The mother of a former Perth soldier who died at Deepcut Army barracks will continue to push for an inquiry into her son’s death
Yvonne Heath, nee Collinson, revealed she will attend a fresh inquest into the death of Private Sean Benton, and stressed she is still optimistic of achieving the same for her son, James.
She was speaking as a pre-inquest hearing took place to set out the legal procedure for the inquest into Pte Benton’s death. It will be held at Surrey Coroner’s Court in Woking in January.
Mrs Heath, 51, now of Cheshire, said she will travel to Pte Benton’s inquest to show her support for the families of the other young recruits who died at Deepcut Army barracks between 1995 and 2002.
Pte Benton was the first of the four soldiers to die at the site, in June 1995. Private Cheryl James, 18, from Llangollen, North Wales, was found dead at Deepcut in November the same year.
A second inquest into her death concluded she had shot herself after a series of disturbing incidents involving other soldiers.
Private Geoff Gray, 17, from Hackney, east London, was found dead with two gunshot wounds to his head on September 17, 2001, and Private James Collinson, 17, from Perth, was found dead with a single gunshot wound through his chin on March 23, 2002.
A Royal Military Police investigation led to an initial inquest into Pte Benton’s death recording a verdict of suicide. However, no evidence was heard about the teenager’s experiences at Deepcut during the inquest.
The fresh inquest in January is expected to hear details of Pte Benton’s state of mind, along with how he was assessed and disciplined during his Army career.
“It’s great that they are holding a fresh inquest into Sean’s death and I will be going along on some days to hear what is said,” she said.
“I’ve heard the full inquest will take around three months. I’ve also been focusing on the reams and reams of paperwork we have been given after the full disclosure has been released from Surrey Police following the original inquest into James’ death, which took place in 2006. Our legal team are now poring over the papers.”
She continued: “It’s absolutely ridiculous that it’s taken almost 20 years to get a new inquest into James’s death but his passing never goes away – you never forget. A lot of people don’t know what to say to the likes of myself, but it will stay with me for ever.
“However, it’s good to get the ball rolling with Sean’s new inquest and it’s a case of onwards and upwards for all the families.”
During the first inquest into James’ death it was suggested he had taken his own life. However, a jury disagreed and recorded an open verdict.
