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| Soldiers 'did not have right kit' | Soldiers 'did not have right kit' |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Two British soldiers were wearing incorrect body armour when they were killed in Afghanistan last year, an inquest has heard. | Two British soldiers were wearing incorrect body armour when they were killed in Afghanistan last year, an inquest has heard. |
| Lance Bombardiers Ross Clark and Liam McLaughlin, who was from Scotland, died after the tower they were manning came under attack from Taleban militants. | Lance Bombardiers Ross Clark and Liam McLaughlin, who was from Scotland, died after the tower they were manning came under attack from Taleban militants. |
| The coroner recorded verdicts of unlawful killing. | The coroner recorded verdicts of unlawful killing. |
| "Those soldiers should not have been in the position they were without the appropriate equipment," he said. | |
| L/Bmdr Ross Clark, 25, of South Africa, and L/Bmdr Liam "Paddy" McLaughlin, 21, of Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, died when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their tower in the Sangin area of Helmand province on 3 March. | L/Bmdr Ross Clark, 25, of South Africa, and L/Bmdr Liam "Paddy" McLaughlin, 21, of Dalbeattie, Dumfries and Galloway, died when militants fired a rocket-propelled grenade at their tower in the Sangin area of Helmand province on 3 March. |
| They were both of the 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery. | |
| We note the coroner's verdict of unlawful killing and wholeheartedly agree with his comments about the bravery and courage of these soldiers MoD spokesperson | |
| Army directives stated that all soldiers must wear the latest Osprey body armour and Mark 6 Alpha helmets in any combat situation. | Army directives stated that all soldiers must wear the latest Osprey body armour and Mark 6 Alpha helmets in any combat situation. |
| The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court heard that L/Bmdr McLaughlin was instead wearing enhanced combat body armour (ECBA) and a "Para" helmet, which was "forbidden when contact with the enemy is likely". | The inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court heard that L/Bmdr McLaughlin was instead wearing enhanced combat body armour (ECBA) and a "Para" helmet, which was "forbidden when contact with the enemy is likely". |
| He died from severe head injuries caused by the grenade's close range explosion. | He died from severe head injuries caused by the grenade's close range explosion. |
| L/Bmdr Clark was wearing a mixture of body armour kit and the correct helmet. He died from fragment wounds to the chest. | L/Bmdr Clark was wearing a mixture of body armour kit and the correct helmet. He died from fragment wounds to the chest. |
| Chain of command | |
| Although an expert said the men would have died even if they had been wearing the right kit, Coroner Andrew Walker said: "What concerns me is the standing order was not followed. | Although an expert said the men would have died even if they had been wearing the right kit, Coroner Andrew Walker said: "What concerns me is the standing order was not followed. |
| "Those soldiers should not have been in the position they were without the appropriate equipment." | "Those soldiers should not have been in the position they were without the appropriate equipment." |
| Major Martin Collins, a company commander, told the inquest that it had been their decision not to use the correct kit. | |
| "They did not have it, not because they were not issued with it, but because they chose to deploy from Camp Bastion without it," he said. | |
| But the coroner said it was not the fault of the soldiers but of "the Army's chain of command". | |
| A MoD spokesperson said: "Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families and friends of Lance Bombardier Ross Clark and Lance Bombardier Liam McLaughlin at this difficult time. | |
| "We note the coroner's verdict of unlawful killing and wholeheartedly agree with his comments about the bravery and courage of these soldiers." |