2 More Investigations to be Conducted; Will Families Sue?

Audrey Matura

After having read the preliminary report, the families will meet again with Minister Michael Peyrefitte and Admiral John Borland next week to discuss the findings. Attorney for three of the families, Audrey Matura emphasized that the investigation remains in its preliminary stage and two more investigations, one from the company that manufactured the helicopter and another from the Americans, are also expected to commence. Matura says that at the moment, she cannot say if the families have considered holding the government liable, and file a civil suit.

Audrey Matura, Attorney for Families

“That is a possibility and also it may be that is not a possibility because the government has said that they would be compensating them. I mean that is the word that they have used. Compensation indicates that it is beyond their benefit. They are entitled to certain benefits as being members of the military. Compensation means that we recognize that something went wrong. You don’t have to sue us. We will compensate you. So if it is a slip of the tongue or a misuse of the term we don’t know. We are hoping that for the families whatever request they make apart from their benefit that they are entitled to any form of compensation that we the attorneys will be able to handle it at the right time. But at this point it is premature to say because this is only a preliminary report and we still have many questions to ask of the investigators, of the government. We don’t know if they will be able to answer all of them when we come back next week but we will ask them.”