Mother of soldier killed in Iraq launches bid for war legality inquiry

The mother of a Scots soldier killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq has helped launch a legal bid to secure an independent inquiry into the legality of the war. Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was just 19 when he died, joined the families of 17 other servicemen at the High Court in London where they are seeking a judicial review of the Government’s decision to refuse an inquiry.

In war, casualties can be expected, but the parents at the High Court today believe the war in Iraq was illegal and someone - namely Tony Blair - is to blame.

Rose Gentle said: "When my son sign up in the army he thought he was going to fight for Queen and country. But Gordon and the rest of the British troops and American troops have been sent to Iraq on a pack of lies and we think it is time the Government explained to us why those boys were sent there and we intend to fight this until we get the truth."

Gordon Gentle died in June last year when a homemade bomb exploded alongside his patrol in Basra. He was the last Coalition soldier to die before power was handed back to the new Iraqi government.

Reg Keys said: "Rose and I wouldn’t be here today if weapons of mass destruction had been found in Iraq. We feel most strongly that our sons were sent into a conflict not backed by international law, not backed by the UN"

Papers have been lodged at the High Court in London challenging the Government’s refusal in May to order an inquiry. The parents claim under human rights laws there must be an independent inquiry.

Phil Shiner, the families’ solicitor, said: "Why were these soldiers sent out to Iraq when it appears from everything that is in the public domain that the Iraq war was illegal? Therefore the sons and daughters of these families died for no good reason."

It is likely to be at least six months before the case is heard.

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