Father of Chinook crash victim died ‘fighting for answers’ – campaigners

The father of one of the victims of the 1994 Chinook crash on the Mull of Kintyre has died aged 96, with campaigners saying he died “fighting for answers”.

John Dockerty’s son Major Christopher Dockerty was one of the 29 killed when RAF Chinook ZD576 crashed in foggy weather while flying from RAF Aldergrove in Northern Ireland to Fort George near Inverness.

The incident was initially blamed on pilot error before this was overturned in 2011.

The Chinook Justice Campaign says John is believed to have been the last surviving parent of anyone who died in the crash.

Ministers met with campaigners, who are seeking more answers about the crash, in December. They are due to meet with victims minister Alex Davies-Jones on Wednesday.

Nicola Rawcliffe, daughter of John Dockerty and a member of the campaign group, said: “My father spent the last 32 years wondering why his eldest son and my brother Chris died. He died still fighting for answers.

“He campaigned with dignity and determination, but it is heartbreaking that he has died without the government and MoD acknowledging the truth about the circumstances surrounding the crash.

“He told me he was disgusted that it has been allowed to fester for as long as it has without the government getting to the bottom of things.

“Shame on the MoD for letting yet another relative die without answers.”

Ms Rawcliffe, from Diss in Norfolk, said: “We are devastated by the loss of my father and horrified that he never saw justice for Chris.

“It is bad enough that a parent has to bury their child, but a parent having to ask the State as to why they died adds insult to injury.”

Mr Dockerty had released videos supporting the campaign.

His daughter said she had uncovered letters he had written in which he said he did not believe the pilots were to blame for the crash.

A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “The accident has already been the subject of six inquiries and investigations, including an independent judge-led review.”