Secret Falklands War files about the bombing of the warship RFA Sir Galahad by Argentina in 1982 will be released by defence chiefs
- RFA Sir Galahad was destroyed by an Argentinian aircraft on June 8, 1982
Defence chiefs are to finally release secret files about the bombing of a British ship in the Falklands War which claimed 38 lives.
RFA Sir Galahad was destroyed by an Argentinian aircraft on June 8, 1982 after what campaigners have described as a series of appalling mistakes by UK commanders.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith said there had been a 'cover-up' surrounding these issues.
Andrew Murrison, Minister for Defence People and Families, said previously unreleased files relating to the incident would be made public - but he could not say exactly when this would happen.
The withholding of information has led to troops who lost their lives aboard RFA Sir Galahad being blamed.
RFA Sir Galahad was destroyed by an Argentinian aircraft on June 8, 1982 after what campaigners have described as a series of appalling mistakes by UK commanders
The bombing of a British ship in the Falklands War claimed 38 lives, but the Sir Galahad should not have been at Port Pleasant when the attack took place in daylight hours
The Welsh Guards were supposed to disembark before the Argentine attack, but for reasons which remained disputed 42 years later they stayed aboard.
The campaign for justice has been led by former SAS commander General Sir Michael Rose.
He said: 'Immediately after the disaster the blame game started, with senior officers in the Royal Navy and the Royal Marines openly seeking to blame the Welsh Guards and the Army, rather than admit their responsibility.'
There was no aerial protection for the ship which was a proverbial 'sitting duck' for the enemy jets.
But Sir Galahad should not have been at Port Pleasant when the attack took place in daylight hours.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Conservative MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith said there had been a 'cover-up' surrounding these issues
MPs urged Mr Murrison to release the previously secret files urgently given the length of time which has already passed since the incident.
But he told the Commons he was hampered by the Data Protection Act.
Pushed on when the files would be released he said: 'It won't be years'.
The Ministry of Defence has previously stated it stands by the findings of a service inquiry into the incident - although much of the most significant material was ordered not to be released.
The MOD last night declined to comment.
