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Answers sought over soldier death Answers sought over soldier death
(about 14 hours later)
The mother of a Kent soldier killed in Afghanistan is to meet the defence secretary over issues raised at an inquest into his death. The mother of a Kent soldier killed in Afghanistan has told the defence secretary that she believes her son may have died needlessly.
Elaine McCulloch-Brandt said questions remained unanswered over the death of her son in a mortar attack. An inquest ruled that L/Cpl Luke McCulloch, 21, of Gillingham, was unlawfully killed in September 2006.
An inquest has ruled that L/Cpl Luke McCulloch, 21, of Gillingham, was unlawfully killed in September 2006. Elaine McCulloch-Brandt said questions remained unanswered over his death in a mortar attack in the Helmand Province.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said "all available measures" were taken to minimise risks.A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said "all available measures" were taken to minimise risks.
Before the meeting, Mrs McCulloch-Brandt said she believed that army statements during the inquest were conflicting, adding: "All I want is the truth." Before meeting Des Brown, Mrs McCulloch-Brandt said she believed that army statements during the inquest were conflicting, adding: "All I want is the truth."
'Peace of mind''Peace of mind'
She said she was hoping defence secretary Des Browne would help her find out what went wrong. She said she was hoping the defence secretary would help her find out what went wrong.
She claimed an order for soldiers to get under hard cover never reached her son, and she said: "If they've messed up, they must just tell me so, and let me get some peace of mind."She claimed an order for soldiers to get under hard cover never reached her son, and she said: "If they've messed up, they must just tell me so, and let me get some peace of mind."
The inquest heard how L/Cpl McCulloch had come off sentry duty in sweltering conditions and removed his protective gear to have a meal at the compound in the Helmand Province. The inquest heard how L/Cpl McCulloch had come off sentry duty in sweltering conditions and removed his protective gear to have a meal at the compound.
But an order was in place that soldiers should be in a bunker when they took helmets and body armour off.But an order was in place that soldiers should be in a bunker when they took helmets and body armour off.
Protective clothing
L/Cpl McCulloch had gone against orders by not wearing protective gear while out in the open, the hearing was told.L/Cpl McCulloch had gone against orders by not wearing protective gear while out in the open, the hearing was told.
But Sgt Maj Michael Bolton told the inquest there was insufficient "hard cover" to accommodate everyone.But Sgt Maj Michael Bolton told the inquest there was insufficient "hard cover" to accommodate everyone.
Oxfordshire Assistant Deputy Coroner Andrew Walker said: "There were orders which, had they been adhered to and workable, would have prevented L/Cpl McCulloch and others from sleeping and preparing for duty outside of the protective bunker without wearing their protective clothing." Oxfordshire assistant deputy coroner Andrew Walker said: "There were orders which, had they been adhered to and workable, would have prevented L/Cpl McCulloch and others from sleeping and preparing for duty outside of the protective bunker without wearing their protective clothing."
During Tuesday's meeting, Mr Brown told Mrs McCulloch-Brandt that her son's death was a tragedy, and she said he promised to look into anything that she felt had not yet been addressed.