Families of soldiers get apology from state

THE state has apologised to the relatives of three peacekeeping soldiers killed in a land mine attack in 1989 on the basis of an independent report which found they should have been better protected by their commanding officers.

Senior counsel Frank Callanan’s inquiry said there had been no proper threat assessment carried out, which should have governed the level of cover afforded to soldiers serving at the time.

He said the order to send the three men driving up the dirt track to collect stones should not have been made. Troops’ warnings and fears were not addressed, the report states, and the army did not do enough to check the area for mines, despite clear and present danger.