UK Defense Ministry faces writ over British soldier`s death
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Aug 23, IRNA -- The mother of a British solider killed in Iraq is planning to sue the UK`s Ministry of Defense (MoD), claiming officials breached their duty to care for her son. Rose Gentle is seeking a writ because she believes the death of her 19-year old son, Gordon, could have been avoided if his patrol had been equipped with an electronic signal jamming device that would have stopped the bomb which killed him from being detonated. According to the Guardian newspaper Monday, her lawyer, John Cooper, is "optimistic" that the Gentle family has a case over the Scottish soldier who was killed in Basra three months ago. "Given that these soldiers have given their lives in brave and courageous circumstances the least one can expect from the MoD is a high level of sympathy and understanding towards the families," Cooper was quoted as saying. "We also expect that when young people are put in the trust of the armed forces, that they will be cared for within reasonable levels, and that trust should not be thrown back in their families` faces," he said. If the case goes ahead, it could set a precedent as it will be the first time the British government has been sued in court over the death of a soldier in combat. Last week, Gentle`s 14-year old sister, Maxine, delivered a personal letter to Tony Blair suggesting that the prime minister should send his own sons to fight in Iraq. Several other families of British soldiers killed in Iraq have also joined growing calls for the prime minister to withdraw UK troops from Iraq. HC/2321/1432
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