MOD told 'actions speak louder than words' after long awaited law finally passed

Families of those killed in the Chinook air disaster have warned the MOD that "actions speak louder than words" after the government introduced the so-called Hillsborough law. The Public Office (Accountability) Bill places a new legal duty on public servants to act truthfully and fully support investigations into the state, ensuring wrongdoing is not concealed and delivering justice for victims.

The families of those killed when a Chinook helicopter crashed into the Mull of Kintyre have previously accused the MOD of covering up the circumstances that led to the crash, with the organisation sealing crucial documents for a century. The Chinook Justice campaign have previously been a vocal advocate for the bill's introduction and have called on the government to hold a public enquiry into the circumstances around the disaster. Andy Tobias who was eight when his father Lt Col John Tobias was killed, 41 told the Daily Express: "We stand full-square behind the Hillsborough families, the nuclear test veterans, the Post Office sub-postmasters, the infected blood victims, and those affected by many other state cover ups, in saying that enough is enough.

"We need a legal Duty of Candour placed on all public bodies, including the MoD, so that no other family has to suffer for so long and to battle so hard in future to get truth, transparency and justice.

29 people including soldiers, policemen and members of the intelligence services were killed in the flight, which was allowed to take off despite serious safety failings being expressed in the days and weeks leading up to the crash.

A former RAF squadron leader, who conducted tests on the Chinook helicopter fleet, has revealed that the crashed aircraft's final journey - which killed 29 people - was ordered into the air as a "show flight" to prove that the upgraded Mark 2 Chinook was 'safe'.

The aircraft was considered by test engineers "not to be relied upon in any way whatsoever", whilst it was known that it was prone to experiencing "unpredictable malfunctions" as well as "shutdowns and surges in power".

So grave were the concerns that Flight Lieutenant Jonathan Tapper had asked for a mk1 version of the aircraft to be made available for a flight taking senior officers, members of the royal Ulster Police Force and Mi5 from Northern Ireland to a conference in Scotland. His request was denied.

His co-pilot that night Flight Lieutenant Rick Cook had on several occasions asked his father for reassurance that he would look after his family should the worst happen and had increased his life insurance payout in the months prior.

Tobias added: "But what we need to see now is real action. Ministers can't promote their commitment to candour on one hand and refuse to meet us or release the documents sealed for 100 years, on the other. Actions speak much louder than words."

In the aftermath of the crash, the MOD wrongly blamed the pilots for gross negligence despite failing to provide any evidence to support the claim and a post-incident report discounting the role of human error.

It would take 17 years of battling against deliberate MOD obstruction for the pilots to be exonerated of blame.

Chris Cook, whose pilot brother Rick was killed in the 1994 crash, said: "The MOD has become the Ministry of Deceit. It lies, it obfuscates and it squirrels away its mistakes until it is found out - just as it has with the MOD crash.

"It took us 17 years to clear my brother's name, and all that time the MOD claimed information didn't exist - until we found it and then they questioned how we got the information.

"The MOD has become the Ministry of Deceit. It lies, it obfuscates and it squirrels away its mistakes until it is found out - just as it has with the MOD crash.

"It's time for truth and transparency at the MOD and it's time for the Prime Minister to step in and clear up the MOD's many outstanding cases of deception, with a legal duty of candour imposed."

Solicitor Hilary Meredith-Beckham, who has spent decades acting for service personnel, veterans and their families believes that the law will "shake the MOD to its core".

He said: "For 37 years I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of families being misled by the MoD, over the deaths of their loved ones.

"At the end of the day, the MoD's tactics and delays only serve to pile on the grief for families and ramp up the legal costs.

"This has included climbing mountains to the site of an accident, obtaining information through the back door interviewing witnesses all over the world, never giving up and piecing together the giant jigsaw puzzle until the final piece slots into place and the whole shocking picture becomes apparent.

"The MoD along with other government departments has also been able to spend taxpayers' money at will. Families of the bereaved have had no access to legal aid - instead having to rely on lawyers like me who are prepared to put their lives, businesses and homes on the line to fight the establishment.

"Hopefully, with Hillsborough Law, this will change and there will be a level legal playfield and no more David v Goliath."

An MOD spokesperson said: "The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident, and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died. We understand that the lack of certainty about the cause of the crash has added to the distress of the families.

"We provided a detailed and considered response to the pre-action protocol letter stating the reasons why we cannot accept the demand for establishing a new Public Inquiry. It's unlikely that a Public Inquiry would identify any new evidence or reach new conclusions on the basis of existing evidence.

"The accident has already been the subject of six inquiries and investigations, including an independent Judge-led review."