Latest news with #RoyalUlsterConstabulary
Yahoo
16 hours 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.
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
Former RUC chief sorry for impact of ombudsman spat on Omagh bomb victims
Counsel for Sir Ronnie Flanagan also said it remains of personal and professional regret to him that no-one was ever brought to justice for the dissident republican blast in 1998 that killed 29 people. During an opening statement to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Monday on behalf of Sir Ronnie, Ian Skelt KC detailed some of the lengths he had gone to, including contacting Nasa to ask if they had any footage of the area. Sir Ronnie was chief constable of Northern Ireland's then police force the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the time of the bomb and had weekly meetings with then secretary of state Mo Mowlam to discuss security. Mr Skelt said Sir Ronnie has 'consistently pledged his commitment to engaging positively with this inquiry to ensure it provides answers to those most affected, namely the survivors and the next of kin of those who lost their lives'. He said he followed the commemorative statements around those killed and impacted by the bomb in the last phase of the inquiry earlier this year. 'He welcomes the inquiry and recognises that some nearly 27 years from the bomb attack this may represent the last opportunity to identify the truth in respect to the preventability of the bombing,' he said. 'He pledges to engage fully and transparently.' He went on to describe how Sir Ronnie is sorry for the impact of his row with then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in 2001 after she produced a critical report around the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. At the time, Sir Ronnie responded by saying he would resign and 'commit suicide in public' if the multiple failures highlighted in the ombudsman's report were true. Mr Skelt told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that Sir Ronnie regrets his 'ill-judged emotive statement'. 'Sir Ronnie has heard the evidence during the personal statement hearings that the public dispute between him and the then Police Ombudsman was unwelcome and distracted from the focus being on the victims and their loss, this was not his intention. He is sorry for causing upset,' he said. 'All he can say now is back then when the ombudsman's report was released, he felt very strongly about its content and considered it important to ensure the public had accurate information about the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. 'Following the release of what he considered to be an inaccurate Police Ombudsman report, Sir Ronnie acknowledges the making of an ill-judged emotive statement in response to a journalist's question asking him if he would resign if the report was accurate. Having very quickly recognised that it was a crass response, Sir Ronnie immediately issued an apology.' Mr Skelt added: 'At the relevant time, Sir Ronnie considered he took the appropriate position in light of the information and advice available to him, but as outlined above and previously, he is sorry for causing upset to those impacted by the bombing, he will continue to reflect upon this and other decisions through this inquiry. 'It is submitted that Sir Ronnie acted in good faith and at all times motivated by an intention to bring all of those responsible for this crime to justice, that this has not been possible is a matter of great personal and professional regret.' Mr Skelt also outlined some of the measures taken in the police investigation into the bomb which included contacting the then director of the FBI to ask whether there was any possibility of library footage from Nasa, the FBI, CIA or any other US agency of the Omagh area at the time of the bombing. 'This is an example of the lengths he went to to ensure even the most remote avenues of investigation were explored,' he said. 'That said, Sir Ronnie is not in any way closed to the suggestion that other avenues could have been explored, indeed this inquiry may identify possibilities as the work on documentation and evidence progresses.' Sir Ronnie, a core participant in the inquiry, is expected to give a full statement of evidence at a later stage.
Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
Former RUC chief sorry for impact of ombudsman spat on Omagh bomb victims
Counsel for Sir Ronnie Flanagan also said it remains of personal and professional regret to him that no-one was ever brought to justice for the dissident republican blast in 1998 that killed 29 people. During an opening statement to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Monday on behalf of Sir Ronnie, Ian Skelt KC detailed some of the lengths he had gone to, including contacting Nasa to ask if they had any footage of the area. Sir Ronnie was chief constable of Northern Ireland's then police force the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the time of the bomb and had weekly meetings with then secretary of state Mo Mowlam to discuss security. Mr Skelt said Sir Ronnie has 'consistently pledged his commitment to engaging positively with this inquiry to ensure it provides answers to those most affected, namely the survivors and the next of kin of those who lost their lives'. He said he followed the commemorative statements around those killed and impacted by the bomb in the last phase of the inquiry earlier this year. 'He welcomes the inquiry and recognises that some nearly 27 years from the bomb attack this may represent the last opportunity to identify the truth in respect to the preventability of the bombing,' he said. 'He pledges to engage fully and transparently.' He went on to describe how Sir Ronnie is sorry for the impact of his row with then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in 2001 after she produced a critical report around the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. At the time, Sir Ronnie responded by saying he would resign and 'commit suicide in public' if the multiple failures highlighted in the ombudsman's report were true. Mr Skelt told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that Sir Ronnie regrets his 'ill-judged emotive statement'. 'Sir Ronnie has heard the evidence during the personal statement hearings that the public dispute between him and the then Police Ombudsman was unwelcome and distracted from the focus being on the victims and their loss, this was not his intention. He is sorry for causing upset,' he said. 'All he can say now is back then when the ombudsman's report was released, he felt very strongly about its content and considered it important to ensure the public had accurate information about the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. 'Following the release of what he considered to be an inaccurate Police Ombudsman report, Sir Ronnie acknowledges the making of an ill-judged emotive statement in response to a journalist's question asking him if he would resign if the report was accurate. Having very quickly recognised that it was a crass response, Sir Ronnie immediately issued an apology.' Mr Skelt added: 'At the relevant time, Sir Ronnie considered he took the appropriate position in light of the information and advice available to him, but as outlined above and previously, he is sorry for causing upset to those impacted by the bombing, he will continue to reflect upon this and other decisions through this inquiry. 'It is submitted that Sir Ronnie acted in good faith and at all times motivated by an intention to bring all of those responsible for this crime to justice, that this has not been possible is a matter of great personal and professional regret.' Mr Skelt also outlined some of the measures taken in the police investigation into the bomb which included contacting the then director of the FBI to ask whether there was any possibility of library footage from Nasa, the FBI, CIA or any other US agency of the Omagh area at the time of the bombing. 'This is an example of the lengths he went to to ensure even the most remote avenues of investigation were explored,' he said. 'That said, Sir Ronnie is not in any way closed to the suggestion that other avenues could have been explored, indeed this inquiry may identify possibilities as the work on documentation and evidence progresses.' Sir Ronnie, a core participant in the inquiry, is expected to give a full statement of evidence at a later stage.
Western Telegraph
5 days ago
- Politics
- Western Telegraph
Former RUC chief sorry for impact of ombudsman spat on Omagh bomb victims
Counsel for Sir Ronnie Flanagan also said it remains of personal and professional regret to him that no-one was ever brought to justice for the dissident republican blast in 1998 that killed 29 people. During an opening statement to the Omagh Bombing Inquiry on Monday on behalf of Sir Ronnie, Ian Skelt KC detailed some of the lengths he had gone to, including contacting Nasa to ask if they had any footage of the area. Sir Ronnie was chief constable of Northern Ireland's then police force the Royal Ulster Constabulary at the time of the bomb and had weekly meetings with then secretary of state Mo Mowlam to discuss security. Mr Skelt said Sir Ronnie has 'consistently pledged his commitment to engaging positively with this inquiry to ensure it provides answers to those most affected, namely the survivors and the next of kin of those who lost their lives'. It is submitted that Sir Ronnie acted in good faith and at all times motivated by an intention to bring all of those responsible for this crime to justice, that this has not been possible is a matter of great personal and professional regret Ian Skelt KC He said he followed the commemorative statements around those killed and impacted by the bomb in the last phase of the inquiry earlier this year. 'He welcomes the inquiry and recognises that some nearly 27 years from the bomb attack this may represent the last opportunity to identify the truth in respect to the preventability of the bombing,' he said. 'He pledges to engage fully and transparently.' He went on to describe how Sir Ronnie is sorry for the impact of his row with then Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan in 2001 after she produced a critical report around the police investigation into the Omagh bomb. At the time, Sir Ronnie responded by saying he would resign and 'commit suicide in public' if the multiple failures highlighted in the ombudsman's report were true. Mr Skelt told the Omagh Bombing Inquiry that Sir Ronnie regrets his 'ill-judged emotive statement'. 