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| MoD criticised for soldier deaths | MoD criticised for soldier deaths |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two coroners have criticised the government for the deaths of three soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. | |
| Separate inquests heard how troopers in Iraq and Afghanistan were denied "mission essential" equipment. | Separate inquests heard how troopers in Iraq and Afghanistan were denied "mission essential" equipment. |
| Oxford assistant coroner Andrew Walker, accused the MoD of an unforgivable breach of trust over the death of Capt James Philippson in Helmand Province. | Oxford assistant coroner Andrew Walker, accused the MoD of an unforgivable breach of trust over the death of Capt James Philippson in Helmand Province. |
| Wiltshire coroner David Masters called for a review of armed forces spending over the deaths of two others in Iraq. | Wiltshire coroner David Masters called for a review of armed forces spending over the deaths of two others in Iraq. |
| Capt Philippson, 29, of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, died in a fire fight with Taliban troops on June 11 2006 in which British forces were "totally out-gunned". | Capt Philippson, 29, of 7 Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, died in a fire fight with Taliban troops on June 11 2006 in which British forces were "totally out-gunned". |
| The Oxford inquest heard that before his death 7 Para soldiers complained repeatedly about a lack of proper equipment - chiefly standard night vision kits and weaponry. | The Oxford inquest heard that before his death 7 Para soldiers complained repeatedly about a lack of proper equipment - chiefly standard night vision kits and weaponry. |
| To send soldiers into a combat zone without basic equipment is unforgivable, inexcusable and a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them. Assistant coroner Andrew Walker Coroner's criticismsDangers of kit shortages | To send soldiers into a combat zone without basic equipment is unforgivable, inexcusable and a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them. Assistant coroner Andrew Walker Coroner's criticismsDangers of kit shortages |
| The MoD admitted an "administrative error" led to a 25-day delay in getting equipment to the front line. | The MoD admitted an "administrative error" led to a 25-day delay in getting equipment to the front line. |
| Mr Walker said: "They (the soldiers) were defeated not by the terrorists but by the lack of basic equipment. | Mr Walker said: "They (the soldiers) were defeated not by the terrorists but by the lack of basic equipment. |
| "To send soldiers into a combat zone without basic equipment is unforgivable, inexcusable and a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them." | "To send soldiers into a combat zone without basic equipment is unforgivable, inexcusable and a breach of trust between the soldiers and those who govern them." |
| He recorded a narrative verdict in which he said Capt Philippson was unlawfully killed. | He recorded a narrative verdict in which he said Capt Philippson was unlawfully killed. |
| The soldier's father, Anthony Philippson, of St Albans, Herts, said after the inquest: "He (the coroner) laid into them (the MoD) particularly badly for the lack of equipment. | The soldier's father, Anthony Philippson, of St Albans, Herts, said after the inquest: "He (the coroner) laid into them (the MoD) particularly badly for the lack of equipment. |
| "I do hold the MoD responsible for James's death but it is not just the MoD, it goes much deeper than that. | "I do hold the MoD responsible for James's death but it is not just the MoD, it goes much deeper than that. |
| "The Treasury and the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, will be really to blame for what happened. The MoD was starved of cash by the Chancellor." | "The Treasury and the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown, will be really to blame for what happened. The MoD was starved of cash by the Chancellor." |
| Coroner 'concerned' | Coroner 'concerned' |
| The second inquest in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, heard that a platoon commander had asked for Mastiffs - more heavily protected vehicles - to be used on the day the two men died, but they were all in use on another mission. | The second inquest in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, heard that a platoon commander had asked for Mastiffs - more heavily protected vehicles - to be used on the day the two men died, but they were all in use on another mission. |
| Lance Sergeant Chris Casey, 27, and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath, 22, of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, were escorting a supply convoy between Kuwait and Basra when they were hit by a home-made explosive. | Lance Sergeant Chris Casey, 27, and Lance Corporal Kirk Redpath, 22, of 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, were escorting a supply convoy between Kuwait and Basra when they were hit by a home-made explosive. |
| It was under funding by the Government that killed him Sharon Hawkes, Kirk Redpath's partner L/Sgt Casey, a married father of two from Aldershot, and his younger comrade, from Romford, died after their Snatch Armoured Land Rover was hit north of the Rumaylah oilfields. | It was under funding by the Government that killed him Sharon Hawkes, Kirk Redpath's partner L/Sgt Casey, a married father of two from Aldershot, and his younger comrade, from Romford, died after their Snatch Armoured Land Rover was hit north of the Rumaylah oilfields. |
| Recording verdicts that both men were unlawfully killed by terrorists, the coroner said he had "concerns" they had not been supplied with Mastiffs. | Recording verdicts that both men were unlawfully killed by terrorists, the coroner said he had "concerns" they had not been supplied with Mastiffs. |
| Mr Masters went on: "It is my belief that it is imperative that our forces, whether they be in Iraq or Afghanistan, are given the best available equipment." | Mr Masters went on: "It is my belief that it is imperative that our forces, whether they be in Iraq or Afghanistan, are given the best available equipment." |
| "I have a meeting next week with the armed forces minister and this is an issue I intend to raise with him. | "I have a meeting next week with the armed forces minister and this is an issue I intend to raise with him. |
| "I need to be satisfied that this is an issue that has been understood and dealt with, because I anticipate it is still relevant and will be in Afghanistan as well." | "I need to be satisfied that this is an issue that has been understood and dealt with, because I anticipate it is still relevant and will be in Afghanistan as well." |
| After the inquest Mr Redpath's partner, Sharon Hawkes, 50, said: "It was under funding by the Government that killed him." | After the inquest Mr Redpath's partner, Sharon Hawkes, 50, said: "It was under funding by the Government that killed him." |