Anger over civil servants' bonuses
Updated on 12 November 2009
Families whose loved ones made the ultimate sacrifice for their country have reacted angrily to news that civil servants at the Ministry of Defence shared performance bonuses of almost £300 million since the start of the war in Iraq.
Official MoD figures showed a total of £287,809,049 has been paid out in bonuses to civil servants since 2003, including more than £47 million this year.
Bereaved families said the bonuses were "absolutely disgusting" while troops were "making do" in Afghanistan.
Hazel Hunt, whose son died in August, said it was "obscene" that troops were being short-changed.
Private Richard Hunt was injured following an explosion while on vehicle patrol for the 2nd Battalion the Royal Welsh in Helmand Province. The 21-year-old from Abergavenny, South Wales, died in hospital two days later.
Mrs Hunt said: "I would take great exception to bonuses paid for 'exceptional performance'.
"They are not delivering and I think it is obscene they have got such bonuses while our troops are being short changed; not only in equipment but also in the fact that my son was barely on £17,000 a year.
"I think it is obscene, I really do, especially in the current climate with the recession and ordinary people losing their houses, including troops."
Phil Cooper - whose son received £200,000 in compensation for injuries received in Iraq - said it was "absolutely disgusting that they can do this from the safety of their armchairs".
Jamie, then 18, became the youngest soldier to be injured in the conflict in 2006.
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