Families of the 1994 Chinook disaster victims have vowed to take the UK Government to court after Sir Keir Starmer (Labour) rejected their calls for a judge-led inquiry. The bereaved relatives said they were "absolutely disgusted" by the Prime Minister's response and would not give up their fight for answers.
A total of 25 senior intelligence experts and four special forces crew were killed when the helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre en route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness 31 years ago. The incident was initially blamed on pilot error before being overturned in 2011.
PM cites previous investigations
In a letter to the families, Sir Keir said a public inquiry would not "bring any greater certainty" and would not be "in the public interest" despite more than 25,000 people signing a petition demanding answers. His letter followed an open letter sent to the Government by several families who renewed their calls for a public inquiry.
Andy Tobias, who was eight when his 41-year-old father Lt Col John Tobias was killed, said the Prime Minister's response was "utterly pathetic". He said: "The Prime Minister talks the talk about transparency but he's just slammed the door in our face."
Files sealed until 2094
"He says the Government is committed to transparency and accountability, but on the other hand - we'll just seal away the files for a century and tell us bereaved families there's nothing to see here," Mr Tobias continued. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) previously sealed archive documents relating to the crash until 2094.
Mr Tobias added: "The MoD has marked its own homework on this crash for 31 years and hidden behind data protection rules. The PM should stand full square behind his promised duty of candour on public bodies. Instead he's hiding behind the deceitful MoD."
Families threaten legal action
"I'm sickened and so are all the other families fighting for truth and transparency," Mr Tobias said. He added: "Keir Starmer says we'll be disappointed by his letter. No, we are absolutely disgusted. But we will not give up. And we will see the MoD and UK Government in court."
Sir Keir said the MoD had advised him that records they hold "offer no insights into the crash". His letter read: "This Government is committed to transparency and accountability."
Government defends decision
"However, given the extensive investigations already conducted into the crash, including two independent, judge-led processes, inquiries by both House of Commons and House of Lords select committees, and the original RAF board of inquiry, I do not believe that a new inquiry can bring any greater certainty or is in the public interest," the Prime Minister wrote. "The Ministry of Defence (MoD) advise that the records to which you refer offer no insights into the crash and are closed to protect the personal data of third parties."
The Prime Minister added: "I am grateful for your letter and appreciate that this response will be disappointing to you and those you represent." The MoD has been approached for comment.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
