Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

British war widow gets apology

|
|
 
  
Published: Jan. 14, 2007 at 6:03 PM

LONDON, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The widow of a British serviceman killed in Iraq has received an apology from the government because he lacked body armor.

An inquest into the death of tank commander Sgt. Steve Robert found he died because of an "inexcusable and unforgivable ... breach of trust" by the government, The Independent reported.

The coroner said the army was guilty of "serious failings" by taking his body armor just days before he was shot in March, 2003, The Independent said.

Then-Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon delayed the order for additional body armor in order to avoid drawing attention to military preparations for the war, The Independent said. By the time the armor arrived, Roberts was dead, accidentally shot by another soldier trying to protect him.

His widow, Samantha Roberts, received a formal apology from Defense Minister Adam Ingram. She is expected to meet soon with Ingram to discuss a new policy that has equipped all soldiers with enhanced body armor.

Topics: Adam Ingram, Geoff Hoon
© 2007 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Notable deaths of 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee AmfAR Cinema Against AIDS gala
Indianapolis 500 Presidential Medal of Freedom Memorial Day around the nation
Additional Top News Stories
1 of 27
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego wins Finals of the Scripps National Spelling Bee
View Caption
Snigdha Nandipati of San Diego, California watches confetti rain down as she wins the two-day Scripps National Spelling Bee championship, May 31, 2012, in National Harbor, Maryland. Nandipati successfully spelled the word .* guetapens *, meaning to lure or ambush. UPI/Mike Theiler
fark
If you ever did win the lottery, would you give it away or surprise people with it in fun ways?
Criminal Pro-tip: when you steal someone's credit card, don't use your own grocery club card on...
The 21 absolute worst things in the world (not a slideshow). Bonus: #21
Egg-ception
How bad are things in Detroit? Even the fish are being murdered
Nineteen things that will drive your OCD self insane