RAF Kinloss Message
Posted on Wednesday, September 13 2006
Being at this week’s repatriation ceremony of the Nimrod tragedy was a sad, solemn and at the same time a surreal experience. Scores of bereaved family members, military commanders and RAF Kinloss colleagues waited as the C17 transport plane arrived carrying the bodies. The Duke of Edinburgh led the salute as the coffins were carried from the aircraft to the sound of laments played by the Central RAF band.The flawless military precision of the repatriation event was the first chance for the families to be reunited with their loved ones. The grief and stoicism of the families was overwhelming and humbling. Understandably service families in Moray had wanted their loved ones to be brought home to Kinloss.However, the MOD normally handles the return of casualties differently. That is why there were calls for Whitehall to change their normal arrangements. It was pointed out by serving and retired military people that these procedural arrangements might be problematic. The return of fallen service personnel currently occurs through Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, giving jurisdiction to the local Coroner who works through the English legal inquest system. It is a sad reality that with mounting casualties in Afghanisatan, Iraq and elsewhere, the Coroner in Oxfordshire is overloaded. More than 100 inquest hearings are still to be heard.Former deputy SAS commander Sir Clive Fairweather told one newspaper that the MOD is adding to the grief of the families by “meaningless red tape before releasing bodies”.All of this raises questions about the way these sensitive matters are handled by officialdom. There are clearly sad realities about the ability of medical and legal services to do the appropriate checks. However, it does seem extraordinary that this cannot happen closer to home.The MOD says that “Inquests have to be carried out in England, even if the service personnel are Scots, because no sheriff or procurator-fiscal north of the border can order a fatal accident inquiry unless the fatalities occurred on Scottish soil”.In short, Whitehall thinks that the Scots legal system cannot adequately deal with the kind of tragedy which affected the Kinloss Nimrod crew. If this is the case, it is an extraordinary loophole in our jurisprudence and begs the question why the law has not been amended to cope.These issues are not dry, legalistic or impersonal. They are the concerns of grieving service families. They want to know how long it will take for the bodies of their loved ones to be released for burial and the cause of their deaths to be established. They want to know why there are backlogs. They want to know why the plane that delivered their husbands and fathers to Kinloss, took off only hours later taking them back to Brize Norton.At this desperately sad time for the families and friends of the Nimrod tragedy hopefully disruptions and delays will be minimised. It is the least that can be done in recognition of the bravery and dedication of their fallen loved ones.
MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCES ON RAF KINLOSS DEATHS
Posted on Tuesday, September 12 2006
SNP politicians joined with the people of Moray and Scotland to offer their condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the 14 service personnel who were killed yesterday near Kandahar in Afghanistan. Local representatives Richard Lochhead MSP and Angus Robertson MP were joined by SNP Leader Alex Salmond in paying theirrespects this morning.Moray MSP Richard Lochhead said:"This is a black weekend for Moray as the community tries to come to terms with the biggest tragedy to hit our local RAF bases. I have spoken to the Station Commander personally to offer my condolences and that of my SNP colleagues, and I also paid a brief visit to the village of Kinloss this morning to meet with local people there."The whole community is mourning the loss of many brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice to do their duty and a job they loved. Service families know that their loved ones face danger day in day and sadly many lives have now been shattered by this tragedy. Everyone in the community will rally round to support their family and friends at this difficult time."The people here are in a clear state of shock and are only beginning to come to terms with the scale of the tragedy."Local MP Angus Robertson MP added:"The loss of so many local men will be felt throughout Moray. The men and women who work at RAF Kinloss are part of the local community and the Nimrod crew will be known to many people throughout Kinloss and Moray. RAF personnel live in our local villages and towns and play an active role in the community. Given the nature of the base, many of the men will have lived and worked at Kinloss for many years and will be sorely missed.SNP Leader Alex Salmond MP also expressed his condolences today. Mr Salmond said:"This is one of our blackest days since the second world war, and adds to the mounting casualty toll in Afghanistan. Our thoughts today are with the families, friends and colleagues of those tragically lost in this terrible incident."ENDS
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