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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blair 'regrets' inquest distress | Blair 'regrets' inquest distress |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has told MPs that he "deeply regretted" the distress caused to the family of a British "friendly fire" victim by the delay to his inquest. | Tony Blair has told MPs that he "deeply regretted" the distress caused to the family of a British "friendly fire" victim by the delay to his inquest. |
| Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, died in an attack by US warplanes in March 2003. | Lance Corporal of Horse Matty Hull, 25, from Berkshire, died in an attack by US warplanes in March 2003. |
| The coroner was forced to adjourn the inquest when US authorities refused to release a cockpit video recording of the attack. | The coroner was forced to adjourn the inquest when US authorities refused to release a cockpit video recording of the attack. |
| Mr Blair pledged to deal with such matters better in the future. | Mr Blair pledged to deal with such matters better in the future. |
| He told the Commons at question time that he believed the Ministry of Defence had acted in "good faith" throughout the process. | He told the Commons at question time that he believed the Ministry of Defence had acted in "good faith" throughout the process. |
| The case has prompted accusations of the MoD conspiring with the Americans in a cover-up of his death. | The case has prompted accusations of the MoD conspiring with the Americans in a cover-up of his death. |
| The prime minister was answering questions on the matter from Conservative leader David Cameron. | The prime minister was answering questions on the matter from Conservative leader David Cameron. |
| Mr Cameron said: "We've been reminded in the last week that one of the tragedies of war is that terrible mistakes are made and people die from so-called friendly fire. It is obviously particularly distressing when a death occurs as a result of friendly fire Tony Blair class="" href="/1/hi/uk/6334769.stm">US 'to release cockpit footage' | |
| "When mistakes happen, do you agree with me that the MoD owes it to the families concerned to provide them with as much information as quickly as possible about the circumstances in which their loved ones were killed?" | "When mistakes happen, do you agree with me that the MoD owes it to the families concerned to provide them with as much information as quickly as possible about the circumstances in which their loved ones were killed?" |
| Mr Blair replied: "Yes, of course, I agree that that is what the MoD should do. We deeply regret the distress caused to Lance Corporal Matty Hull's family by the delay in concluding the inquest into how he died. | Mr Blair replied: "Yes, of course, I agree that that is what the MoD should do. We deeply regret the distress caused to Lance Corporal Matty Hull's family by the delay in concluding the inquest into how he died. |
| "I can assure you that we will do everything we can to cooperate with the coroner and also make sure the additional distress, that's now been caused to the family, is minimised." | "I can assure you that we will do everything we can to cooperate with the coroner and also make sure the additional distress, that's now been caused to the family, is minimised." |
| Mr Blair added: "Obviously, in some of these situations, it is of immense difficulty for the families, because not merely have they lost their loved ones, but they want to know, very properly, exactly what has happened. | |
| "It is obviously particularly distressing when a death occurs as a result of friendly fire. | |
| "Unfortunately, in situations of war, these things can happen. But I think in those circumstances it is particularly incumbent on us to make sure we take very carefully and sensitively the concerns of the families. | |
| "We will look again, as a result of what has happened these past few weeks, to make sure - and I hope I can say this with some confidence - that in similar such circumstances we are able to deal with it in a better way." |