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| Families of Red Caps killed in Iraq to bring human rights claim against MoD | Families of Red Caps killed in Iraq to bring human rights claim against MoD |
| (12 days later) | |
| The parents of four army Red Caps killed by an Iraqi mob 10 years ago say they are determined to uncover the truth behind their sons' deaths. | The parents of four army Red Caps killed by an Iraqi mob 10 years ago say they are determined to uncover the truth behind their sons' deaths. |
| Corporals Russell Aston, 30, and Simon Miller, 21, Lance Corporal Benjamin McGowan Hyde, 23, and Lance Corporal Tom Keys, 20, were killed alongside two other royal military police officers when a 400-strong mob descended on a police station in Majar al-Kabir in Iraq in June 2003. | Corporals Russell Aston, 30, and Simon Miller, 21, Lance Corporal Benjamin McGowan Hyde, 23, and Lance Corporal Tom Keys, 20, were killed alongside two other royal military police officers when a 400-strong mob descended on a police station in Majar al-Kabir in Iraq in June 2003. |
| A lawyer acting on behalf of the soldiers' families said they would bring a Human Rights Act claim against the Ministry of Defence in an attempt to force a public inquiry. | A lawyer acting on behalf of the soldiers' families said they would bring a Human Rights Act claim against the Ministry of Defence in an attempt to force a public inquiry. |
| Mike Aston, father of Russell, said such a hearing was crucial to bring to justice to those he felt responsible for the deaths. Speaking from his home in Swadlincote, south Derbyshire, the 70-year-old He said: "What we want is for people who were culpable in this [members of the armed forces on the day] to answer our questions. We want justice. They weren't killed in action; it was murder." | Mike Aston, father of Russell, said such a hearing was crucial to bring to justice to those he felt responsible for the deaths. Speaking from his home in Swadlincote, south Derbyshire, the 70-year-old He said: "What we want is for people who were culpable in this [members of the armed forces on the day] to answer our questions. We want justice. They weren't killed in action; it was murder." |
| The families have said they will not be seeking any compensation over the deaths, but were dissatisfied with the inquests and board of inquiry investigations held subsequently. | The families have said they will not be seeking any compensation over the deaths, but were dissatisfied with the inquests and board of inquiry investigations held subsequently. |
| Aston said: "We are not seeking compensation – this is not about money and it never has been. | Aston said: "We are not seeking compensation – this is not about money and it never has been. |
| "I am 70 now, and I thought that after 10 years of fighting this, maybe I have had enough. | "I am 70 now, and I thought that after 10 years of fighting this, maybe I have had enough. |
| "But we want the truth, and will go down whatever avenues are open to us to get that." | "But we want the truth, and will go down whatever avenues are open to us to get that." |
| Reg Keys, father of Keys, said there were grave failings on the day his son was ultimately sent to his death, in a treacherous part of Iraq. | Reg Keys, father of Keys, said there were grave failings on the day his son was ultimately sent to his death, in a treacherous part of Iraq. |
| He said: "These soldiers' deaths have been brushed under the carpet. It is almost like the Ministry of Defence lost six pieces of hardware, not six lives. | He said: "These soldiers' deaths have been brushed under the carpet. It is almost like the Ministry of Defence lost six pieces of hardware, not six lives. |
| "We think the public are behind us, they want to know what has happened too. | "We think the public are behind us, they want to know what has happened too. |
| "I understand and appreciate that soldiers lose their lives. But this, in my view, was totally avoidable." | "I understand and appreciate that soldiers lose their lives. But this, in my view, was totally avoidable." |
| He added: "We've been told we have a reasonable chance of success with this legal action, otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. | He added: "We've been told we have a reasonable chance of success with this legal action, otherwise we wouldn't be doing it. |
| "When you think that six soldiers died and nobody was held to account, that leaves some big question marks." | "When you think that six soldiers died and nobody was held to account, that leaves some big question marks." |
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