Widows of those who died in the 1994 RAF Chinook helicopter crash have renewed their call for Prime Minister Andy Burnham to meet them, as he reaches his 50th day in office.
Twenty-five intelligence experts and four special forces crew were killed when the helicopter crashed on the Mull of Kintyre, en route from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness, on June 2 that year.
The incident was initially blamed on pilot error before this was overturned in 2011, but the 2011 Mull of Kintyre inquiry did not determine the cause of the crash.
In July relatives of those killed urged Mr Burnham to meet them within his first 100 days in office and order a fresh independent review into the tragedy.
The Chinook Justice Campaign (CJC), made up of more than 55 family members of 25 of the victims, previously sought to challenge the Ministry of Defence over an “ongoing failure” to set up an “independent and effective investigation”.
A High Court judge in July threw out the case, finding that the claim had been brought too late.
Widows of those killed have written to the Prime Minister and are urging him to meet them.
Susan Phoenix, whose husband Ian was killed, said: “Prime Minister, we have waited for more than 32 years.
“We are not asking you to decide what happened to the aircraft. We are asking you to meet us, listen to us and allow the evidence to be examined independently.
“Half of your first 100 days have now passed. Please don’t make us spend the next 50 wondering whether you will listen to families who have already waited for far too long.
“We should not now be helping the Ministry of Defence search its own archives to find the answers when a fresh independent review has been refused.
“The Prime Minister has just said that families like ours carry their loss every day and that their sacrifice must never be forgotten. We welcome those words.
“Now we are asking him to sit down with us and listen. There could not be a more appropriate time.”
Campaigners say that correspondence sent to the CJC in June and July suggested officials were still searching for answers to questions the campaign had asked.
Shan Gregory-Smith, whose husband Richard was killed, said: “Andy Burnham has spent years campaigning against institutions investigating themselves, withholding information and forcing bereaved families to fight for answers.
“He now has 50 days left to show that those principles apply to the Chinook families too.
“Meet us. Look at the evidence. And take the investigation out of the hands of the Ministry of Defence.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: “Our thoughts and sympathies remain with the families, friends, and colleagues of all those who died in the Mull of Kintyre crash.
“Defence Ministers have previously met with the Chinook Justice Campaign and we will continue to engage to hear concerns and discuss this important matter.”
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