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27/11/2006
'Serious failings' in death of Royal Marine
A coroner has ruled that there were 'serious failings' by the military in the death of a Royal Marine by 'friendly fire' in Iraq.
Christopher Maddison, 24, from Scarborough, was killed after missiles were fired at the boat he was travelling on, on the Khawr Az Zubayr in southern Iraq in March 2003.
It was initially thought that Marine Maddison's death had been the result of an enemy ambush.
However, an internal inquiry found that the missiles had been fired at the boat by his own side.
Oxford Coroner's Court heard that the missiles were fired after Royal Engineers soldiers manning a crossing point upriver were told they were being approached by two enemy craft.
Coroner Andrew Walker said that there had been serious failures of command at the crossing point, as well as a failure to provide a liaison officer to keep soldiers at the crossing updated of the patrol's identity and whereabouts.
Mr Walker also said that there had been a failure to provide adequate communication between the crossing point and the two landing craft that made up the patrol Marine Maddison was on.
The coroner said that Marine Maddison had been "let down by those who were in command and by the communication system in operation at that time."
(KMcA/EF)
Christopher Maddison, 24, from Scarborough, was killed after missiles were fired at the boat he was travelling on, on the Khawr Az Zubayr in southern Iraq in March 2003.
It was initially thought that Marine Maddison's death had been the result of an enemy ambush.
However, an internal inquiry found that the missiles had been fired at the boat by his own side.
Oxford Coroner's Court heard that the missiles were fired after Royal Engineers soldiers manning a crossing point upriver were told they were being approached by two enemy craft.
Coroner Andrew Walker said that there had been serious failures of command at the crossing point, as well as a failure to provide a liaison officer to keep soldiers at the crossing updated of the patrol's identity and whereabouts.
Mr Walker also said that there had been a failure to provide adequate communication between the crossing point and the two landing craft that made up the patrol Marine Maddison was on.
The coroner said that Marine Maddison had been "let down by those who were in command and by the communication system in operation at that time."
(KMcA/EF)
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