Campaigners attempting to clear the name of two RAF pilots blamed for the crash of a Chinook helicopter in 1994 in which 29 military personnel were killed have welcomed a commitment from the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to look into the case, writes Rachel Donnelly in London.
Lord Chalfont, chairman of the Mull of Kintyre Group which includes MPs, peers and relatives of the two men, said he was "reassured" by Mr Blair's pledge, which he made during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons yesterday. However, he said the group would not be overly optimistic since it had had reassurances in the past that the case would be looked at "and when they have, always the answer has been the same".
The Ministry of Defence has said it will only re-open the investigation into the crash, which killed 25 security service personnel working in Northern Ireland, if there was fresh evidence to justify the decision.
The two pilots were found guilty of "gross negligence", but their families and a growing number of MPs have questioned the verdict and want a new inquiry.
In response to the Independent MP Mr Martin Bell, who urged Mr Blair to give his personal attention to the crash "as a question of natural justice", Mr Blair said: "We have consistently said we are ready to consider new evidence but, without new evidence, it is difficult for us to justify re-opening the inquiry, but of course I will look into it personally as a result of your intervention."