'How did our son die?' (From Gazette & Herald)

'How did our son die?'

THE family of a Scarborough Royal Marine killed in Iraq demanded this week to know the truth about his death.

It followed a BBC report, at the weekend, that Christopher Maddison, 24, had probably been killed by British fire, and not by Iraqi soldiers as initially thought.

He was given a full military funeral at Scarborough's parish church of St Mary's after he died at a field hospital following what was believed to have been an enemy ambush near a crossing point on the River Zubayr in March.

A Ministry of Defence inquiry had found that Mr Maddison, who was serving with the 539 Assault Squadron, had been killed by Iraqi troops.

Now his mother, Julie Maddison, who runs a hotel in Peasholm Drive with her husband Tony, is calling for a full inquiry into Christopher's death.

"I don't know what happened out there, but we want to know the truth. The television programme has brought up a lot of new information. The people involved must be given the opportunity to answer the allegations. It was a very powerful programme and, in a way, it has helped us to come to terms with what happened."

She added: "I am frightened of many things, but not the truth."

In the programme, tribute was paid to Christoper Maddison by his colleagues. Mrs Maddison said she supported the making of the programme. "Actually seeing what happened on television has helped. People tell you a story, but it doesn't always sink in. I am pleased the programme paid tribute to Christopher and the other lads out there."

He had been a Royal Marine for five years and celebrated his 24th birthday on board HMS Ocean just before the war began.

Updated: 09:57 Wednesday, July 09, 2003