Mum of Sunderland soldier killed in Iraq fears Chilcot Report will be 'another whitewash'

The loving mum of a Wearside serviceman who was killed while fighting in Iraq says she fears 'another whitewash' as she awaits the publication of Sir John Chilcot's report into the conflict on Wednesday.
Janice Procter with a picture of her son Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq in January 2007.Janice Procter with a picture of her son Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq in January 2007.
Janice Procter with a picture of her son Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq in January 2007.

Janice Procter’s son Private Michael Tench was just 18 when he was fatally injured when his Warrior vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb in January 2007.

Pte Tench, a former Hylton Red House School pupil, spent his first Christmas away from home doing the job he had wanted since he was the age of seven.

Soldier Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq after his patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.Soldier Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq after his patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
Soldier Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq after his patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
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The long-awaited official inquiry report into Britain’s bitterly contested invasion of Iraq in 2003 comes amid calls for former Prime Minister Tony Blair to be held to account for taking the country to war.

Thirteen years after British troops crossed into Iraq and seven years after the inquiry began work, Sir John will deliver his verdict on the UK’s most controversial military engagement of the post-war era.

Speaking ahead of the report’s publication, Mrs Procter, 54, said: “I think it will be another whitewash and a cover up, so I’m not holding out much hope.

“I just hope it gives us, the families, some justice as the last few weeks and months have been very stressful.

Soldier Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq after his patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.Soldier Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq after his patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
Soldier Private Michael Tench who was killed in Iraq after his patrol vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb.
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“I’m very apprehensive about what is going to be in the report, but we can’t pre-judge what we think it will say.

“Personally, I think this could be the start of another long fight to get the truth.”

It will be 10 years this coming January since Pte Tench died in the conflict and Mrs Procter added that it has put huge strain on her.

“If we had the truth we’d have been able to have closure,” she said.

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“I’ve only every asked for truth and honesty and I don’t think we’ve had that so far.

“We’ve all aged a lot in these 10 years because it has been hell.”

Military policeman Corporal Simon Miller, from Washington, was also killed in Iraq when a 400-strong mob descended on a police station in Majar al-Kabir in Iraq in June 2003.

His dad John has campaigned full disclosure over the invasion.

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With the final report running to 12 volumes plus summary with 2.6 million words, much of the focus will be on the section dealing with the decision to go to war.

The inquiry heard evidence that then Prime Minister Mr Blair and US President George Bush reached an agreement “signed in blood” that they would topple Iraq dictator Saddam Hussein when they met at the president’s ranch in Crawford, Texas, a year before the invasion - a claim Mr Blair denied.

The report will also look at the equipment supplied to British troops and the descent of Iraq into a bloody civil war.