The Government's chief legal adviser has given permission to the family of a young Army recruit who died at Deepcut barracks to apply for a fresh inquest into her death.
Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC has granted Private Cheryl James' family consent to apply to the High Court for a new inquest into her death, nearly a decade after it happened. Pte James, 18, was undergoing initial training at Deepcut Barracks when she was found with gunshot wounds in November 1995.
She was one of four young soldiers who died at the barracks in Surrey between 1995 and 2002, sparking allegations of bullying and abuse.
Her parents, Des and Doreen James, had lodged an application with the Attorney General for consent to apply to the High Court for a fresh inquest.
Following yesterday's decision the couple said: "We're relieved and delighted by the Attorney General's decision.
"It's truly an emotional day. It's been a long and painful process, with so many hurdles, but we never considered giving up. Cheryl had her whole life in front of her."
In September 2001, 17-year-old Private Geoff Gray, from Seaham, Co Durham, was found with two gunshot wounds to his head, and six months later, Private James Collinson, from Perth, also 17, was found with a single gunshot wound upwards through his chin.
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