Top brass finally apologises over death of cadet Kaylee, two years on

Published on Sunday 5 July 2009 22:12

THE parents of a young army cadet finally received an apology from the military over her death yesterday – after a two-year wait.

Kaylee McIntosh, 14, died after a boating exercise went wrong and she ended up trapped under a capsized vessel.

Her mother Lesley and father Derek, both 41, accused the army of murdering their daughter after it emerged a series of easily avoidable blunders were to blame.

And, as they unveiled a memorial to their daughter, a senior military figure apologised to the couple for the first time.

commander of regional forces in the UK, Lieutenant-General Nick Parker, told them: "As far as blame is concerned, this is an inexcusable event. As a representative of the army cadet organisation, I am deeply sorry for what has happened.

"It would be wrong to comment on the individual case until the Crown process to investigate what happened is over, but this event was a terrible thing and it should never have happened. I absolutely understand why the parents blame the army for killing their daughter."

Lt-Gen Parker apologised to the family in person.

He was invited to the unveiling of the memorial by the McIntoshes because the money for the tribute had been raised by cadets. But the family said there can be no reconciliation with the military until all those responsible for Kaylee's death are sacked.

Kaylee, a lance corporal in the cadets, died in 2007 at an annual training camp in Benbecula in the Western Isles.

A fatal accident inquiry found the boat she was on capsized because it was taken out in weather conditions that were too rough. Those in charge of the exercise had not checked the forecast or carried out a risk assessment.

They also failed to carry out a headcount and gave Kaylee a lifejacket that was too big so it pinned her down under the boat.

While she struggled for breath underneath the vessel, the major in charge of the exercise clambered on top of the boat with some of the other cadets.

It took 90 minutes for them to realise Kaylee was missing. By the time she was found, it was too late.

Her devastated parents, from Fyvie in Aberdeenshire, are now suing the army in a bid to get justice for their daughter. But they called a temporary truce with the military to unveil a special carved granite seat at Fyvie Castle, overlooking a lake, in honour of Kaylee.

It cost 800 and was paid for by money collected by cadets after Kaylee's death. The money will also pay for a silver trophy which will be awarded to the best cadet in Scotland every year.

Mrs McIntosh: "At least now they're acknowledging the fact that there was a failure and they were wrong. This is what we have been saying all along. This means something because they have finally accepted their mistakes.

"We expected an apology but we would have liked it sooner."

Mr and Mrs McIntosh were joined at the unveiling by eight of Kaylee's friends

It has emerged that at least two instructors implicated in Kaylee's death have been promoted since the tragedy.

Mrs McIntosh added: "I miss Kaylee every day – she should still be here. It doesn't matter how many times they say sorry now, it's not going to change anything. She's gone and they took her away from us."