Division of Protection Sergeant John McKelvey ‘failed’ in coaching crash – household

The Division of Protection failed a soldier who was killed in a coaching crash, his household stated.

Sergeant John McKelvey, 51, died from a mind harm after the armored Subcat Jackal he was driving rolled down a hill in Catterick Garrison.

The jury concluded {that a} lack of chain-of-command oversight and insufficient enforcement of security procedures contributed to Sergeant McKelvey’s dying.

In a story verdict on Friday, the jury additionally stated the automobile was not appropriate for driving on the terrain – identified regionally because the “Land of Nod” – as a result of it was designed for small vehicles.

As well as, Sergeant McKelvey, who was receiving directions, was inexperienced with the Subcat Jackal.

A autopsy service investigation discovered that the Ministry of Protection was conscious of “dependable deficiencies” within the car, with issues first found 9 years earlier than the accident.

Wing Commander Paul Summers, head of the investigation, informed the inquest that regardless of the automobile’s issues, his report discovered “no proof that something had occurred”.

A take a look at carried out in 2010 highlighted points with the car’s stability and the safety supplied to taller drivers within the occasion of a rollover.

The investigation later discovered that 40 rollover accidents had occurred, three of which had been critical.

Members of Sergeant McKelvey’s household, together with his mother and father, two sisters and brother-in-law, attended the inquest after touring from Scotland.

After the jury’s verdict, his sister Jackie stated she was “happy” with the end result, after ready greater than 5 years.

“This has uncovered the Division of Protection for all its failings, and the general public ought to know that,” she stated.

“The deficiencies ought to have been addressed years in the past, and nothing has been performed within the 9 years for the reason that Jackal failed this take a look at. The Division of Protection failed him they usually failed our household.”

The household described Sergeant McKelvey as a “happy-go-lucky” character who was “at all times laughing and smiling”.

Sergeant McKelvey accomplished excursions in Kuwait, Bosnia, Kosovo and Iraq, and his household discovered it troublesome to understand that he had died at dwelling on the coaching vary, “the place he ought to have been secure”.

The household stated they hope the military and the Ministry of Protection will proceed their steps to handle the errors.

Colonel Graham Shannon, a British Military threat adviser, informed the inquest that Sergeant McKelvey’s household could possibly be “completely assured” there could be no additional missed studying alternatives.

The service’s investigation into the incident had a “substantial affect” on the Military, the inquiry was informed.

“The Division of Protection has fully reviewed its programs and insurance policies to forestall this from occurring once more,” Colonel Shannon stated.