Soldier's mother angry over inquiry 'snub'

Published on 22/01/2010 00:32

THE mother of a Scottish soldier killed in Iraq fears she has been deliberately blocked from watching Tony Blair give evidence to the official inquiry because of her campaigning.

Rose Gentle, from Glasgow, whose son Gordon, 19, died in Basra in 2004, is not among the family members of those killed in action drawn in a ballot for tickets to see next Friday's session.

She has been an outspoken critic of the government's handling of the conflict.

Only 22 of the 28 families who asked for access were successful – with others given places in an adjacent "private viewing room".

Mrs Gentle has written to the inquiry chairman, Sir John Chilcot, saying:

"I think it is disgraceful that you are now trying to bar me from the hearing. I am concerned that it may be … because I have campaigned so publicly for more than five years for this inquiry."