SAS ‘COVER-UP’
Families’ fury as MoD says no one is to blame for three men’s deaths on elite training yomp
THE grieving relatives of three SAS recruits who died during a gruelling training march accused defence chiefs of a cover-up last night after an 18-month investigation into the tragedy was dropped.
The soldiers collapsed in scorching temperatures while carrying heavy packs over a 16-mile mountain course in a bid to join the worldfamous Special Forces unit.
A coroner later blasted the SAS for neglect, which contributed to the deaths of reservists Corporal James Dunsby, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and Trooper Edward Maher three years ago.
Following an inquest, coroner Louise Hunt said there had been ‘a catalogue of serious mistakes made by many people’, including a failure to conduct a risk assessment, a lack of water supplies along the route and the use of a tracker system not fit for purpose.
Yet in spite of her excoriating attack on the SAS, none of the personnel who made the ‘serious mistakes’ will face any disciplinary charges whatsoever under military law, The Mail on Sunday can exclusively reveal.
The decision to clear all those responsible for the ‘death march’ was attacked last night by grieving father David Dunsby, 59, who said he was ‘disgusted and incredulous’ at the move.
He said: ‘The SAS commander on the day – known as Soldier 1A – failed in his duty of care to his men, while the conduct of many of those working under him fell short and they should have faced a charge of dereliction of duty and failing to provide a safe working environment. Control was lost on the course and this led to the events unfolding as they did.
‘Since the tragedy, the Ministry of Defence hasn’t demonstrated any accountability for what happened or accepted any responsibility. So on that basis, I am not surprised that this decision has been made. But the families of those who died that day want to see justice. So we will appeal the decision.’
The Mail on Sunday understands that following hundreds of hours of interviews with SAS directing staff who oversaw the march, the Royal Military Police recommended disciplinary charges be brought against seven personnel. Files on their cases were duly sent by the RMP to the Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) – the military equivalent of the Crown Prosecution Service – earlier this year. But to the surprise of many defence insiders, the SPA decided that there was not a reasonable prospect of prosecution.
This decision is now being challenged by families of the three SAS recruits who lost their lives.
Claire Stephens, a solicitor acting for David Dunsby and the parents of L/Cpl Craig Roberts, said last night: ‘We have applied for an independent review of the SPA’s decision and if that doesn’t work then we will seek a judicial review.’
Cpl Dunsby’s widow Bryher Dunsby declined to comment last night. After the inquest last year, she issued a plea to the MoD to make safety improvements.
An MoD spokesman said: ‘We do not comment on individual discipline cases. Our thoughts remain with the families and friends of Cpl Dunsby, L/Cpl Roberts and Trooper Maher.’