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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Answers sought over soldier death | Answers sought over soldier death |
| (1 day later) | |
| The mother of a Kent soldier killed in Afghanistan has told the defence secretary that she believes her son may have died needlessly. | The mother of a Kent soldier killed in Afghanistan has told the defence secretary that she believes her son may have died needlessly. |
| An inquest ruled that L/Cpl Luke McCulloch, 21, of Gillingham, was unlawfully killed in September 2006. | An inquest ruled that L/Cpl Luke McCulloch, 21, of Gillingham, was unlawfully killed in September 2006. |
| Elaine McCulloch-Brandt said questions remained unanswered over his death in a mortar attack in the Helmand Province. | Elaine McCulloch-Brandt said questions remained unanswered over his death in a mortar attack in the Helmand Province. |
| A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said "all available measures" were taken to minimise risks. | A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said "all available measures" were taken to minimise risks. |
| Before meeting Des Browne, Mrs McCulloch-Brandt said she believed that army statements during the inquest were conflicting, adding: "All I want is the truth." | |
| 'Peace of mind' | 'Peace of mind' |
| She said she was hoping the defence secretary would help her find out what went wrong. | She said she was hoping the defence secretary would help her find out what went wrong. |
| She claimed an order for soldiers to get under hard cover never reached her son, and she said: "If they've messed up, they must just tell me so, and let me get some peace of mind." | She claimed an order for soldiers to get under hard cover never reached her son, and she said: "If they've messed up, they must just tell me so, and let me get some peace of mind." |
| The inquest heard how L/Cpl McCulloch had come off sentry duty in sweltering conditions and removed his protective gear to have a meal at the compound. | The inquest heard how L/Cpl McCulloch had come off sentry duty in sweltering conditions and removed his protective gear to have a meal at the compound. |
| But an order was in place that soldiers should be in a bunker when they took helmets and body armour off. | But an order was in place that soldiers should be in a bunker when they took helmets and body armour off. |
| Protective clothing | Protective clothing |
| L/Cpl McCulloch had gone against orders by not wearing protective gear while out in the open, the hearing was told. | L/Cpl McCulloch had gone against orders by not wearing protective gear while out in the open, the hearing was told. |
| But Sgt Maj Michael Bolton told the inquest there was insufficient "hard cover" to accommodate everyone. | But Sgt Maj Michael Bolton told the inquest there was insufficient "hard cover" to accommodate everyone. |
| Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said: "There were orders which, had they been adhered to and workable, would have prevented L/Cpl McCulloch and others from sleeping and preparing for duty outside of the protective bunker without wearing their protective clothing." | Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said: "There were orders which, had they been adhered to and workable, would have prevented L/Cpl McCulloch and others from sleeping and preparing for duty outside of the protective bunker without wearing their protective clothing." |
| During Tuesday's meeting, Mr Browne told Mrs McCulloch-Brandt that her son's death was a tragedy, and she said he promised to look into anything that she felt had not yet been addressed. |