Published: Wednesday, 30th April, 2008 12:00
Parents sue MoD over their soldier son's death
By Hamish Hutchinson
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Lance Corporal Andrew Craw was tragically killed in an accident while serving in Iraq.
THE family of a Tullibody soldier who was tragically killed in Iraq are suing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for making a series of blunders which led to his death.
Lance Corporal Andrew Craw died on 7 January 2004 after he accidentally shot himself on a firing range while he was trying to unjam his gun.
The 21-year-old was killed on a training exercise just hours after arriving in the war-torn country.
An inquest revealed that Andrew, of the 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was practising with a Belgian-made Minimi machine gun – a weapon he had never used before.
When it jammed, due to a lack of oil, he placed the butt of the gun on the ground and as he tried to kick the weapon into the cocked position a round fired.
Andrew had to wait an hour and a half for a helicopter to take him to hospital and he died en route.
A board of inquiry into the incident claimed Lance Corporal Craw’s death was caused by a lapse of concentration.
However, the coroner dismissed this and lay the blame at the Army’s “cavalier approach” towards safety.His parents, James and Ray, have now launched a legal battle suing the MoD for what is reputed to be up to £100,000.
But Mr Craw says the action is less about the money and more about uncovering the truth of his son’s death.
He told the Advertiser, “Our view is to try and get to the High Court and maybe the lawyers will twist a couple of the witness who will make a mistake and let the truth out.”
Mr Craw is angry that even after the damning verdict by the coroner, the Army have never issued a letter of condolence and apology to the family.
He added, “The inquest did a good job and we got more from that than the board of inquiry and the MoD. At the end of the day it’s about letting my boy rest in peace and getting at the truth. If I get the truth I’ll be a happy man.”
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