Was the Mark Wright Inquest where shortage of helicopters started to be talked about?

I do not welcome the fact that the Armed Forces are never out of the newspapers these days.  The news is almost universally depressing.  The Times have recently featured in-depth articles on the campaign in Afghanistan indicating that the Strategic Defence and Security Review finally offers the MOD, the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development the chance to get in shape for the challenges of this century.

On Friday they featured Bobby Wright, whose son, Corporal Mark Wright, died on 6 September 2006 in a minefield in Kajaki and whose acts of gallantry saw him posthumously awarded the George Cross.  We acted at the Inquest in October 2008 and the article refers to the Coroner’s Inquiry condemning the range of deficiencies in equipment and the shortages of helicopters and winches.  The Coroner told those responsible that they should “hang their head in shame”.  What may have been an isolated incident on shortage of helicopters very soon proved more than that.  It is equally clear that having the equipment without having the trained personnel is no use either.

 We are proud to support the work of the Mark Wright Project which helps soldiers trying to return to civilian life after touring Iraq or Afghanistan.

 I have already had anxious clients, with legal claims under way, express concerns that pressures on the MOD budget will result in downward pressures on compensation claims.  I have no doubt that such pressures have and will continue to be exerted but the claims’ budget deals with costs and damages and failure to make reasonable settlements will only increase the costs bill.  As with all things military, cutting corners is not an option.