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| Brecon Beacons deaths: police to interview almost 100 army personnel | Brecon Beacons deaths: police to interview almost 100 army personnel |
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| The father of one of three army reservists who died while taking part in an SAS test in the Brecon Beacons has called for lessons to be learned to prevent a similar tragedy. | The father of one of three army reservists who died while taking part in an SAS test in the Brecon Beacons has called for lessons to be learned to prevent a similar tragedy. |
| It has emerged during a preliminary inquest hearing that detectives intend to interview almost 100 trainees, soldiers and officers who were on the mountain at the time or involved in the planning of the exercise. | It has emerged during a preliminary inquest hearing that detectives intend to interview almost 100 trainees, soldiers and officers who were on the mountain at the time or involved in the planning of the exercise. |
| Dyfed Powys police, which is in charge of investigating the deaths, has classed the operation a "major crime" inquiry because of its scale, with more than 20 detectives working to establish what went wrong. | Dyfed Powys police, which is in charge of investigating the deaths, has classed the operation a "major crime" inquiry because of its scale, with more than 20 detectives working to establish what went wrong. |
| Edward Maher and James Dunsby, both 31, and Craig Roberts, 24, died after taking part in the exercise on Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain, as temperatures soared to 30C. | Edward Maher and James Dunsby, both 31, and Craig Roberts, 24, died after taking part in the exercise on Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain, as temperatures soared to 30C. |
| Postmortem tests are still being carried out to establish the causes of the men's deaths but witnesses told of soldiers on the mountain in south Wales pleading for water from passersby. | Postmortem tests are still being carried out to establish the causes of the men's deaths but witnesses told of soldiers on the mountain in south Wales pleading for water from passersby. |
| At the pre-inquest review hearing in Aberdare, the Powys coroner, Louise Hunt, said a full inquest would look at whether article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, covering the right to life, had been contravened and whether there had been any failings by those in charge of the soldiers. | At the pre-inquest review hearing in Aberdare, the Powys coroner, Louise Hunt, said a full inquest would look at whether article two of the European Convention on Human Rights, covering the right to life, had been contravened and whether there had been any failings by those in charge of the soldiers. |
| She said the scope of the inquest would include the cause of death, the preparation and planning of the exercise, support and monitoring provided and the emergency procedures that were in place. | She said the scope of the inquest would include the cause of death, the preparation and planning of the exercise, support and monitoring provided and the emergency procedures that were in place. |
| Maher's father, also named Edward, who was in court, said he expected the question of how such a tragedy could be prevented would be considered. He asked that the chain of command be examined. | Maher's father, also named Edward, who was in court, said he expected the question of how such a tragedy could be prevented would be considered. He asked that the chain of command be examined. |
| Hunt assured him that she was obliged by law to pass on any information that could prevent future deaths, and added that the chain of command would be covered when the inquest looked at preparation and planning. | Hunt assured him that she was obliged by law to pass on any information that could prevent future deaths, and added that the chain of command would be covered when the inquest looked at preparation and planning. |
| The police investigation is based at an incident room in Brecon within sight of Pen y Fan. Detective Inspector Iwan Jones, of Dyfed Powys police, told the hearing that initially officers had only planned to speak to military personnel who had direct contact with the men who died. | The police investigation is based at an incident room in Brecon within sight of Pen y Fan. Detective Inspector Iwan Jones, of Dyfed Powys police, told the hearing that initially officers had only planned to speak to military personnel who had direct contact with the men who died. |
| But now they aim to speak to between 94 and 96 personnel who were on the mountain or involved in the exercise. Jones told the coroner there were "logistical problems" because many of them were abroad. About half have been questioned. | But now they aim to speak to between 94 and 96 personnel who were on the mountain or involved in the exercise. Jones told the coroner there were "logistical problems" because many of them were abroad. About half have been questioned. |
| The police, who are working with the Health and Safety Executive, are also speaking to 15 members of the emergency services. The force is liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service over its inquiry. | The police, who are working with the Health and Safety Executive, are also speaking to 15 members of the emergency services. The force is liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service over its inquiry. |
| A lawyer attended the half-hour hearing to represent a member of Dunsby's family. Nobody from Roberts' family was present. | A lawyer attended the half-hour hearing to represent a member of Dunsby's family. Nobody from Roberts' family was present. |
| It is understood the three men were taking part in the start of aptitude testing in July, having already been trained in how to survive in hostile conditions. Pen y Fan is renowned as the location for the "fan dance" where soldiers hoping to join the special forces march over the mountain carrying a heavy pack and a rifle, then do the route in reverse in a set time. | It is understood the three men were taking part in the start of aptitude testing in July, having already been trained in how to survive in hostile conditions. Pen y Fan is renowned as the location for the "fan dance" where soldiers hoping to join the special forces march over the mountain carrying a heavy pack and a rifle, then do the route in reverse in a set time. |
| All three were experienced soldiers who had served in hot climates, which made it all the more puzzling that they were apparently caught out by the temperature on a summer day in Britain. | All three were experienced soldiers who had served in hot climates, which made it all the more puzzling that they were apparently caught out by the temperature on a summer day in Britain. |
| Officially the causes of deaths for Maher and Roberts remain "unascertained". Both died on the day of the test. Dunsby, who died in hospital more than two weeks after collapsing, had suffered "multiple organ failure". Further tests are being carried out on all three. | Officially the causes of deaths for Maher and Roberts remain "unascertained". Both died on the day of the test. Dunsby, who died in hospital more than two weeks after collapsing, had suffered "multiple organ failure". Further tests are being carried out on all three. |
| The deaths focused attention on the government's plans to make greater use of part-time reservist soldiers as the regular army shrinks because of budget cuts. A further pre-inquest hearing is due to take place in November, and the full hearing is not likely to happen until next spring. | The deaths focused attention on the government's plans to make greater use of part-time reservist soldiers as the regular army shrinks because of budget cuts. A further pre-inquest hearing is due to take place in November, and the full hearing is not likely to happen until next spring. |
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