Posted on 04/14/2003 4:16:46 PM PDT by ItsJeff
Killed commando's widow ordered to repay salary
The widow of a Royal Navy commando killed in Iraq has been asked to repay 10 days' salary which was paid after his death.
Mechanic Ian Seymour, 28, died in a helicopter crash in Kuwait at the beginning of the war.
Because he was not identified for 10 days, the Ministry of Defence continued to pay his salary into his bank account.
It has now asked his wife Lianne to repay the money and move out of the Defence house in Dorset she shared with him and their three-year-old son Beck.
"I just feel like I've been robbed of everything," Mrs Seymour told Britain's ITV News.
"My husband's gone ... and just for the sake of 10 days' pay, they're telling me I have to make a repayment.
"My husband died three weeks ago in a tragic accident. I'm supposed to be grieving his death but at the same time I'm having to worry about where I'll be living in six month's time."
Mr Seymour was buried with full military honours last week.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has promised to look into the case, saying: "If that is true, that is very disappointing."
Calls to the Ministry of Defence today were answered by a recorded message advising that the number was temporarily out of order.
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The widow of a Royal Navy commando killed in the Gulf will not be made to pay back part of his salary and give up her home, says Tony Blair.
Lianne Seymour was told by the Ministry of Defence she must move out of the house she shared with her husband Ian after he was killed in a helicopter crash in Kuwait.
She was told to reimburse the remainder of his salary, which had been paid into his bank account after the accident because he was not identified immediately.
After condemnation of the move by her family and in the House of Commons, Mr Blair said Mrs Seymour had been wrongly informed by the MoD.
The MoD conceded that an "administrative error" had been made.
Challenged by Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, the Prime Minister said the facts were not correct, adding: "I can assure you that if they were, this would be wholly contrary to the normal practice. Whatever needs to be done there, will be done."
Mr Seymour, 28, an operator mechanic (communications) second class with 3 Commando Brigade, was one of eight British servicemen who died when a US helicopter they were aboard crashed south of the Kuwait border early in the conflict.
He was given full military honours at his funeral on April 9 at a service at St Michael's Church near the home he shared with his wife and their three-year-old son Beck in Hamworthy, Poole.
Story filed: 21:16 Monday 14th April 2003
No he isn't. Wish our "leftys" could show some of Blair's other side once in a while. How refreshing that would be.
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