The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been accused of a “callous disregard” for the families of the 29 victims of the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook crash after sensitive personal information was disclosed in response to a freedom of information (FOI) request.
The material, released to a media organisation, is said to include highly sensitive personal, financial, and legal details about the bereaved families. The Chinook Justice Campaign, which represents the families, has now lodged a formal complaint demanding that the MoD refer itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office.
The group has called for an urgent explanation from ministers and for the documents to be retracted. Lawyers acting for the families have also demanded that all recipients be notified that the personal data should not be published or disclosed further.
Legal and Emotional Fallout
Mark Stephens, a human rights lawyer representing the families, condemned the disclosure. “This represents a serious failure to protect the rights of families who have been deceived and lied to from day one,” he said. “It shows a callous disregard for their personal information, has added trauma to a three-decade-long fight for the truth, and raises fundamental questions about the department’s handling of sensitive material.”
Stephens emphasised that the families are “once again” being subjected to “further harm through the unlawful disclosure of their personal information at a time when the MoD claims it is engaged in dialogue with them.” He added: “That is completely and utterly unacceptable and they deserve a full and frank apology and an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, to which he has committed.”
Background of the Crash
RAF Chinook ZD576 crashed in foggy weather on June 2, 1994, while flying from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness. For years, the pilots were wrongly blamed for the disaster before being formally cleared in 2011.
The Chinook Justice Campaign explained that the FOI request by the British Forces Broadcasting Service was submitted after veterans minister Louise Sandher-Jones stated in the House of Commons in November that some sealed documents were available for request. The families had previously been told by the MoD that documents related to the disaster were sealed for 100 years due to personal data reasons.
Family Reactions
Chris Cook, whose brother Flight Lieutenant Rick Cook was killed, expressed deep distress. “For more than 30 years, our families have fought for truth and accountability. For 16 of those, we had to fight to clear Rick and Jon’s names,” he said. “To now find that personal information has been exposed in this way is deeply distressing. It shows a complete lack of care for the families and the impact this crash and long fight for justice has had on all of us, and is highly illustrative of the deceit and disregard we have all faced from day one.”
Cook noted that he had hoped for a change of direction after the MoD promised proper dialogue. “But it’s the same old MoD up to its dirty tricks,” he added.
Demands for Transparency and Inquiry
In April, families welcomed the Prime Minister’s agreement to meet with them as a “significant” step. Cook said the meeting is “more urgent than ever” and urged Sir Keir Starmer to confirm a date “as soon as possible.”
The release of the documents has intensified calls for a judge-led public inquiry. The families have been informed by senior Government sources that further undisclosed material on the crash exists across Government in several locations. The Chinook Justice Campaign is also calling for the case to be one of the first tests of the proposed Hillsborough Law, which would impose a legal duty of candour on public authorities.
The MoD has been approached for comment but has not yet responded.
