A coroner has recorded a narrative conclusion at the inquest into the death of Private Gavin Williams who died in 2006.
Speaking outside the Coroner’s Court, Brigadier John Donnelly, Director Personal Services (Army), said:
On behalf of the Army, I apologise for the failings that led to Gavin’s death and accept responsibility for them.
Our thoughts are with Gavin’s family and friends, particularly his mother Debra, her partner Adrian and Gavin’s sister Zeta. This inquest has been a difficult time for them and I pay tribute to the dignity that they have shown.
We acknowledge that there was a culture of unofficial punishments within 2 R WELSH at the time of Gavin’s death. This is unacceptable, and was unacceptable. We have already conducted our own inquiry into the incident and made a number of improvements to try to ensure that it does not happen again which the coroner has recognised.
We will now study the coroner’s conclusion carefully to ensure we continue to do all that we can to prevent such a tragedy occurring in the future, for which we are truly sorry.
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