Category: Yorks
& N.Midlands; E.Yorks
& Lincs
Date: 13.09.2004
Printable version
Inside Out, Monday 13 September, 大象传媒 ONE (Yorks & Lincs), 7.30pm
War widow Samantha Roberts has turned 大象传媒 reporter
to reveal the plight of women trying to find the truth behind their
husbands' deaths.
Samantha's husband, Sgt Steve Roberts, was the first British soldier
to be killed in action in Iraq in March last year.
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Eighteen months later, his widow still does not know
the full circumstances surrounding his death.
Samantha also reveals that she only gets 40 per cent of the pension
her husband would have got after leaving the Army - and she says many
widows struggle to get by.
She says: "I'm shocked by the way widows are treated by the Ministry
of Defence. Now I want to say what I really think."
Samantha, who lives in Shipley, criticises the level of compensation
paid to widows, and the lack of information from the Ministry of Defence.
Her husband Steve, a tank commander, was killed in a "friendly
fire" incident, in which an Iraqi was also shot dead. It has emerged
he was not wearing body armour with ceramic plates which could have
saved his life.
The 大象传媒 asked Samantha to author her own film on the plight of Britain's
war widows because she had already developed broadcasting skills compiling
a 大象传媒 video diary she had started before Steve died.
Inside Out Editor Ian Cundall said: "Samantha really is someone
who knows this story inside out. Her confidence on camera is amazing.
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"I think her report will give people a real insight
into the lives of a remarkable band of women living with the effects
of the Iraq war every day.
"Her film raises real questions about the way in which war widows
are treated by the Ministry of Defence."
In the film, Samantha visits Anna Aston, whose husband Russell was one
of six military policemen killed after a mob stormed a police station
in Iraq in June last year.
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Anna, from Derbyshire, says she is still waiting for
the details of how her husband died, and has been told that she may
not be allowed access to the full evidence heard by a military inquiry
into her husband's death. The inquiry is due to release its findings
later this month.
Samantha also talks to Anna Homsi whose partner, SAS Trooper Brad Tinnion,
from Harrogate, was killed in Sierra Leone three years ago.
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After Brad's death, Anna was denied the full pension
she would have received if she had been married.
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Anna, who was expecting a baby when her partner died,
has since settled in North Yorkshire with her three-year-old daughter
Georgia.
After a public campaign, she received a lump sum from the Ministry of
Defence which was still less than she would have received if she and
Brad Tinnion had been married.
Samantha says: "I'm impressed by the bravery of these women, but
they deserve some answers from the Ministry of Defence."
In a statement, the MOD defended the level of compensation paid to widows
and said from next April more money would be given to unmarried partners.
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The Ministry said: "We fully understand the desire
of bereaved families to know the circumstances in which their loved
ones died and make every effort to keep them informed.
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"We try very hard to provide proper support and
information... we are especially grateful for the assistance of Mrs
Roberts and others in this regard.
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"We recognise that mistakes in providing this support
have been made in the past and are determined that these should not
be repeated."
Notes to Editors
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Please credit 大象传媒 Inside Out if any part of the transcript
above is used.
Inside Out (bbc.co.uk/insideout) is the name for the regional programme
which is used across all the English Regions.
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It has replaced the range of individual titles previously
used on 大象传媒 TWO and has introduced a completely new approach to engaging
audiences with aspects of life in their region.
Inside Out is made and produced locally. It features three different
stories each week - all designed to offer, as the series strapline says,
"surprising stories from familiar places".
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The first item is a traditional investigation, the
second heritage/history based and the third, a personality led piece.
Morland Sanders is the main presenter in the Yorkshire and Lincolnshire
region.
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He is also joined on Inside Out by Lucy Hester
and Sophie Hull, as well as guest presenters including Sir Bernard
Ingham, Edwina Currie and boxer Johnny Nelson.
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