Court martial clears marines of ‘family time’ punishments

TWO Royal Marine corporals, accused of overseeing meetings where “sinister” punishments were handed out, did not mistreat colleagues, a court martial has ruled.

Cpl Philip Beer, 34, and Cpl Danny Foster, 30, were said to have been complicit in such forfeits as being whipped and forced to shave off body hair.

One of the marines claimed he had been made to perform a sex act while watching military themed gay porn after he failed a map reading test.

The ordeals were allegedly handed out nightly gatherings of 43 Commando troop, known as “family time”, which were used to deal with professional failings. Two marines told the court that the corporals oversaw meetings and meted out punishment from the back of the room.

However, the court heard the punishments were actually decided by the marines within the troop and Cpl Foster insisted he would “steer clear”.

“As a corporal, I tried to be as professional as possible,” he said. “I would sit at the back of family time to ensure the marines did not go too far. I had done my time as a junior marine and been part of the forfeits, but now I wanted to just let the lads crack on.”

Portsmouth Military Court heard how the unit gathered each night during an operation at HMNB Clyde, known as Faslane, and the Royal Naval Armaments Depot in Couplort, in Scotland, playing a version of the television game show Deal or No Deal to decide punishments, during which one of them pretended to be the show’s presenter Noel Edmonds.

Cpl Foster was cleared of three counts of ill-treatment of a subordinate, Cpl Beer was cleared of two counts.