By Lars Niven

THE FAMILY of a Black Watch soldier who died following an accident in Kosovo just over three years ago are to sue the Ministry of Defence for negligence.

Private Robert Donkin, from Rosyth, sustained fatal injuries as he helped escort a train carrying armoured vehicles out of the province.

Pte Donkin and another member of the regiment sustained severe burns in the accident on November 5, 2001.

The pair were evacuated back to Sellyoak Hospital in Birmingham, where the 24-year-old Pte Donkin died several days later. He never regained consciousness.

At the time the army said he was checking that the vehicles were securely loaded when he received an electric shock.

His parents, Bob and Margaret, have now raised a legal action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh, claiming their son died as a result of the MoD’s negligence.

The family’s solicitor, Jim McRae, told The Courier yesterday, “The action was raised not all that long ago.

“It’s a straightforward action for the MoD’s negligence in the particular circumstances at the time.

“There is a summons in the Court of Session and the MoD has lodged defences.”

Mr McRae said the Donkins hoped to get to the bottom of exactly how their son died.

They had been upset with recent stories about the accident from another soldier that were at odds with what emerged during the coroner’s inquest held in 2002.

“Recent stories have come out involving another soldier,” Mr McRae added.

“I am sure they were well-intentioned, but they have re-opened the whole thing.

“The bottom line is that things which are being said now are things which we knew nothing about.

“They are not in any way defamatory of their son. It’s just that the version of his death, which has appeared in various places, seems to suggest there’s more knowledge of what actually happened than came out at the official coroner’s inquest.

“That has brought the whole thing back.”

The case will be heard at the Court of Session later this year.