HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- MPs to investigate four army
deaths
Nick Hopkins, crime
correspondent
Thursday July 4, 2002 The Guardian MPs yesterday took the unusual step
of launching their own investigation into the deaths of four soldiers at the
army's Royal Logistics Corps headquarters at Deepcut, Surrey.
The chairman of the Commons defence committee, Bruce George, will tell Surrey
police, which is reinvestigating the shooting of one of the soldiers, Private
Geoff Gray, that it intends to begin its independent inquiry as soon as
detectives have concluded their work.
The committee, which normally confines itself to matters of policy and
Ministry of Defence expenditure, could recommend a public inquiry.
Concern over the circumstances surrounding the death of Pte Gray, 17, and
three other soldiers, has been mounting in recent months with the families of
the victims maintaining that the army has been involved in a cover-up.
Private Gray died from two gunshot wounds to the head - either would have
killed him - during guard duty at the barracks last September. His body was
found near the perimeter fence at least 50 minutes after shots were fired at a
spot that had already been searched four times by a team of soldiers. A witness
saw a man running away from the scene, but the MoD told Private Gray's family
that their son had committed suicide.
At an inquest in March, the coroner, Michael Burgess, recorded an open
verdict and said: "I do not find that he took his own life."
Since then Surrey police has started reinvestigating Gray's death, and three
other families have come forward with claim of mysterious "suicides" at the base
in the last seven years.
In June 1995, Private Sean Benton, 20, died from five gunshot wounds to the
chest. Five months later, the body of Private Cheryl James, 18, was discovered
in woodland 90ft outside the garrison perimeter. Private James Collinson, 17,
died on March 23 this year from a single gunshot wound to the head just hours
after seeing his parents. Three of the four bodies were found in the officers'
com pound to which access is tightly controlled.
The defence committee agreed yesterday to investigate the circumstances of
the deaths, and issues relating to training for new recruits. It will also
consider allegations of drug abuse and bullying at the barracks.
Mike Hancock, a Liberal Democrat committee member, said the inquiry would be
robust: "We will visit the camp and encourage soldiers and witnesses to come
forward to give evidence to us. We want to get to the bottom of what has been
going on at Deepcut."
Mr Hancock said that if army claims that some of the soldiers may have had
psychological problems were true, then it raised important questions relating to
why the soldiers were being allowed on duty with live ammunition.
Private Gray's father, who is also called Geoff, welcomed the committee's
decision: "It's important that MPs have a chance to talk to people and draw
their own conclusions. We want a public inquiry and this investigation adds
pressure to our campaign."
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