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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Deepcut deaths inquiry rejected | Deepcut deaths inquiry rejected |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Armed Forces minister Bob Ainsworth has again rejected calls for a public inquiry into the deaths of two soldiers at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey. | Armed Forces minister Bob Ainsworth has again rejected calls for a public inquiry into the deaths of two soldiers at the Deepcut barracks in Surrey. |
| He told MPs the release of Army Board of Inquiry reports into the deaths did not change the government's position. | He told MPs the release of Army Board of Inquiry reports into the deaths did not change the government's position. |
| "We do not believe there is any wider public or service interest in pursuing one," he said. | "We do not believe there is any wider public or service interest in pursuing one," he said. |
| The soldiers were among four who died of bullet wounds in separate incidents at the base between 1995 and 2002. | The soldiers were among four who died of bullet wounds in separate incidents at the base between 1995 and 2002. |
| Mr Ainsworth rejected calls on Thursday for a public inquiry into the deaths of Ptes Geoff Gray, of Seaham, Co Durham, in September 2001, and James Collinson, 17, of Perth, in March 2002. | |
| The impact of their untimely deaths was felt, not just across the MoD, but across the nation Bob Ainsworth, Armed Forces minister | |
| The other two soldiers who died from bullet wounds at Deepcut were Ptes Sean Benton, 20, of Hastings, East Sussex, and Cheryl James, 18, of Llangollen, Denbighshire. | The other two soldiers who died from bullet wounds at Deepcut were Ptes Sean Benton, 20, of Hastings, East Sussex, and Cheryl James, 18, of Llangollen, Denbighshire. |
| Both Board of Inquiry (BoI) reports into the deaths of Ptes Gray and Collinson agreed with the open verdicts recorded at their inquests, Mr Ainsworth said in a written statement to the House of Commons. | |
| They supported the 2006 findings of the Blake Review into the Deepcut deaths that there was "no substantial evidence" supporting third party involvement in Pte Gray's death, he said. | |
| In Pte Collinson's case, the BoI concluded there were no indications from his general behaviour during his time in the Army to suggest he was at any risk. | |
| The reports, which were released to the families of both soldiers earlier this week, make 20 recommendations ranging from supporting bereaved families to ensuring the continued improvement of training for troops. | |
| The minister apologised to the families of Ptes Gray and Collinson for delays in the release of the BoIs. | |
| "The impact of their untimely deaths was felt, not just across the MoD, but across the nation. | |
| "Our thoughts are with all their families and friends at this difficult time," he said. |