Local council to call for inquiry into army death

Castlereagh Borough Council is set to call on the Ministry of Defence to set up an independent inquiry into the death of a Royal Irish Regiment soldier.

Councillors passed the motion on Thursday night in response to the death of 18-year-old trooper Paul Cochrane at Drumadd Barracks in County Armagh a year ago.

The council is also set to call for Northern Ireland's 25 other councils and local authorities across the UK to support a campaign to persuade the Ministry of Defence to set up an independent inquiry into 13 apparent suicides of serving soldiers.

Mr Cochrane's family have been calling for an independent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his suicide saying they believe he suffered a campaign of bullying prior to his death.

The campaign echoes that in England into four fatalities at the Deepcut Barracks in Surrey.

Under new rules prompted by the four untimely deaths of the soldiers, Surrey police are to begin taking charge of investigations into the deaths. Recent guidance distributed by the Association of Chief Police Officers is also encouraging more thorough investigations into deaths at army camps.

The families of four young squaddies who died at the barracks have consistently challenged the army's explanation that they committed suicide.

More than 600 people, mostly soldiers, have already been interviewed as part of the Deepcut investigation.

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