Insensitive treatment of war widow was an error
Lianne Seymour was devastated when she was told by the Ministry of Defence that she must move out of the house she shared with her husband Ian after he was killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait in the first week of the war.
She was told to reimburse the remainder of his salary, which had been paid into his bank account after the accident because he was not identified immediately.
After condemnation of the move by her family and in the House of Commons, Mr Blair said Mrs Seymour had been wrongly informed by the MoD.
The MoD conceded that an “administrative error” had been made.
Challenged by Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, Mr Blair said the facts were not correct, adding: “I can assure you that if they were, this would be wholly contrary to the normal practice. Whatever needs to be done there, will be done.”
Mr Seymour, 28, an operator mechanic (communications) second class with 3 Commando Brigade, was one of eight British servicemen who died when a US helicopter they were aboard crashed south of the Kuwait border early in the conflict.
He was given full military honours at his funeral on April 9 at a service at St Michael’s Church near the home he shared with his wife and their three-year-old son Beck in Hamworthy, Poole.
Speaking earlier yesterday, Mrs Seymour, 27, said the MoD had told her she could apply for a three-month extension to stay in their house, after which she and Beck must leave.
“My husband’s gone ... and just for the sake of 10 days pay, they’re telling me I have to make a repayment.
“My husband died three weeks ago in a tragic accident. I’m supposed to be grieving his death but at the same time I’m having to worry about where I’ll be living in six month’s time,” she said.
“This was our family home, this is where Beck remembers his daddy so it’s not fair that I have to even be worrying about these things,” she said.
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