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Iraq victims' parents want answers
THE parents of two South Tyneside soldiers killed in Iraq have told of their hopes that the imminent public inquiry into the war will give them the answers they want.
The inquiry's initial hearings start in London tomorrow and are expected to last until early February.
The first witnesses will be senior officials and military officers responsible for giving advice to ministers or putting policies into action.
Elsie Manning and John Miller have already given evidence to Sir John Chilcot, the former civil servant leading the inquiry, during a series of meetings with bereaved families.
Mrs Manning's daughter, Staff Sergeant Sharron Elliott, 34, was the first female soldier to die in Iraq.
She was killed in a bomb blast while on a boat in Basra in 2006.
An inquest heard how the boat she and six colleagues were travelling in was not fitted with vital bomb-jamming equipment.
Mrs Manning, 65, of Horsley Hill, South Shields, said: "I hope the truth comes out and that those responsible are brought to book.
"It is nice for the families to have had someone to sit and listen to us, and hopefully the truth will out and we will get answers."
Mr Miller's son Corporal Simon Miller, 21, was among six Redcaps killed by a 400-strong Iraqi mob in Al Majar al-Kabir in 2003.
The South Shields-born soldier died alongside Cpl Paul Long, 24, who grew up in the town, after they came under attack while equipping a police station.
An inquest heard they did not have sufficient ammunition to defend themselves and were unable to call for help as they did not have satellite phones.
Mr Miller, who lives in Washington with wife Marilyn, said: "This is something we have been waiting for, but I have my reservations.
"I have no doubt that Sir John will be thorough in his investigations, but my problem lies with when he's finished and it goes to Parliament. What happens then? Lessons need to be learned."
Sir John said the first five weeks of hearings will be used "to help establish a reliable account of the essential features of the UK's involvement in Iraq between 2001 and 2009".
Once the hearings resume in January 2010, the inquiry committee will start questioning senior politicians, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, on their roles and decisions.
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Weather for South Shields
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
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