Coroner calls for better protection for British troops after Liverpool soldier died in blast

Feb 20 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A CORONER has called for better protection for British troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan after an inquest into the death of a Liverpool soldier.

Kingsman Adam James Smith, 19, of 2nd Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment, was one of four soldiers who died in Iraq when a bomb ripped through the less protected underside of their armoured vehicle.

They were travelling in a Warrior vehicle which had enhanced armour-protection on the top, rear and the sides but not on the bottom.

Kingsman Smith, known as Smudge and a keen Everton FC fan, left behind mother Pam, father Derek, younger brother Adam and girlfriend Terri Dunphy, whom he planned to ask to marry him on his return from Iraq.

He died on April 5 last year alongside Second Lieutenant Joanna Dyer, 24, from Yeovil in Somerset – who was at Sandhurst military academy with Prince William – Corporal Kris O’Neill, 27, from Catterick, Yorkshire, and Private Eleanor Dlugosz, 19, from Southampton, both of the Royal Army Medical Corps.

The explosive device was buried in a road in Basra and was detonated as the Warrior passed over it, leaving a 3ft deep crater in the ground.

Recording verdicts of unlawful killing, David Masters, Coroner for Wiltshire, told an inquest in Trowbridge he would be meeting with Armed Forces Minster Bob Ainsworth later this week to recommend the armour issue was dealt with speedily.

He said he would “seek confirmation from the top that something was being done”.

Warriors’ armour is predominantly on the sides and top of the vehicles but not on the underside, which is where the blast hit in this instance, the inquest heard.

Mr Masters, concluding proceedings, said: “It is encouraging – if any encouragement can be gained from something like this – that there is a very high-profile programme in place to research and develop new armour for the undersides of vehicles like this operating in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

During the hearing, the coroner was told by Alan Hepper, an armour expert: “It’s a big issue. We have been told to treat it as an urgent operational requirement. It is being pushed through with great pressure from the Ministry of Defence.”

The explosion occurred at around 2am in an urban area, a known hot-spot for insurgents, as a convoy of vehicles was making its way back to base at Basra Airport following an unsuccessful operation to find a suspected arms cache.

Soldiers were dismounting at regular intervals to check the road ahead for hazards but the bomb which caused the deaths was not spotted buried beneath the road.

The Royal Military Police inquiry into the deaths is still running but no-one has been arrested.

The coroner said it was likely the four died instantly from blast wounds.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “There is an ongoing programme of work to increase the protection of our vehicles, soldiers and stay ahead of the ever-evolving threat on operations.

“No armour or electronic counter measures solution can guarantee complete protection.

“Warrior is one of the most highly-protected armoured fighting vehicles in the UK inventory and is highly regarded by troops in both theatres.”

Adam's mother Pam didn't attend the inquest but knew a verdict of unlawful killing was going to be given.

Speaking from her home in Old Swan, Pam said: "I'm still angry and I still blame the government.
 
"We're still getting over Adam's death but this inquest doesn't really bring any closure because I don't believe anything will change.

"I don't know why they put armour on the sides and top of the vehicle and not underneath.

"Our troops are out there without adequate equipment or protection. Adam said there were shortages but he said the Americans had the proper equipment, just the British didn't.
 
 "The government want to pay for pointless things and waste money but they won't protect our troops.
 
 "I hope the coroner can convince them to invest more money but I don't believe they will."

alanweston@dailypost.co.uk