Recent revelations have shown that the Ministry of Defence knew for nine months before the tragic 1994 crash, that the automatic engine control software – FADEC – in the Chinook Mark 2 was so unreliable as to be ‘positiver dangerous’,
Following the emergence of evidence to this effect, For Argyll asked all three Argyll-based elected representatives to use whatever channels are open to them to get action to clear the names of the two pilots, Jonathan Tapper and Rick Cook.
The young Flight Lieutenants were wrongly found guilty of ‘gross negligence’ in the crash of the RAF Chinook Mark 2 in Kintyre in 1994. This verdict was produced by two ‘senior’ RAF officers, sitting together in a third RAF internal inquiry and overturning the judgments of two previous investigations – and with no additional evidence. This outcome has been consistently challenged ever since, without success.
Jamie McGrigor, Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP, who says: ‘I well remember this terrible tragedy in 1994 which killed 29 people and shocked the people of Argyll to the core. Many were never happy with the MOD’s handling of events thereafter’.
Pointing out that: ‘Obviously this is a matter reserved to Westminster’, Jamie McGrigor has contacted the Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary, the Rt Hon Liam Fox MP.
Dr Fox came up with the fact that that the recently published Hadden-Cove report on the Nimrod crash sets an appropriate precedent. He has said to Jamie McGrigor that he feels it is time now to put this matter (the 1994 Kintyre Chinook crash) to rest and to try to establish the truth of what happened with an independent inquiry.
If the Conservative party wins the next general election they have now committed to launching such an independent inquiry which, as Jamie McGrigor says: ‘ will hopefully finally clear the brave pilots of any negligence’.
Argyll’s MSP, Jim Mather, quickly reported to us a strong statement – which he supports – by SNP Leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson.When we asked if Mr Robertson is to put down a parliamentary motion on the matter, Mr Mather went on to forward our enquiry on this to Mr Robertson. We have yet to get a response.
We have also yet to hear from Alan Reid, Argyll and Bute’s Liberal Democrat MP – but have no doubt that Mr Reid will be seeking action from his party on the matter. He and his predecessor, the late Ray Michie MP, showed consistent activity in seeking justice for the unfortunate pilots in this unhappy case.
This is so grave an injustice that it is beyond party politics. It is good to see Argyll’s representatives insisting on action to resolve a long standing wrong that is burned into the collective memory of Argyll.
Update 8th January: Jamie McGrigor has let us know that this issue was raised at Question Time in the House of Lords yesterday.
Result. Well done For Argyll and well done Jamie McGrigor. I now hope the Tories win and that this enquiry is one of the first things they get gong with. This verdict was always just plain wrong. They knew it was wrong because the did it that way on purpose. Was the problem the insurance claims they’d have faced for the lives of the 25 intelligence and police wallahs they also killed? Won’t they still face these claims? I hope they pay big time – it’s the only language they understand. But I’d like to see the families of the pilots get some relief. They’ve been tortured by the undeserved slur on the names of their dead sons.
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I have been interested and involved in this on a personal basis since shortly after the incident took place and then from 1999 while working first for Duncan Hamilton and latterly for Jim Mather, regularly raising the matter in the press and through official channels on behalf of constituents in supporting efforts on behalf of the aircrew’s grieving parents and others who could identify the blatant injustice of the MoD verdict. There was/is no EVIDENCE to support the final determination and this remains as a shameful incident.
I genuinely hope that Jamie McGrigor is successful in his attempts. We should recall that it is with the benefit of hindsight that the Tories are now centrally concerned about this and both John Major and Malcolm Rifkind have called for a reversal of the MoD verdict. They were in power for some years after the incident and, at that time, strenuously resisted such calls for action. Similarly the Labour administration’s failure/refusal over twelve long years to do anything sits ill with their previous vigorous demands for action when they were in opposition.
Hyak above suggests that the MoD should be brought to book and charged mightily in cash terms as if that would be some sanction. Does Hyak not realise that the MoD are spendthrift and irresponsible with OUR money and in OUR name and there are numerous recent examples of that through Iraq 1, Iraq 2 and Afghanistan as well as countless other examples in procurement and supply. The only method of sanction would be to examine the evidence and bring forward the sort of verdict that they are apparently happy to award to brave young experienced servicemen.Sack the incompetents and reduce their pensions to normal levels; strip them of the baubles that they will inevitably covet and don’t allow them to enter the Lords -then watch them squirm.
As suggested in a broadsheet earlier this week ; “they could not pour p*ss from an army boot if the instructions were printed on the base of the heel.”
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I think I will launch a new political word. ” Brassneckery”.
It takes some brass neck to call when you are in opposition for a reversal of a ridiculous decision which you were responsible for and supported furiously when you were in power.
Is there an election in the offing by any chance?
Is Jamie MacGrigor learning from Alan Reid’s antics?
Is Jamie Macgrigor trying to undermine the actual Tory candidate?
Are we about to see another change of candidate from that region?
The SNP has been calling for the Chinook travesty to be exposed to the light of day for a decade at least.
Is For Argyll really as naive as this?
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Two things – one for Ken MacColl and one for Willi McEwan.
Ken MacColl is right. it’s not about payment. I hadn’t the imagination to see the range of appropriate punishments he’s come up with but I buy into every syllable and I like the fire of it..
Willi McEwan, look man, in my book the Tories will win the election and if McGrigor’s got a commitment from Fox to set up an independent enquiry then that’s what’s needed to get this immoral mess sorted and it won’t happen any sooner, will it? This stuff’s bigger than any party.
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Hiyak
I agree fully. This is bigger than any party, but the fact remains that both Tory and Labour resisted calls for this outrageous decision to be exposed when they were in power so that should be noted.
And the SNP in Westinster has brought the matter up several times without any support whatsoever from the Tories.
It’s easy to make noise when you are in opposition but the fact that the Labour Party is going into meltdown makes the Tory change of heart more interesting.
I suspect however there was some other factor here which we do not know about.
Interesting point about Jamie MacGrigor/Gary Mulvaney. Caroline Brodie was the chosen Tory candidate but she disappeared to be replaced by Gary Mulvaney. I understand Jamie MacGrigor wanted the candidacy. Is there something going on I wonder.
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interesting to see so many argyll tories wanting the parties nomination as general election candidate contrast with the snp and their failed council candidate mr mckenzie
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kintyre1
So you confirm that Argyll Tories are divided and thinking of changing their candidate yet again. This kind of stuff goes on all the time in A&B Tories since the time of John Corrie as their candidate. One unfortunate candidate was removed as he lay greviously ill in a hospital bed. Nice people.
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kintyre1 ;
Dear oh dear, can always be relied upon to lower the tone although as so often in the past he appears to have once again shot himself and his cause in the foot
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