SAS pair ‘scapegoats for training deaths’

THE parents of Army reservists who died on an SAS selection exercise say two instructors charged over the tragedy are being made scapegoats.

Relatives of the three men, who collapsed during a march on the hottest day of 2013, have called for more senior figures to face charges. They also say the Ministry of Defence should face corporate manslaughter charges.

Former SAS soldier and author Andy McNab said the prosecutions would deter soldiers from taking training roles in future.

And he warned fear of prosecution could lead to less demanding tests which risked weakening the Special Forces ‘to the point there are more deaths on operations in future’. Lance Corporal Craig Roberts, 24, Trooper Edward Maher, 31, and Corporal James Dunsby, 31, died on a 16-mile march in the Brecon Beacons, during which they were carrying 49lb of kit in 28C (82F).

At a 2015 inquest coroner Louise Hunt attacked ‘gross failures’ by those on the ground and ‘much higher up’.

The Service Prosecuting Authority confirmed charges had been directed against two SAS soldiers. They could face up to two years in prison and dismissal.

Corporal Dunsby’s father, David, said: ‘The charging of these two men is wrong. Faults were made by both… but not enough to have them being hung out to dry by those that are really at fault.’