'50 soldiers arrested in NI for driving uninsured in 2002'

More than 50 soldiers were arrested in Northern Ireland during 2002 for driving without car insurance, it was revealed today.

Ten off-duty members of the British Armed Forces also faced charges of being behind the wheel without a licence.

The figures emerged as British military chiefs were criticised by a coroner for not having a soldier, wanted over serious driving offences, handed over months before he was involved in an horrific car crash which killed his teenage girlfriend.

At the inquest into the death of Gemma Montgomery, aged 18, ex-private Gordon Godley was also accused of a reckless disregard for her life when he smashed his vehicle into oncoming traffic at up to 90mph.

The accident, on a treacherous stretch of road in Co Down in November 2002, came after his regiment, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, was alerted to warrants out for his arrest in his home town of Stirling.

With police in Scotland attempting to have the soldier, who was disqualified from driving, brought from his base at Palace Barracks near Belfast, his Commanding Officer instructed staff to arrange for his court appearance.

But Godley continued to serve in Northern Ireland and, fatally, his uninsured Honda CRX hit a Mercedes while he was driving Gemma from her home in Bangor to spend the night at his barracks.

The A-level student was flung from the passenger seat as the car split in two with the force of the impact. She died almost instantly.

Her parents, John and Esther, have laid the blame for her death at the British army’s door, insisting more could have been done to have Godley arrested.

Deborah Malcolm, the Deputy Coroner for Belfast, also claimed the UK military authorities should have acted.

She said: “It appears to me that if the regiment with whom Godley was in service was aware of the warrant they should have facilitated the speedy execution of such.”

The inquest today was the latest stage in a traumatic battle by the Montgomery family to obtain answers about how Godley was able to continue serving.

Their campaign has been backed by Ulster Unionist MP for North Down, Sylvia Hermon, who has pressed the British Ministry of Defence for disclosure over how many soldiers in Northern Ireland have driven off-duty without valid insurance.

Correspondence obtained from former British Defence Minister Lewis Moonie, but never released due to the criminal prosecution which resulted in Godley being jailed for four years for causing death by dangerous driving, has revealed the extent of the problem.

Dr Moonie said: “In 2002, a total of 52 off-duty military personnel in Northern Ireland were charged with having no car insurance and 10 with having no driving licence.”

He added: “As with any other employer, we cannot be responsible for what a soldier does in his private time outside of MoD property.

“Naturally, we expect soldiers to abide by the laws of the land, and where any soldier is found to be driving in Northern Ireland without a valid driving licence and/or valid car insurance, they can expect to face the consequences of their illegal action.”