Len Tingle
Political Editor Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and the North Midlands |
 Joan Ford lost her son Matthew in Afghanistan in 2007. An angry Lincolnshire mother is to meet the Armed Forces Minister over the death of her marine son in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Mathew Ford was accidentally shot by his own team during the storming of a Taliban fort. Joan Ford from Immingham blames inadequate training and equipment shortages for the incident in 2007. She received the invitation to meet the Minister, Bill Rammell, after threatening to sue the Government. Friendly fire  L/Cpl Ford's death was blamed on a "momentary error of judgement." |
A Royal Navy Board of inquiry report issued a year after the incident was highly critical highlighting confusion during the operation, poor preparation and inadequate training. "The lad who opened fire with the machine gun on the armoured vehicle wasn't wearing night goggles and the light was not good," says Joan Ford. "The Ministry of Defence says goggles were available but my understanding is that there was only one pair in the vehicle and they were being worn by the driver." The report said the gunner had been wearing the goggles earlier in the operation but had been ordered to take them off as it had become light. It blames a "momentary error of judgement" for opening fire. Mother's meeting  Joan Ford: "I can't rest until we know some more answers." |
The armed forces minister has now agreed to a face-to-face meeting with Joan Ford which will be held at the end of November 2009 "I can't rest until we know some more answers," says Joan Ford. "My son loved his job and understood the dangers. But his team was put under far too much pressure and he died."
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