Grieving Nuneaton mum’s fury at Blair’s inquiry answers
Feb 4 2010
By Kat Baldwyn
THE MUM of a Nuneaton soldier killed in Iraq has accused Tony Blair of “ducking and diving” at the Iraq inquiry.
Richard Shearer was 26 when he was killed by a roadside bomb, along with two colleagues while on patrol in July 2005.
The platoon leader had been with the 1st Battalion Staffordshire Regiment for a year after serving with the French Foreign Legion. He was killed while leading a convoy of armoured Snatch Land Rovers in the south- eastern region of al-Amarah.
His mum Maureen Shearer and stepfather Jim Gill think it was the use of a lightly-armoured Snatch Land Rover which led to their son’s death.
The former Prime Minister faced six hours of questioning at the public inquiry last week over reasons for going into the war, which has claimed the lives of almost 200 British servicemen.
Maureen said she was angered by Blair’s “arrogance”.
The grieving mum, who lives in Coventry Road, Nuneaton, said: “If Blair was told every- thing was ‘ready’ and he believed it, what sort of a leader does that make him? The equipment was antiquated. We know that now, so how didn’t he know what was going on?”
And the 60-year-old retired teacher said she believed nothing Tony Blair said.
“He ducked and dived as he always does,” she said. “I don’t believe he can justify himself in anyway. There weren’t any weapons of mass destruction and we all know it.”
A public ballot was held for people wanting seats to watch Mr Blair give evidence.
Although Maureen and Jim decided turn down an offer to join the ballot for tickets to attend the Chilcot hearing, they drew up a list of questions which they asked Nuneaton MP Bill Olner to present to Mr Blair before he appeared on January 29. Mr Blair is due to give more evidence in private sessions in the next few weeks as part of the inquiry.
He is also expected to make a second public appearance in the next round of questioning.
Article
