Children of Chinook crash victims 'need answers'

Children of those killed in an RAF Chinook helicopter crash in 1994 on the Mull of Kintyre have said they are "determined to get answers" from the Ministry of Defence about how their parents died.

Father-of-three Major Gary Sparks, whose family is based in Hampshire, was among 29 people killed in the crash. His daughter Lucy Sparks, 33, said: "We need to get to the bottom of what happened."

Campaigners want a public inquiry and documents sealed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) for 100 years to be released.

The MoD said: "The Mull of Kintyre crash was a tragic accident and our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends and colleagues of all those who died."

Lucy Sparks was two years old when her father, who was serving with the the Royal Artillery, died in the crash.

"I have no first-hand memories of him," she said.

"Family photos are a treasure, through them and anecdotes from my older sister and mother I have been able to build up a picture of my dad."

"Missing out on your dad being there for all those events in childhood and into adulthood is really hard, the grief will never go away."

The crash on 2 June 1994 remains one of the RAF's worst peacetime losses of life.

The helicopter was carrying leading security personnel from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to a conference at Fort George near Inverness, Scotland.

Two pilots accused of negligence over the disaster were exonerated 17 years later.

Last year a BBC documentary highlighted safety concerns about the aircraft and revealed that documents relating to the crash would not be released until 2094.

The solicitor representing the Chinook Justice Campaign, Mark Stephens, claimed there was enough evidence to convince the families that there was "a failure by the MoD to apply appropriate safeguards in order to protect the passengers and crew".

He added: "That is why we are seeking a judicial review into the government's failure to hold a public inquiry - which the families have sought for more than a year."

Lucy's sister, Esme Sparks, who was seven at the time of the crash, said: "We are furious that the government and the MoD is [sic] refusing to listen or to meet us."

Speaking from her home in Preston Candover, near Basingstoke, Maj Sparks widow, Sue Angus, said: "I want openness and accountability. I want to know exactly what happened that night and I want to know why."

The MoD said the closed records held at the National Archives contained personal information relating to third party individuals and the early release of that information would breach their data protection rights.

It said it "takes the safety of all personnel extremely seriously, to ensure that our equipment operates at the highest standards we put safety right at the heart of our procurement activities".

A spokesperson added: ""We have received a pre-action protocol letter from the Chinook Justice Campaign and are considering our response.

"Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment further."