RIR Soldier's Death 'Avoidable'

As the Ministry of Defence named the latest soldier to be killed in Afghanistan as Corporal Darryl Gardiner (25) from the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, the sister of a Tyrone RIR soldier who died from heat exhaustion during a training exercise has said his death could have been prevented.

The family of Private Stuart Shilliday (27) from Dungannon – who served with the Royal Irish Rangers - now plans to sue the MoD over Stuart's death.

Already, an inquest this week heard his death was heat-related and a senior Army officer said there had been a "systemic failure" in the MoD's duty of care.

The dead soldier's sister, Alison Proctor said he had been fit and healthy before his death in June 2006.

The Army should have had more rigorous procedures in place, she said, noting that the training exercise had taken place at midday - the hottest time of the day.

"As one of the biggest companies in the world they should have taken more procedures," she said.

"They send soldiers out to war and train these soldiers up, they should have done more health and safety, they should have looked after their soldiers."

She said on the day in question, her brother, who had served in both Iraq and Northern Ireland, had completed a six-mile run and and was undertaking a stretcher race.

"Stuart was carrying the stretcher when he was running. One of the soldiers said he had held his stomach... Stuart had just collapsed, that's all we know," she said.

An inquest heard that he died of a heat-related illness due to misadventure.

"That summer was really hot. Stuart had his full kit on, he was carrying webbing, he had a rucksack filled on his back," she said.

An MoD spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment in view of pending legal action.

(BMcC)