MOD ‘hiding behind scapegoats’ for SAS death march

SPECIAL forces instructors are being treated as scapegoats over the deaths of three reservists who died of heat exhaustion during an SAS selection march, lawyers and families of the dead have alleged.

Two SAS soldiers who oversaw the gruelling test over the Brecon Beacons will face a court martial after being charged with negligence. Relatives of the three Army reservists last night said they wanted to see senior officers face justice and lawyers accused the Ministry of Defence (MOD) of hiding behind those charged.

L/cpl Craig Roberts, 24, Trooper Edward Maher, 31, and Cpl James Dunsby, 31, all died after collapsing during a test march on the hottest day of 2013.

The trio were among 37 reservists trying out for the SAS reserve units at the same time as 41 regulars were trying out for 18 (UKSF) Signals Regt.

A 2015 inquest into the deaths found there had been a “catalogue of very serious mistakes” before and during the march. A coroner found the fatal march was blighted by inadequate planning and training and a “chaotic” response once soldiers began to fall ill.

A captain identified only as 1A, who was responsible for a risk assessment, and a warrant officer identified only as 1B could face two years in prison.

Lawyers for the parents of L/cpl Roberts, from Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, said the couple were “disappointed that only two are facing charges”.

David Dunsby, father of Cpl Dunsby, said he was “dispirited and disappointed that these two men are going to have to face trial when clearly others should be standing in front and not them”. Lawyers for the Dunsby family said it was “simply wrong for the MOD to hide behind the officers in charge to escape prosecution.”

Clare Stevens, of Hilary Meredith Solicitors said: “It should be the MOD in the dock, acknowledging its corporate failings and responsibility rather than looking for scapegoats.”

Lewis Cherry, who represented the two instructors at inquest, told The Daily Telegraph: “They have always said they were ‘exam invigilators’ on the day, setting it out to the standards set by their chain of command.”

However, Army sources questioned whether more senior officers could be held accountable when special forces units typically delegate great responsibility to junior officers organising such training.

Prosecutors at first rejected bringing charges, arguing there was little chance of conviction. An internal military inquiry released earlier this year said the incident had brought into question the whole role of special forces reservists.

The three victims had not had enough training for the test and were not ready compared to regular Army comrades, the Mod’s safety watchdog said.