Impunity

LONDON MEETING ON IMPUNITY

Our aims are for the protection of human rights For Truth, Justice and Change

TRUTH -

we want to find out how our children died

sick of lies and cover ups

JUSTICE -

we want those responsible for brought before the courts

where there is neglect, bullying, injuries or murder.. perpetrators must be charged

at Deepcut, Catterick, Northern Ireland and overseas bullies are getting away with murder

CHANGE -

we want to prevent more deaths in future

Army needs independent mechanism to investigate incidents

Zero tolerance not enough: needs prosecutions

EXAMPLES:

Leslie Skinner

convicted of sexual offences in Northern Ireland

court martialled and demoted but kept in the Army

sent to Deepcut barracks to train 17 year-old recruits

he used his rank to secure compliance

he committed multiple sexual assaults and male rape

not one victim had confidence to complain officially

offences only discovered through outside investigation

Army allowed abuse to continue

Surrey Police uncovered complaint book - but no action taken

record shows female victim of serious sexual assault warned against complaining

David Shipley

another Deepcut soldier - aged 20

drowned in barracks in Germany in 6 inches of water - July 2002

inquest in August - open verdict

Coroner: soldiers' evidence 'bore all hallmarks of concocted story'

what action has been taken against these soldiers?

what role did military authorities play in hiding truth?

why did they think they could get away with it?

Jason Pears

died September 2002 aged 31 - crushed between two tanks

story of how the accident happened didn't make sense

when questions were asked: Army tried to blame the victim

turned out Jason was a hero - saved another soldier's life

Coroner's verdict: unlawful killing - but no prosecution

how far up chain of command does responsibility rest?

IMPUNITY

Impunity discredits the Army

undermines peacekeeping; undermines discipline

Impunity means soldiers - often officers - are getting away with murder

even when they are brought to court - the army sticks up for them

the perpetrator always has a 'fine army record' and a promising career

they get cut-rate sentences;

they are straight back in the army and often promoted

Three Principles

All deaths and serious incidents must be investigated independently

Those responsible must be brought to justice

Mistakes must be corrected - needs new and changed institutions

Family involvement

is not just about respect and compassion for bereaved

Involvement of relatives is critical for truth - we won't settle for less

families have no hidden agenda - justice is necessary for closure

families of victims must be brought in as guarantors of change




	LONDON MEETING ON IMPUNITY Geoff Gray Spoke on behalf of Deepcut & Beyond families group campaigning for public inquiry into non-combat deaths in armed services: Our aims are for the protection of human rights For Truth, Justice and Change TRUTH - we want to find out how our children died sick of lies and cover ups JUSTICE - we want those responsible for brought before the courts where there is neglect, bullying, injuries or murder.. perpetrators must be charged at Deepcut, Catterick, Northern Ireland and overseas bullies are getting away with murder CHANGE - we want to prevent more deaths in future Army needs independent mechanism to investigate incidents Zero tolerance not enough: needs prosecutions EXAMPLES: Leslie Skinner convicted of sexual offences in Northern Ireland court martialled and demoted but kept in the Army sent to Deepcut barracks to train 17 year-old recruits he used his rank to secure compliance he committed multiple sexual assaults and male rape not one victim had confidence to complain officially offences only discovered through outside investigation Army allowed abuse to continue Surrey Police uncovered complaint book - but no action taken record shows female victim of serious sexual assault warned against complaining David Shipley another Deepcut soldier - aged 20 drowned in barracks in Germany in 6 inches of water - July 2002 inquest in August - open verdict Coroner: soldiers' evidence 'bore all hallmarks of concocted story' what action has been taken against these soldiers? what role did military authorities play in hiding truth? why did they think they could get away with it? Jason Pears died September 2002 aged 31 - crushed between two tanks story of how the accident happened didn't make sense when questions were asked: Army tried to blame the victim turned out Jason was a hero - saved another soldier's life Coroner's verdict: unlawful killing - but no prosecution how far up chain of command does responsibility rest? IMPUNITY Impunity discredits the Army undermines peacekeeping; undermines discipline Impunity means soldiers - often officers - are getting away with murder even when they are brought to court - the army sticks up for them the perpetrator always has a 'fine army record' and a promising career they get cut-rate sentences; they are straight back in the army and often promoted Three Principles All deaths and serious incidents must be investigated independently Those responsible must be brought to justice Mistakes must be corrected - needs new and changed institutions Family involvement is not just about respect and compassion for bereaved Involvement of relatives is critical for truth - we won't settle for less families have no hidden agenda - justice is necessary for closure families of victims must be brought in as guarantors of change