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| Red Caps' families take legal action for public inquiry | Red Caps' families take legal action for public inquiry |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The families of four Royal Military Police officers killed by an Iraqi mob are to bring a Human Rights Act claim to try to force a public inquiry. | The families of four Royal Military Police officers killed by an Iraqi mob are to bring a Human Rights Act claim to try to force a public inquiry. |
| Their lawyer Simon McKay said they would also lodge a criminal complaint concerning claims that some individuals acted contrary to military law. | Their lawyer Simon McKay said they would also lodge a criminal complaint concerning claims that some individuals acted contrary to military law. |
| Corporals Russell Aston, 30, and Simon Miller, 21, and Lance Corporals Benjamin Hyde, 23, and Tom Keys, 20, were killed in June 2003. | Corporals Russell Aston, 30, and Simon Miller, 21, and Lance Corporals Benjamin Hyde, 23, and Tom Keys, 20, were killed in June 2003. |
| Two other Army Red Caps also died. | Two other Army Red Caps also died. |
| 'Seeking answers' | |
| The six soldiers were killed when a 400-strong mob descended on a police station in Majar al-Kabir in Iraq. | The six soldiers were killed when a 400-strong mob descended on a police station in Majar al-Kabir in Iraq. |
| The families' legal move against the Ministry of Defence follows a landmark ruling at the UK Supreme Court in June. | The families' legal move against the Ministry of Defence follows a landmark ruling at the UK Supreme Court in June. |
| Mr McKay said: "The families have been seeking answers to questions for 10 years and they still haven't had them adequately answered. | Mr McKay said: "The families have been seeking answers to questions for 10 years and they still haven't had them adequately answered. |
| "The High Court proceedings we will be issuing will be for the purpose of getting to the truth of what happened on June 24 2003 and the reasons why. | "The High Court proceedings we will be issuing will be for the purpose of getting to the truth of what happened on June 24 2003 and the reasons why. |
| "For the avoidance of doubt the families are not seeking compensation and there will be no claim against the legal aid fund." | "For the avoidance of doubt the families are not seeking compensation and there will be no claim against the legal aid fund." |
| He added: "Notwithstanding evidence existing that some members of the military may have been culpable in military law terms no investigation has ever taken place to explore this, and complaint has now been made with the appropriate body to invite them to now do so." | He added: "Notwithstanding evidence existing that some members of the military may have been culpable in military law terms no investigation has ever taken place to explore this, and complaint has now been made with the appropriate body to invite them to now do so." |
| 'Investigated extensively' | |
| The other two Royal Military Police officers who died were Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, and Cpl Paul Long, 24. | The other two Royal Military Police officers who died were Sgt Simon Hamilton-Jewell, 41, and Cpl Paul Long, 24. |
| In July, Mr McKay announced that the family of Cpl Aston had launched a legal claim alleging that commanders failed to take reasonable measures to keep him and his comrades safe. | |
| The families were not seeking compensation but wanted to get to the truth, he added. | |
| The Supreme Court has ruled that damages claims can be launched under legislation covering negligence and human rights. | |
| An MoD spokesman said: "Our thoughts remain with the families of those killed in this terrible incident. | |
| "However, the circumstances have been investigated extensively and reported on and no practical purpose would be served by holding a public inquiry." |