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| MoD denies access to files for Deepcut soldier's family | |
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| The family of a teenage soldier who died after being shot twice in the head at the Deepcut barracks have been denied access to a cache of files they believe could shed light on his death, the Guardian can reveal. | The family of a teenage soldier who died after being shot twice in the head at the Deepcut barracks have been denied access to a cache of files they believe could shed light on his death, the Guardian can reveal. |
| Geoff and Diane Gray wrote to army chiefs earlier this month asking for access to information they believe would lead to a fresh inquest into the death of their son Geoff in 2001 at the barracks in Surrey. | Geoff and Diane Gray wrote to army chiefs earlier this month asking for access to information they believe would lead to a fresh inquest into the death of their son Geoff in 2001 at the barracks in Surrey. |
| Their hopes were raised in March when the family of Cheryl James, another of the four soldiers who died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002, persuaded the courts to look again at her case after unearthing fresh evidence. But the refusal to disclose any information in his son's case led Geoff Gray Sr to describe the army as "pathetic". | Their hopes were raised in March when the family of Cheryl James, another of the four soldiers who died at Deepcut between 1995 and 2002, persuaded the courts to look again at her case after unearthing fresh evidence. But the refusal to disclose any information in his son's case led Geoff Gray Sr to describe the army as "pathetic". |
| "They have said we can submit a freedom of information request instead," he told the Guardian. "I am asking about my dead son here, not about the number of shovels and spades they bought at Deepcut." | "They have said we can submit a freedom of information request instead," he told the Guardian. "I am asking about my dead son here, not about the number of shovels and spades they bought at Deepcut." |
| He added that, despite being a staunch supporter of the army, he was "very, very critical" of it over its handling of his son's case. | He added that, despite being a staunch supporter of the army, he was "very, very critical" of it over its handling of his son's case. |
| Private Geoff Gray died aged 17 in 2001 while on night-time guard duty at Deepcut barracks. He was found with two gunshot wounds to the head and the Ministry of Defence assumed he took his own life. But his family have always insisted there was evidence that another soldier fired his weapon that evening and claim additional evidence was destroyed. | Private Geoff Gray died aged 17 in 2001 while on night-time guard duty at Deepcut barracks. He was found with two gunshot wounds to the head and the Ministry of Defence assumed he took his own life. But his family have always insisted there was evidence that another soldier fired his weapon that evening and claim additional evidence was destroyed. |
| Gray's death followed those of Privates Sean Benton and Cheryl James in 1995. In 2002, Private James Collinson became the fourth soldier to die in suspicious circumstances at Deepcut. | Gray's death followed those of Privates Sean Benton and Cheryl James in 1995. In 2002, Private James Collinson became the fourth soldier to die in suspicious circumstances at Deepcut. |
| The authorities have resisted calls to hold a public inquiry into the deaths and the barracks has since been shut. | The authorities have resisted calls to hold a public inquiry into the deaths and the barracks has since been shut. |
| "If they want a transparent organisation that looks after young recruits, they have got to look after them in death as well as in life," Gray said. | "If they want a transparent organisation that looks after young recruits, they have got to look after them in death as well as in life," Gray said. |
| "I think [army officers] sit in ivory towers. They say time after time there will be change." | "I think [army officers] sit in ivory towers. They say time after time there will be change." |
| He said that the army promised to learn from its mistakes after the inquest into the death of military policewoman Corporal Anne-Marie Ellement criticised its care of vulnerable soldiers. "It is just a spiel they put out," he said. | He said that the army promised to learn from its mistakes after the inquest into the death of military policewoman Corporal Anne-Marie Ellement criticised its care of vulnerable soldiers. "It is just a spiel they put out," he said. |
| In a letter to the family's lawyer, John Cooper QC, the army said it would not release any information because it was under no legal obligation to do so. | In a letter to the family's lawyer, John Cooper QC, the army said it would not release any information because it was under no legal obligation to do so. |
| Cooper said: "The family of Private Gray are very upset at the content and tone of the reply from the MoD. Significantly, the ministry do not refute that they may have significant material hitherto not given to the family. | Cooper said: "The family of Private Gray are very upset at the content and tone of the reply from the MoD. Significantly, the ministry do not refute that they may have significant material hitherto not given to the family. |
| "The fact that the MoD insist that the bereaved family have to go through a Freedom of Information Act procedure has caused my clients both anger and upset, reminding them of the dismissive way the MoD have dealt with them from the very first days of their sons death. But they would like to reassure the ministry, through me, that this matter is not going away." | "The fact that the MoD insist that the bereaved family have to go through a Freedom of Information Act procedure has caused my clients both anger and upset, reminding them of the dismissive way the MoD have dealt with them from the very first days of their sons death. But they would like to reassure the ministry, through me, that this matter is not going away." |
| The letter from the army secretariat, seen by the Guardian, also said that both Surrey police and Sir Nicholas Blake QC were given access to the documents while they were conducting their own, separate investigations. | The letter from the army secretariat, seen by the Guardian, also said that both Surrey police and Sir Nicholas Blake QC were given access to the documents while they were conducting their own, separate investigations. |
| The 2006 Blake review, which the army's letter said had the full support of the MoD, found that Private Gray committed suicide, despite a coroner having returned an open verdict in 2002. | The 2006 Blake review, which the army's letter said had the full support of the MoD, found that Private Gray committed suicide, despite a coroner having returned an open verdict in 2002. |
| But Geoff Gray said that he believed the army was holding information that Blake had not seen because it related to an army board of inquiry that postdated his review and should therefore be released. | But Geoff Gray said that he believed the army was holding information that Blake had not seen because it related to an army board of inquiry that postdated his review and should therefore be released. |
| The letter also noted that the family was entitled to request files under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) if they wanted to. But it suggested they would have to pay for the request to be dealt with because it would exceed the £600 cost limit imposed on central government. | The letter also noted that the family was entitled to request files under the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) if they wanted to. But it suggested they would have to pay for the request to be dealt with because it would exceed the £600 cost limit imposed on central government. |
| Gray said: "I would have thought that, with the Ministry of Defence saying they are going to be more transparent, there wouldn't be a problem getting the files. | Gray said: "I would have thought that, with the Ministry of Defence saying they are going to be more transparent, there wouldn't be a problem getting the files. |
| "It is not a trivial FoI. I am asking for files on my dead son, who died under their care. I can't, for the life of me, work out why." | "It is not a trivial FoI. I am asking for files on my dead son, who died under their care. I can't, for the life of me, work out why." |
| The family have already been promised access to police files on their son's death and Gray said he intended to review them. He said he would discuss his options with his lawyer before deciding his next step. | The family have already been promised access to police files on their son's death and Gray said he intended to review them. He said he would discuss his options with his lawyer before deciding his next step. |
| The MoD did not respond to a request for comment. | The MoD did not respond to a request for comment. |