Killed Red Cap Paul Long's mother seeks judicial review

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The mother of a Tyneside soldier murdered in Iraq is taking legal action against the UK government in an effort to get a judge-led inquiry into her son's death.

Cpl Paul Long, from Hebburn, and five other Royal Military Police officers were killed by a mob in June 2003.

His mother, Pat Long, claims commanders failed to equip them with enough ammunition or working radio equipment.

She says the men were placed in avoidable and unnecessary danger.

Mrs Long is now seeking a judicial review against the secretary of state for defence's refusal to hold "an effective and independent investigation".

She said: "All we have ever asked for is the truth of what happened on that fateful day and for those responsible both directly and indirectly to be held accountable.

'Still waiting'

"So far, we have had neither, and are still waiting for answers to questions we asked nearly a decade ago."

The six military police officers were at a police station where they had gone to help train the local force.

A separate group of British soldiers, also in the town of Majar al Kabir, were attacked by gunmen and withdrew leaving the Red Caps officers behind.

The officers were then overrun by a mob and killed.

An inquest found that the six men were only given 50 rounds of ammunition each and had no means of calling for help, although it did not apportion blame.

A number of inquiries have been held into what happened but Mrs Long has called them "inadequate" and, in January, called for a fresh Ministry of Defence inquiry.

An MoD spokesman said it would carefully consider the legal action.

The spokesman added: "Our thoughts remain with the families of the six soldiers who lost their lives."