01/12/2004

Parents renew call for Deepcut public inquiry

In the wake of yesterday's announcement on the decision to have an independent review of abuse at Deepcut, families of the victims are expected to reiterate demands for a full public enquiry.

Parents of the soldiers who died between 1995 and 2002 at the army barracks are due to give evidence today to the House of Commons defence committee on the treatment of armed forces recruits.

Their campaign to have the deaths of the young soldiers fully investigated has continued unabated since all four were declared suicides, despite ongoing allegations of abuse at Deepcut.

A recent investigation conducted by Surrey police uncovered a catalogue of abuse, including over 173 allegations of abuse, racism and beatings.

Diane Gray, mother of Private Geoff Gray, one of the four soldiers who died at Deepcut, admitted the review was "one step in the right direction". She said that she hoped it would lead Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram to initiate a full public inquiry, which she felt everyone in the country wanted to see.

"We do need an independent, public inquiry where it needs to be transparent, where a judge can call witnesses in and force them to give evidence." she added.

Mr Ingram reinforced the Army's commitment to eradicating violence and intimidation from its ranks.

Liberal Democrats have expressed their support for a full inquiry, while Conservative defence spokesman Gerald Howarth agreed that it may now be inevitable.

(mmcg/sp)

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