Army inquiry into Deepcut death

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An internal Army inquiry into the death of Private Geoff Gray at Deepcut Barracks has been launched, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

The Board of Inquiry investigation will examine events leading up to the death of the 17-year-old recruit.

The inquiry will also examine whether recommendations made since his death have been acted on.

His father, also called Geoff, said: "It's not a public inquiry but it is a step in the right direction."

The recruit's father added that discussions with the Army about the investigation had so far been "very constructive".

Pte Gray, of Seaham, Co Durham, died at the Surrey base in 2001 from two gunshot wounds to his head.

Three other recruits - Sean Benton, 20, of Hastings, East Sussex, James Collinson, 17, of Perth, and Cheryl James, 18, Llangollen, Denbighshire - died of bullet wounds at the Surrey training base in separate incidents between 1995 and 2002.

An inquest into Pte Gray's death returned an open verdict and his father has always said that that his son's death has never been properly investigated.

He has maintained that a public inquiry is needed into the death of his son and three other recruits at the base.

"The Board of Inquiry was delayed because it could not take place until the conclusion of the Deepcut Review and other investigations," said an MoD spokesman.

He confirmed that the investigation has started, but added there was "no estimate for how long the process will take".