Chilcot: Families of those who served in Iraq War react to report

The families of some of the 179 Britons killed during the Iraq War have said they cannot be proud of the way their loved ones were treated by the government. Roger Bacon's son, Major Matthew Bacon, died when a roadside bomb exploded, hitting the vehicle he was travelling in, near Basra.

He said: “Never again must so many mistakes be allowed to sacrifice British lives and lead to the destruction of a country for no positive end.

“We were proud when our husbands, sons and daughters signed up to serve our country. But we cannot be proud of the way our government has treated them.

“We must use this report to make sure that all parts of the Iraq War fiasco are never repeated again. Neither in a theatre of war, nor in the theatre of Whitehall.

“We call on the British government immediately to follow up Sir John’s findings to ensure that the political process by which our country decides to go to war is never again twisted and confused with no liability for such actions.”

Early access to report

Several grieving mothers, fathers, partners and other family members streamed into the Queen Elizabeth II centre in London where they were given an early glimpse of the 2.6 million-word, 12-volume tome.

In it, report author Sir John Chilcot criticised Tony Blair — the prime minister in 2003 who presented the case for war and led the invasion — for committing to backing US counterpart George W Bush over Iraq.

It also criticised Government ministers’ justification for, planning and conduct of a military intervention which “went badly wrong, with consequences to this day”.

Several military operations were described in the report as “hastily prepared” and led to equipment shortages for British personnel — an issue which several victims’ families have long campaigned over.

However, the report stopped short of making a judgement on the legality of the war.

Relatives of some of the Britons killed in the Iraq war had begun reading the long-awaited report into the conflict, from 8am this morning.

The parents of senior aircraftsman Peter McFerran (24) from North Wales, who was killed in southern Iraq in 2007, wore “Justice for Peter” t-shirts as they entered the building.

Mr McFerran’s mother Ann (64) said she was “apprehensive” and “didn’t know what to expect”.

She said it was her husband Bob’s 73rd birthday and added: “The right outcome would be a good birthday present.”

Asked what that outcome would be, she replied: “Justice for Peter.”

“Mockery of the inquiry system”

Sarah O’Connor, whose brother, Sergeant Bob O’Connor, was killed when his Hercules plane was shot down in 2005, said the length of time it had taken to complete the report made “a mockery of the inquiry system”.

Speaking from London, she said: “For many people this has been — from the first knock on the door — that next step. But it has taken so long.

“At the beginning, Sir John came around to the families and said we were at the forefront of the investigation. I had such faith in this process.

“But it has been like the toner cartridge in a printer. What has started off strong and bold has now become just a faint line.

“The length of time it has taken to get this has made a mockery of the inquiry system — for Iraq, for Rotherham ... anybody who has found themselves on either side of the scales, this has taken too long. It’s been a farce.”

The report is being boycotted by relatives of some of the 179 Britons killed in the conflict, who fear it will be a “whitewash”.

Master Engineer Gary Nicholson (42) from Hull, was one of 10 servicemen who died when their Hercules C-130 aircraft was shot down in 2005.

His mother Julia said: “It will be a whitewash. I’m absolutely disgusted. I’m not going because it will be a whitewash.

“Tony Blair has got blood on his hands. He will have covered his back and (George) Bush’s back.”

PA