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Mother in Snatch vehicle victory | Mother in Snatch vehicle victory |
(20 minutes later) | |
The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq has won the right to a judicial review of the government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into Snatch Land Rovers. | The mother of a soldier killed in Iraq has won the right to a judicial review of the government's refusal to hold a public inquiry into Snatch Land Rovers. |
Susan Smith, of Tamworth, Staffs, whose son Phillip Hewett, 21, died in 2005, is challenging the use of the vehicles in Afghanistan and Iraq. | |
But Mr Justice Mitting said the review would not cover the present and future use of the lightly armoured vehicles. | But Mr Justice Mitting said the review would not cover the present and future use of the lightly armoured vehicles. |
They have been criticised for offering poor protection from bomb blasts. | They have been criticised for offering poor protection from bomb blasts. |
The High Court heard that 37 soldiers had died in Iraq and Afghanistan while using the vehicles since 2005. | The High Court heard that 37 soldiers had died in Iraq and Afghanistan while using the vehicles since 2005. |
However, the judge said the vehicles' present and future deployment was "unimpeachable" in the courts. | However, the judge said the vehicles' present and future deployment was "unimpeachable" in the courts. |
Ms Smith's son, a private in the 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment, and two other soldiers were killed in the Al Amarah region of Iraq on 16 July 2005. | Ms Smith's son, a private in the 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment, and two other soldiers were killed in the Al Amarah region of Iraq on 16 July 2005. |
Pte Hewett was driving a Snatch Land Rover when it was hit by a roadside bomb attack on three of the vehicles on patrol. | Pte Hewett was driving a Snatch Land Rover when it was hit by a roadside bomb attack on three of the vehicles on patrol. |
Mr Justice Mitting said three issues could be investigated if a full inquiry is held: | |
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| After the decision Ms Smith said she was "delighted". |
"It is only the first stage, but I am just glad that someone is listening. It isn't just me. You have got three other families here who have lost their sons, all in similar circumstances," she said. | |
The Snatch was originally designed for use in Northern Ireland as a cheap and quick way of moving troops about. | The Snatch was originally designed for use in Northern Ireland as a cheap and quick way of moving troops about. |