The father of Private Jack Sadler, killed in a roadside bomb in Helmand province in December 2007, complained that he had received a handwritten condolence letter from the prime minister and a typed apology from an aide just last month.
Downing St has since admitted that three families were affected by an 'unacceptable' administrative error in 2007 that led to letters not being sent out.
The row comes just weeks after a mother whose son died in Afghanistan complained a condolence letter from Mr Brown, who has 30 per cent vision after a university rugby accident, was riddled with spelling mistakes.
At a press conference at No 10 this morning alongside the visiting Pakistani prime minister, Mr Brown said: 'The death of any young person under any circumstances is hard to bear and my thoughts are with ever family that has lost a loved one in conflict, whether it has been in Iraq or Afghanistan in recent years.
'I write personally to every family and where there has been an unacceptable error for which I apologise unreservedly and the letter has not been sent I have been made aware of this.'
Ian Sadler, the father of Pte Sadler, from Exmouth, Devon, who died aged 21, had told BBC Radio 4's The Report about the late condolence letter and note from the prime minister's permanent secretary Jeremy Heywood.
'It's not good is it? Nearly two years later and the PM hasn't apologised, just his aide,' he said.
'It goes to show what this present administration thinks of our soldiers.'
Pte Sadler's mother Jeannette MacDonald told Channel 4 News: 'A letter two years after my son died - well meaning though it may be - is too late. It is too late.
'It's too late for all those boys and girls who died, it's too late for all the mothers and fathers that have lost them, all the families that are so affected.'
Speaking to journalists at No 10 earlier today, Mr Brown said: 'I can only apologise to those families and I want to send my heartfelt condolences to them.
'They have my profound thanks for the invaluable contribution that their loved ones had been making to make Britain safe and I understand their grief and their sadness at a time when they have lost so much.'
Downing St has since admitted that three families were affected by an 'unacceptable' administrative error in 2007 that led to letters not being sent out.
The row comes just weeks after a mother whose son died in Afghanistan complained a condolence letter from Mr Brown, who has 30 per cent vision after a university rugby accident, was riddled with spelling mistakes.
At a press conference at No 10 this morning alongside the visiting Pakistani prime minister, Mr Brown said: 'The death of any young person under any circumstances is hard to bear and my thoughts are with ever family that has lost a loved one in conflict, whether it has been in Iraq or Afghanistan in recent years.
'I write personally to every family and where there has been an unacceptable error for which I apologise unreservedly and the letter has not been sent I have been made aware of this.'
Ian Sadler, the father of Pte Sadler, from Exmouth, Devon, who died aged 21, had told BBC Radio 4's The Report about the late condolence letter and note from the prime minister's permanent secretary Jeremy Heywood.
'It's not good is it? Nearly two years later and the PM hasn't apologised, just his aide,' he said.
'It goes to show what this present administration thinks of our soldiers.'
Pte Sadler's mother Jeannette MacDonald told Channel 4 News: 'A letter two years after my son died - well meaning though it may be - is too late. It is too late.
'It's too late for all those boys and girls who died, it's too late for all the mothers and fathers that have lost them, all the families that are so affected.'
Speaking to journalists at No 10 earlier today, Mr Brown said: 'I can only apologise to those families and I want to send my heartfelt condolences to them.
'They have my profound thanks for the invaluable contribution that their loved ones had been making to make Britain safe and I understand their grief and their sadness at a time when they have lost so much.'
No comments:
Post a Comment