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Browne to receive Chinook dossier Hopes over Chinook crash dossier
(about 12 hours later)
New evidence which could clear the names of the two RAF pilots killed in the 1994 Mull of Kintyre helicopter crash is to be presented later. Campaigners have said they are "cautiously optimistic" two RAF pilots killed in the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash will be cleared of blame.
The Mull of Kintyre parliamentary group will meet Defence Secretary Des Browne, who has agreed to re-investigate, to hand over a dossier of its findings. Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook, who died along with 27 others, were accused of gross negligence.
The helicopter crash, which happened in thick fog en route from Northern Ireland to Inverness, killed 29 people. The Mull of Kintyre parliamentary group has met Defence Secretary Des Browne, who has agreed to consider their dossier of evidence.
Mr Browne has pledged to give the information "serious consideration".
Lord O'Neill, who chairs the Mull of Kintyre campaign group at Westminster, said he believed the defence secretary would be left with no option but to clear the pilots.
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: "The secretary of state has agreed to give serious consideration to (the report's) content.
"The MoD has always stated that if new evidence were presented it would be closely examined and, if appropriate, consideration would be given to reviewing the case.
"But this does not as yet amount to an agreement to review the case."
The helicopter crash happened in thick fog en route from Northern Ireland to Inverness.
An RAF inquiry blamed "gross negligence" by the pilots.An RAF inquiry blamed "gross negligence" by the pilots.
Jonathan Tapper and Richard Cook, who died in the crash, were initially cleared of blame. Mr Tapper and Mr Cook were initially cleared of blame.
But the decision was overturned two years after a fatal accident inquiry by two senior RAF officers, who claimed they had been flying too fast and too low in thick fog.But the decision was overturned two years after a fatal accident inquiry by two senior RAF officers, who claimed they had been flying too fast and too low in thick fog.
However campaigners have always disputed the claim, insisting that it is unfair and unfounded. However, campaigners have always disputed the claim, insisting that it was unfair and unfounded.
Amongst those killed were four special forces crew and 25 senior members of Northern Ireland's intelligence community. Amongst those killed were special forces crew and 25 senior members of Northern Ireland's intelligence community.
Lord Martin O'Neill and barrister Michael Powers, from the Mull of Kintyre parliamentary group, who will meet Mr Browne, claim that once he has considered the new evidence he will no longer be willing to uphold findings against the pilots. Campaigners have previously claimed there were serious flaws in the Chinook helicopter, which were more likely to have been responsible for the crash.
Campaigners have previously claimed there were serious flaws in the Chinook helicopter which were more likely to have been responsible for the crash.