The mother of a Perth soldier who died at the Deepcut army barracks along with three other recruits said the parents have been given “hope” following a new ruling.
Yvonne Heath, formerly Collinson, told The Courier she was “delighted” to hear of the announcement that Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC has allowed the parents of Private Cheryl James to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into her death in 1995.
Her parents were backed by the human rights campaign group Liberty in asking for a fresh inquest into her death.
Pte James, 18, was one of four young soldiers who died at Deepcut barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002. The families of the recruits have since campaigned for a public inquiry into their deaths.
Mrs Heath revealed she had known about the call for a new inquest for some time and said it gives all of the recruits’ parents optimism.
“I’m delighted to hear this and don’t see why the High Court would refuse this request for another inquest,” she said.
“It’s great news for Des and Doreen James. It’s nearly 20 years since Cheryl died, so this will give her parents some closure.”
Mrs Heath whose book on her son’s tragic death, A Mother’s War, was published in May last year said her legal team is still trying to get documents from Surrey Police regarding the death of James, 17.
One of the questions she wants answered is why a chauffeur parked at the barracks for a wedding on the night James died had not been questioned.