Chinook records must be safeguarded

The Ministry of Defence is to be urged to ensure it retains all official records pertaining to the RAF Chinook helicopter crash on the Mull of Kint yre on 2 June 1994.

The crash, in which 29 people were killed, involved leading security personnel from the army, MI5 and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

An RAF board of inquiry which cited gross negligence on behalf of the two pilots has since been overturned and the men were exonerated of any blame.

The families received an apology from the then defence secretary Li am Fox.

Yesterday commissioners approved a motion by the Very Rev Dr Alan Mcdonald from the Presbytery of Ross that the crash records be kept safe.

The motion read :“We are aware that the MOD is currently reviewing all the records of the case of the crash, and because of the understandable anxiety of the families, urge the MOD to ensure that all the records be kept in a safe place and not deleted.”

Rev Mcdonald said that on the night of the crash local people including those in the Coastguard, light housekeepers and Kirk ministers had rallied round to help.

The motion, which was also supported by Dr Alison Elliot of Grey friars Kirk in Edinburgh, noted that with the 25 th anniversary of the crash approaching the Kirk wanted to “assure the families of those who lost their lives that the Church of Scotland continues to keep them in its thoughts and prayers.”