'Sir Ronnie has heard the evidence during the personal statement hearings that the public dispute between him and the then Police Ombudsman was unwelcome and distracted from the focus being on the victims and their loss, this was not his intention. He is sorry for causing upset,' he said. Mo Mowlam holds a security conference at Stormont flanked by (l to r) a prison officer (unidentified), RUC chief constable Ronnie Flanagan, Alan Shannon, head of the prison service, Minister Adam Ingram, John Steele, director of security, and Martin Mogg, governor of the Maze prison (Brian Little/PA) 'All he can say now is back then when the ombudsman's report was released, he felt very strongly about its content and considered it important to ensure the public had accurate information about the police investigation of the Omagh bombing. 'Following the release of what he considered to be an inaccurate Police Ombudsman report, Sir Ronnie acknowledges the making of an ill-judged emotive statement in response to a journalist's question asking him if he would resign if the report was accurate. Having very quickly recognised that it was a crass response, Sir Ronnie immediately issued an apology.' Mr Skelt added: 'At the relevant time, Sir Ronnie considered he took the appropriate position in light of the information and advice available to him, but as outlined above and previously, he is sorry for causing upset to those impacted by the bombing, he will continue to reflect upon this and other decisions through this inquiry. 'It is submitted that Sir Ronnie acted in good faith and at all times motivated by an intention to bring all of those responsible for this crime to justice, that this has not been possible is a matter of great personal and professional regret.' Mr Skelt also outlined some of the measures taken in the police investigation into the bomb which included contacting the then director of the FBI to ask whether there was any possibility of library footage from Nasa, the FBI, CIA or any other US agency of the Omagh area at the time of the bombing. 'This is an example of the lengths he went to to ensure even the most remote avenues of investigation were explored,' he said. 'That said, Sir Ronnie is not in any way closed to the suggestion that other avenues could have been explored, indeed this inquiry may identify possibilities as the work on documentation and evidence progresses.' Sir Ronnie, a core participant in the inquiry, is expected to give a full statement of evidence at a later stage.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Princess Diana 'Started Crying' Over This Decision About Prince William and Prince Harry
Princess Diana brought immense empathy into the royal family, and wasn't afraid to show her emotions in public. A news presenter recalled on June 4 how the late Princess of Wales 'went into a whole literal sob story' about, among other topics, her sons Prince William and Prince Harry. Diana was apparently upset that her sons—who are now estranged—were away at boarding Diana was a woman in touch with her emotions—it's what allowed her to shake up the royal playbook in the best way, the effects of which are still felt today in the monarchy's more empathetic approach. The late Princess of Wales—who died at age 36 after a 1997 car accident—wasn't afraid to shed tears when the moment allowed for it, and GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes, speaking on GBN Breakfast on June 4, remembered one such time when Diana displayed her caring nature, weeping openly about, among other topics, her sons Prince William and Prince Harry. In Holmes' words, Diana 'went into a whole literal sob story' (via Marie Claire). 'One day I remember I complimented her on her outfit that she was wearing,' he explained on Wednesday. The shade, per Marie Claire, was 'Royal Ulster Constabulary green,' in case you were wondering—which also happens to be 'the color of the police force in Northern Ireland at the time,' the outlet reported. Diana said, 'Yes, RUC green, what do you think?' Holmes said. 'She started crying about a bomb explosion that had happened in Northern Ireland, and she was very, very close, very connected with all of that.' He added that the former Princess of Wales was 'very knowledgeable' about The Troubles in Northern Ireland. 'She then went on to talk about William and Harry going to school and how that upset her,' he continued. 'They went to boarding school or whatever it is, and so we talked about all those things.' (One can only wonder what Diana would think of the current issues between her sons, who she loved so fiercely.) Holmes then went on to talk about Diana's style, as the largest auction of her wardrobe and other items—around 300 pieces in total—is set to be up for sale later this month. 'The designer of Diana's wedding dress said it was just clothes or just a dress,' Holmes' fellow GBN Breakfast panelist Ellie Costello said. 'But then Diana wore it, and then it was something special and it became a part of history, and that's exactly what happened.' In 2023, Harry spoke of his mother's empathy, saying that 'In the midst of all that uncertainty, she led with empathy, finding the humanity in all around her and demonstrating the power of connection in the face of fear' (via People). As William prepares to be King someday, he too is leading with empathy—no doubt a skill set learned from his mother. Speaking in Cape Town, South Africa last November, the Prince of Wales said of his leadership style, 'I'm trying to do it differently, and I'm trying to do it for my generation. I'm doing it with maybe a smaller 'r' in the royal, if you like. It's more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.' 'I'm also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do,' William continued. 'It helps impact people's lives. I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.' Read the original article on InStyle
