Officials apologise for Dunn family slur
THE Foreign Office has apologised for “unprofessional and unacceptable language” used by officials in emails about Harry Dunn’s bereaved family.
“Upsetting” notes criticised his relatives and their fight for justice.
One email, reacting to a call by Charlotte Charles, Harry’s mother, for Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to resign last year labelled her language “excessive”.
Others branded Radd Seiger, the family’s spokesman, as “evil” and “aggressive”.
Mr Dunn, 19, died when his motorbike crashed into a car near US military base RAF Croughton, Northants, in August 2019.
His alleged killer, American Anne Sacoolas, 43, returned to her home country after the US granted her
diplomatic immunity.
The family obtained the documents through requests sent to the Foreign Office (FCDO) and the Home Office.
One email read: “Everything the family say is completely wrong...They don’t understand anything at all of the wider context – and the evil R (Radd) Seiger has not explained it to them...”
Mrs Charles is said to be deeply upset.
FCDO Permanent Under-Secretary Sir Philip Barton wrote to the family to apologise.
Sir Philip said: “The digest contains some unprofessional and unacceptable language you may find upsetting. I want to offer my sincerest apologies for the hurt this may cause.”
Mr Seiger said: “I am more than happy to bear the brunt of any criticism, but to attack a bereaved, grieving mother who has never put a foot wrong in the campaign is scandalous.”
The FCDO has been approached for comment.