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The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Families of Chinook crash victims demand full release of sealed files
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 incident remains one of the RAF's worst peacetime losses of life. Nearly 31 years on from the crash, many of the bereaved families have written an open letter to the Government renewing calls for a public inquiry into the incident. They have also called for the full release of documents that have been locked away until 2094 by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), something revealed in a BBC documentary last year. Read More NEIL MACKAY'S BIG READ: Could new mobile phone link finally solve mystery of the Chinook tragedy? Letters: Why are they running scared of a full investigation into the Chinook tragedy? Andy Tobias, who was eight when his father Lt Col John Tobias, 41, was killed, said the 'secrecy' raises questions about what really happened. 'I lost my father, and part of my childhood, because he was put on board a helicopter that had been deemed unairworthy and should never have taken off,' he said, speaking publicly about the incident for the first time. 'In my view, it's nothing short of corporate manslaughter. 'I have tried for many years to put this crash, and my family's unnecessary loss, behind me – but learning that the MoD has sealed away the archive until after all of us will be long gone seriously raises my concerns about what really happened and who knew what. 'Why the secrecy? Why did my father and 28 others die? We want answers.' 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. Esme Sparks, who was just seven when her father Major Gary Sparks lost his life, said it had been a 'shock' to learn about the existence of the documents. 'Why on earth would they be sealed for so long if there was not something being hidden? Who or what is being protected?,' she said, also speaking publicly for the first time. 'My whole family wants answers and action because my daddy was denied his right to life – put in danger by the MoD on an aircraft deemed not airworthy. 'We are furious that the Government and the MoD is refusing to listen or to meet us. 'Our request for a meeting with the defence minister was summarily dismissed with platitudes. What happened to their duty of candour promises?' The open letter states the Chinook Justice Campaign – which includes most of the bereaved families – formally requested a public inquiry on October 9 2024, but that this was rejected by the minister for veterans and people Alistair Carns on December 17. It adds that the minister has not yet responded to a subsequent request for a meeting. The letter also describes the 'huge concern and upset' the sealed documents have caused to the bereaved families. 'The papers will not be released until 2094, long after the spouses and children of those killed have themselves passed away,' it states. 'It is unbearable to us as bereaved families to know that this sealed information could give us the answers we need.' The letter adds: 'Wives, children, and families left behind deserve answers about why our loved ones never came home. 'They would never have boarded the helicopter had they known it was not airworthy. 'They would have had long, full lives and would have lived to see their children and grandchildren grow up.'
The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Six-figure damages agreed over boarding school abuse claims
A civil trial, thought to be the first in Scotland involving pupil-on-pupil abuse, had been due to take place at the Court of Session in Edinburgh in early June. However, Digby Brown Solicitors, representing Mr Bell, said an out of court settlement for a six-figure sum has now been reached. Loretto School said that, in the school now, child protection, wellbeing and the happiness of all pupils is its 'top priority'. READ MORE: 'I was in flight mode. Now I'm in fight mode' Loretto pupil lifts anonymity to sue elite school for £1million NEIL MACKAY'S BIG READ: 'It was like Lord of the Flies' - Horrific accounts of abuse could be boarding schools' 'MeToo' moment Mr Bell, who is in his 40s and lives in Canada, said the abuse he suffered was 'life-changing' and previously described it as 'a cross between The Purge and The Running Man'. Speaking after the settlement was reached, Mr Bell, who has waived his right to anonymity, said: 'I entered Loretto as a tiny, defenceless, 10-year-old boy. 'I endured eight years of abuse, 34 years of post traumatic stress disorder, four and a half years of legal battle and, in the end, that little boy beat the system.' Loretto was one of a number of boarding schools investigated by the Scottish Child Abuse Inquiry (SCAI), which found that some children suffered abuse there. Pete Richardson, Head of Loretto School, said: 'We can confirm that the matter has been resolved in terms agreed with Mr Bell. Angus Bell took legal action 'Whilst we do not intend to comment on the detail of matters raised by Mr Bell, what has been averred in the court action is not congruent with our understanding of the experience of others at Loretto at that time. 'The whole question of behaviours in Loretto over the years has been considered in detail by SCAI. 'We continue to support the work of SCAI and, where wrongdoing has been recognised in the past, we have made an unreserved apology – we would encourage anyone with an interest in this matter to look at the excellent work done by SCAI. 'In the Loretto of today, child protection, wellbeing and the happiness of all pupils is our top priority.' The SCAI, which aims to raise public awareness of the abuse of children in care, is considering evidence up to December 17 2014, and which is within the living memory of any person who suffered abuse. Richard Pitts, partner at Digby Brown, who led Mr Bell's legal action, said: 'Angus has been strong, calm and resilient throughout his entire journey and I commend him for what he has been able to do because he has not just secured justice for himself – in all likelihood he has opened the doors to help others get the outcome they deserve, too.'
