Families of 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook Crash Victims Complain to MoD Over Personal Data Disclosed in FOI Request

The families of the 29 victims who died in the 1994 Mull of Kintyre Chinook disaster have lodged a formal complaint against the Ministry of Defence after sensitive material containing private personal, financial and legal details concerning the families was disclosed to a media outlet through a freedom of information request.

The Chinook Justice Campaign is demanding the MoD refer itself to the Information Commissioner's Office. Legal representatives for the Chinook Justice Campaign have insisted that the documents be retracted immediately and that all recipients be informed that the personal data must not be published or shared further.

Mark Stephens, a human rights lawyer representing the families, described the disclosure as a serious failure to protect the rights of families who have been deceived and lied to from day one. He said it shows a callous disregard for their personal information, has added trauma to a three-decade-long fight for the truth, and raises fundamental questions about the department’s handling of sensitive material.

"The Ministry of Defence must urgently explain how and why it placed personal information about bereaved families into the public domain without proper safeguards or due process or any discussion with those families," Stephens said.

He added that the families are once again being subjected to further harm through the unlawful disclosure of their personal information at a time when the MoD claims it is engaged in dialogue with them. Stephens stated that is completely and utterly unacceptable and they deserve a full and frank apology and an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister, to which he has committed.

GB News reported that in April the families welcomed the Prime Minister's agreement to meet them as a significant step towards achieving truth and accountability.

RAF Chinook ZD576 went down in foggy conditions on June 2 1994 whilst travelling from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness. The two pilots bore the blame for the tragedy for years before being officially exonerated in 2011.

Chris Cook, whose brother Flight Lieutenant Rick Cook perished in the crash, said for more than 30 years our families have fought for truth and accountability and for 16 of those we had to fight to clear Rick and Jon’s names.

Cook added that to now find that personal information has been exposed in this way is deeply distressing. "It shows a complete lack of care for the families and the impact this crash and long fight for justice has had on all of us and is highly illustrative of the deceit and disregard we have all faced from day one," Cook said.

He said he had hoped that having been promised proper dialogue by MoD ministers that we would see a change of direction but it’s the same old MoD up to its dirty tricks.

The data breach has intensified demands for a judge-led public inquiry into the disaster. Families say they have been informed by senior government sources that additional undisclosed material relating to the crash remains scattered across various government locations.

The Chinook Justice Campaign wants the case to serve as an early test of the proposed Hillsborough Law which would impose a legal duty of candour on public authorities.

A Ministry of Defence spokesman told GB News the Chinook Justice Campaign have submitted a formal claim to the MOD for a Judicial Review of our decision to reject the demand for a judge-led inquiry into the circumstances of the crash and this process is ongoing and our focus is on responding to that claim and to the allegations contained within it.

The spokesman added that the MoD follows statutory obligations under the FOI Act but we are reviewing this case again to ensure that all appropriate due diligence has been undertaken.