From BBC
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) searched bins at an inquest of three soldiers who died during SAS reservist selection, the hearing has heard.
L/Cpl Craig Roberts, 24, died during a Brecon Beacons march on one of the hottest days of the year in July 2013.
L/Cpl Edward Maher and Cpl James Dunsby also died after collapsing while attempting the same march.
The MoD has admitted searching court bins, but insisted it was “not sinister”.
Louise Hunt, senior coroner for Birmingham, has been hearing evidence relating to the deaths of the three soldiers, in Solihull, West Midlands, since 1 June.
‘Extremely upset’
But Keith Turner QC – representing Cpl Dunsby’s widow, Bryher Dunsby – said his family’s confidence in the legal process had been “severely shaken”.
“The MoD has been going through confidential waste bins in the building,” he said.
Mr Turner said Cpl Dunsby’s family were “extremely upset” by the MoD’s actions.
SAS selection deaths
Jonathan Hall QC, for the MoD, accepted his clients had searched waste bins and agreed it was “unacceptable”.
“It had to do with the security arrangement – we’re dealing with documents at a very high classification… it was in order to secure those documents… but it was done in a way that was not correct.
“I do want to reassure you publicly that this was not a sinister development,” he told the coroner.
The coroner said there may have been no sinister intent, but the practice could affect perceptions about the hearing.
‘Perturbed’
“This is to be an open and transparent inquest. Whatever the outcome, these families should go away thinking… they’ve heard the answers,” she added.
The coroner said she was “perturbed” a witness had been referring to documents in the witness box without her knowledge – something she has now banned.
L/Cpl Roberts, from Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, and L/Cpl Maher, 31, died on 13 July 2013. Cpl James Dunsby, from Bath, died later in hospital.
The inquest heard later the soldier in charge of the selection exercise would have stopped the test if he had seen official MoD guidance on heatstroke that day.
He said, however, the risk assessment undertaken for the test was adequate.
“I hadn’t [had] an incident beforehand, we haven’t had an incident afterwards,” he said, commenting on procedures.
On Thursday, the coroner was told the selection exercise had no medics or instructors for “over an hour” at one of the checkpoints.
The inquest continues.
IMAGES:
Cpl James Dunsby, L/Cpl Edward Maher and L/Cpl Craig Roberts took part in the exercise in 2013
A route taken by L/Cpl Craig Roberts during the SAS reservist selection exercise –
tracking data of the route taken by L/Cpl Craig Roberts during the SAS reservist selection exercise
The exercise was carried out on the Brecon Beacons on one of the hottest days of 2013
For more on this story go to: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-33110047