dawn. Blackpool, Lancashire For many of us, the beach is just an excuse for a collection of indulgences – and Blackpool vies with Brighton for the crown of Britain's most hedonistic resort. The Lancashire town wins thanks to having proper sand, not shingle, as well as the Tower and the Pleasure Beach. Seaham, County Durham Lord Byron married Annabella Milbanke at Seaham Hall two centuries ago, and the cliff-top residence is now an elegant spa hotel. In the intervening years, Seaham was the heart of the coal industry, with shafts extending deep beneath the North Sea and a hinterland desecrated by development. Now, nature is reclaiming the shore. Knoydart, Scotland Want a sweep of shoreline to yourself? Find your way on foot or by sea to the Knoydart Peninsula, Britain's last great wilderness. Western Scotland has more appealing sands (notably in the Outer Hebrides), but while Knoydart is part of the mainland, it offers even more isolation. Tynemouth The name describes the location: where the river through Newcastle reaches the North Sea. The setting is spectacular, with a rugged, crumbling castle marking the end of a handsome town with great places to eat. None is more rewarding than Riley's Fish Shack, down on the sand with deckchair dining. The beach curves gracefully north, inviting a swim regardless of the chilly North Sea.
BBC News
18-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash children 'demand answers' from MoD
Children of those killed in an RAF Chinook helicopter crash in 1994 on the Mull of Kintyre have said they are "determined to get answers" from the Ministry of Defence about how their parents Major Gary Sparks, whose family is based in Hampshire, was among 29 people killed in the crash. His daughter Lucy Sparks, 33, said: "We need to get to the bottom of what happened."Campaigners want a public inquiry and documents sealed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for 100 years to be MoD 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." Lucy Sparks was two years old when her father, who was serving with the the Royal Artillery, died in the crash. "I have no first hand memories of him," she said."Family photos are a treasure, through them and anecdotes from my older sister and mother I have been able to build up a picture of my dad." "Missing out on your dad being there for all those events in childhood and into adulthood is really hard, the grief will never go away." The crash on 2 June 1994 remains one of the RAF's worst peacetime losses of life. The helicopter was carrying leading security personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness, pilots accused of negligence over the disaster were exonerated 17 years year a BBC documentary highlighted safety concerns about the aircraft and revealed that documents relating to the crash would not be released until 2094. The solicitor representing the Chinook Justice Campaign, Mark Stephens, claimed there was enough evidence to convince the families that there was "a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards in order to protect the passengers and crew".He added: "That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the government's failure to hold a public inquiry - which the families have sought for more than a year."Lucy's sister, Esme Sparks, who was seven at the time of the crash, said: "We are furious that the government and the MoD is [sic] refusing to listen or to meet us." Speaking from her home in Preston Candover, near Basingstoke, Maj Sparks widow, Sue Angus, said: "I want openness and accountability. I want to know exactly what happened that night and I want to know why."The MoD said the closed records held at the National Archives contained personal information relating to third party individuals and the early release of that information would breach their data protection said it "takes the safety of all personnel extremely seriously, to ensure that our equipment operates at the highest standards we put safety right at the heart of our procurement activities".A spokesperson added: ""We have received a pre-action protocol letter from the Chinook Justice Campaign and are considering our response. "Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further."
