Thirty-one years since the Chinook Zulu Delta 576 Crash: Howard Kennedy calls for full public inquiry

Monday 2 June marked the 31st anniversary of the unexplained Chinook Zulu Delta 576 crash on the Mull of Kintyre and following several months of correspondence, we have (through our team: Mark Stephens CBE, Tim Bignell and Rufus Scholefield) formally served a pre-action letter on HM Government, seeking a full public inquiry. Sam Jacobs, assisted by Percy Preston, at Doughty Street Chambers leads the Counsel team.

This is a pivotal step in our ongoing efforts to seek an explanation for each of the 29 families, who have lived without husbands and children who have lived without fathers, because of the 1994 Mull of Kintyre unexplained crash killing security service and special forces personnel, and illustrates the meaningful role of our pro bono efforts – advocating for those directly impacted and ensuring that voices which might otherwise go unheard are acknowledged. We are committed to justice that goes beyond legal advocacy.
 
The Government narrative has changed over time: at first blaming the crash on 'pilot error': then, 17 years later, apologising and saying it wasn’t pilot error. Rather that it was a 'tragic accident' without any proper or full investigation. John Major (then PM) and Malcolm Rifkind (then Defence Secretary) are on record as saying they believe they were, either misled (or not told the full truth.) Now, it is said by the MoD that (unspecified) 'privacy rights' under data protection laws, are preventing disclosure of the relevant secret material. As many will know lawyers and courts routinely redact names where there are GDPR concerns.
 
The papers were unprecedentedly sealed as, 'Official Secrets'. First for 15 years. Then for 30 years. And now 100 years. The only way that these documents will be examined is through a Judge-led Public Inquiry so that the Judge (who is security cleared) can responsibly see (for the very first time) the secret material and determine: (1.) if it has probative value and (2.) if it was properly sealed and continues to be a security risk for 100 years. Or whether this is merely covering up an embarrassment of the past?
 
Please follow news at: Chinook Justice Campaign and watch their powerful Father's Day film - created by the sons and daughters of those lost - here. 
 
This injustice continues to draw significant public concern and media attention as to the very many unresolved questions, with a significant number of news items published in respect of the commencement of legal proceedings, including prominent coverage by the BBC, BBC Radio 4 Today Programme, The Times, The Guardian  and The Sunday Telegraph. Additionally, you can find links to the two-part BBC Documentary which raises the unanswered questions about the Chinook: Zulu Delta 576 crash here: (Part One and Part Two).