The granting of a second inquest into the death of a soldier at Deepcut Army barracks has given “fresh hope” to a former Perth mother.
On Friday it was announced the Attorney General has allowed a new hearing into the death of Private Sean Benton.
That has given new hope to Yvonne Heath (formerly Collinson) who said she is confident the authorities will also allow another investigation into the death of her son, James.
The new hearing was made possible by Private Benton’s mother Linda who, before her death last year, used the Human Rights Act to access evidence held by Surrey Police.
The original inquest, which the family of Private Benton said took less than two hours, recorded a verdict of suicide.
A criminal investigation seven years later found no evidence of third party involvement.
Private Benton was the first of four young soldiers to die at the barracks between 1995 and 2002.
Private Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, North Wales, shot herself in November 1995, according to a second inquest into her death which concluded in June.
Private Geoff Gray, 17, from Hackney, east London, was found dead with two gunshot wounds to his head on September 17 2001.
Private James Collinson, 17, from Perth, was found dead with a single gunshot wound through his chin on March 23, 2002.
Mrs Heath, described the announcement of the second hearing into Private Benton’s death as “brilliant news.”
“Two down, two to go and it sets us up for a second inquest into James’ death,” she said.
“It’s a case of onwards and upwards for us and gives us fresh hope we will at last get to the bottom of how James died.
“Hopefully we will be lodging our application to allow a second inquest into his death fairly soon – it’s currently in the hands of our solicitors.”
“We have finally got full disclosure from Surrey Police – it has taken 14 years but we got there in the end.
“Our lawyers are going through all the documents now.
“Once the inquest into Sean Benton’s death is concluded we can move on to James. This announcement bodes well for us.”
Private Benton’s family are represented by human rights organisation Liberty, who believe he was subjected to severe bullying at Deepcut Army barracks in Surrey.
Tracy Lewis, sister of the late Sean Benton, said it has taken 21 years to secure the “thorough, independent inquiry” the family should have seen immediately after his death.
“For that reason, our parents are not here with us to see this day,” she said.
“For two decades, our family has been tormented by questions about what Sean went through at Deepcut.”
A date for the fresh inquest has yet to be set.
