Truth is yet to emerge, insists father of Geoff Gray
May 15 2009 by Paul James, The Journal
VITAL new evidence about the death of North soldier Geoff Gray is yet to emerge, his father claimed last night. The 17-year-old from Seaham, County Durham, died of two gunshot wounds to the head at controversial Deepcut barracks in Surrey, in September 2001.
His family has always maintained someone else was involved in the death, despite an open verdict being recorded at his inquest.
The teenager’s father, also Geoff, speaking after the release of the Army report into his death, said: “If we have new evidence coming out now, what other evidence is there to be explored?
“I am pretty sure that someone who was there the night Geoff died knows something more, and they’re scared to come forward.”
Mr Gray, of Hackney, east London, told of the private promise made to his son when he saw him in the mortuary after his death.
He said: “I saw my son on the slab and I told him I would do everything in my power to find out what happened that night.”
The 45-year-old said he was bitterly disappointed by the decision not to launch a public inquiry, announced by Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth. He said: “On a day when MPs are being lampooned left, right and centre, you would have thought a minister could have stood up and done the right thing.
“There is new evidence there in the report, and they have just dismissed it. It is frustrating beyond belief. I’m so disappointed.”
He said the Board of Inquiry report’s information about another soldier having a warm weapon on the night of his son’s death should be investigated.
The report also mentions the sighting of a shadowy figure near the area where Private Gray’s body was found.
Mr Gray said: “There are no real answers to these things, which is why we need a public inquiry.”
He now plans to meet with solicitors on Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a new inquest being held into his son’s death.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman, Nick Harvey, said: “There are still a number of significant questions which remain unanswered about the events at Deepcut barracks.
“These issues have not gone away, and will not go away until we have had a full public inquiry into what happened. The Government must stop dragging its feet and take action to ensure we get to the bottom of these tragic events.”
A BOI report into the death of fellow recruit Private James Collinson, 17, from Perth, was also released yesterday. His father Jim said the report did not change his opinion that his son was murdered.
He said: “I’ve always had that opinion and always will. I will always say my son was murdered at Deepcut.
“Deepcut was the perfect place for a murder. You could murder someone at Deepcut and get away with it.”
Mr Ainsworth’s full statement said: “The impact of their untimely deaths was felt, not just across the MOD, but across the nation. Our thoughts are with all their families and friends at this difficult time.
“The release of these BOIs does not alter our position on the need for a public inquiry.
“Given the range of investigations that have now taken place, we do not believe there is any wider public or service interest in pursuing one.”
