The mother of a Perth soldier who died at Deepcut Army barracks has vowed to have the original findings of the inquest into her son’s death overturned, it has been revealed.
On Friday, Mrs Yvonne Heath (formerly Collinson), said the next stage for her legal team will be to apply to the Attorney General to do so, but admits the lengthy process, which has taken 14 years, has “worn” her down.
Her son, James, 17, died at Deepcut in Surrey in 2002, but Mrs Heath has always felt there were suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. Private Collinson was one of four young recruits to die at Deepcut between1995 to 2002.
Private Sean Benton, 20, was the first to be found dead at the Army barracks in June 1995, to be followed by Private Cheryl James, 18, who was found with a bullet wound to her head in November the same year.
Then Private Geoff Gray, 17, was found with two bullet wounds to his head in 2001, and finally, Private Collinson who was found with a single gunshot wound through his chin in 2002.
Mrs Heath spoke on the same day His Honour Coroner Brian Barker QC issued his findings into the second inquiry into the death of Private James. This inquest began in February and heard from more than 100 witnesses.
On Friday, Mr Barker firstly said he felt the parents of Private James had “waited far too long” for a proper examination into their daughter’s death, and Mrs Collinson said she feels this was the same scenario that faced her family following the inquest into her son’s death.
“We have been in limbo with the inquest into Cheryl James taking place, and have been waiting to hear what happened,” she said.”
“However, once this is complete we will really start working to apply to the Attorney General to have the findings of the original inquest into James’s death overturned. I understand the family of Sean Benton are doing the same.”
Mrs Heath had previously revealed that her son’s body had been examined for homosexual activity following his death but feels disappointed that the allegations of sexual assaults and bullying were not touched upon in Mr Barker’s findings on Friday.
“There is a charge of rape which I understand the coroner will mention but I’m not holding my breath about his findings – we’ve been here before,” she added.
“The coroner also said Deepcut failed in their duty of care, which is stating the obvious. As James was only 17 when he signed up the Army effectively took on his parental responsibility, but they failed big time.
“That has all changed now which is good. It would be good if lessons had been learnt at Deepcut but I feel they were not.”
The coroner also found no basis in evidence that Private Cheryl James was “somehow sexualised” but said more should have been done about sexual relations at Deepcut.
Mrs Heath said she feels let down by the legal system but has vowed to fight on.
“We’ve been looking into the reasons for James’s death for 14 years and it has worn me down,” she added.
“When I look back at photographs from years back I realise how much I have aged, but you have to fight on.”