Pete Wishart has stated he will campaign for a full public inquiry to get the truth behind the deaths of four young recruits at Deepcut Army Barracks.
The Perth and North Perthshire MP said he will raise the issue at the House of Commons, stating he feels the families of the soldiers “deserve to know the full truth about what happened to their loved ones.”
Mr Wishart made his comments in the wake of Coroner Brian Barker QC releasing his findings on the second inquest into the death of Private Cheryl James, 18, who died at Deepcut in November 1995. This followed the death of Private Sean Benton, 20, who was found dead at the Army barracks in Surrey in June the same year.
Private Geoff Gray, 17, was then found with two gunshot wounds to his head in September 2001 and Private James Collinson, of Perth, was found dead with a single gunshot wound in March 2002.
The families of all the recruits have called for a public inquiry into their deaths, and Mr Wishart claims this is the only outcome that will shed light on what happened to the young recruits.
The SNP politician has described the results of the inquest into the death of Private James as “disappointing,” but said he welcomed many of the comments from the Coroner who, while determining that there was no evidence that Private James was unlawfully killed, nevertheless, said that Deepcut had failed in its duty of care towards young recruits.
“Having been the local MP representing the Collinson family at the time of the Coroner’s open verdict on the death of James Collinson, I have had a long involvement with the issues relating to a number of deaths at Deepcut Barracks,” he said on Tuesday.
“The outcome of the inquest into Private James’ death is disappointing but I do welcome the comments by the Coroner on the ‘culture of bullying and sexualisation’ at Deepcut.
“I intend to raise this in Parliament and will continue to press for a full public inquiry. These families deserve to know the full truth about what happened to their loved ones.”
This view has been backed by General Sir Nick Carter, the head of the Army, who said a public inquiry could be held if it was considered to be the “best method” of reaching the truth.
He spoke after Coroner Barker’s findings were released on Friday.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Carter said: “If that’s the best method of getting to the heart of the matter then I guess that should be the way that we go.”
And General Lord Dannatt, a former chief of the general staff, had said on BBC’s Newsnight programme: “Yes, there should be a public inquiry. I think that’s the only practical and reasonable response to this because I think people have a right to know.
“I would stress again that if there are individuals who went through training at Deepcut, or indeed elsewhere, and believe that they suffered bullying or sexual harassment, that’s not been investigated, they should complain.”
Mrs Heath, nee Collinson, has vowed to fight for a second inquest into her son’s death.