Posted on Wednesday, September 6 2006
MOD URGED TO REPATRIATE REMAINS TO KINLOSSLOCAL CALLS FOR RETURN OF NIMROD CREWThe Ministry of Defence is being urged to return the crew remains of the Nimrod tragedy to their home base at RAF Kinloss. Local MP and SNP Defence spokesman Angus Robertson has been lobbied by the local service community to help secure the speedy repatriation of loved ones from Afghanistan.Mr Robertson has written to Defence Secretary Des Brown urging the MOD to minimise delays and organise a direct return to RAF Kinloss.In his letter Mr Robertson said:"Helping the bereaved families is at the top of the agenda for everybody at this sad time, and I am aware that the MOD and RAF Kinloss are making every effort in this regard."I have been contacted by local service people who would like the remains of loved ones to be returned directly to their home base at RAF Kinloss. Hopefully arrangements can be put in place to make this happen."Normally armed forces return personnel killed in action overseas through RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire. This has often led to delays in releasing remains owing to inquests."This situated was highlighted in one message to Mr Robertson by a retired RAF Kinloss serviceman who used to work on Nimrod aircraft:"I have heard of the long delay in closure that bereaved families suffer due to all victims being landed at Brize Norton thereby incurring the local inquest which due to numbers takes a long time to happen."Can you please investigate and lobby for Kinloss personnel to be brought directly home to Kinloss and thereby give early closure to the families involved?"Local Moray MSP Richard Lochhead has welcomed an MOD statement confirming that all repatriation options are being looked at:"Everybody is keen to do everything possible to help the bereaved families at this sad time."It is right for the MOD to look at all the options and I hope they will make it possible for the fallen servicemen to be returned as soon as possible.ENDS
|