A WEXFORD family are calling for the report into the air accident that claimed the life of Cadet David Jevens to be published immediately so they can 'defend his honour'.
Cadet Jevens from Davidstown, Glynn, and Captain Derek Furniss (32), from Dublin, lost their lives when their PC-9M aircraft crashed while on a military training exercise on October 12, 2009, at Crumlin East, Cornamona, Co Galway.
Donal Jevens has confirmed that it was not his family that requested a review of the report that claimed the life of his son and his flight instructor Captain Derek Furniss.
The review was been ordered by Transport Minister Leo Varadkar under a statutory instrument which has never been used before in relation to an air accident here and allows for a re-examination if a report's findings 'appear to reflect adversely on the person's reputation or on the reputation of any person, living or dead'.
'We're asking for it to be published immediately. We know the truth, but we can't defend David to anyone,' said Donal, who pointed out that he is legally prevented from discussing the contents of the report itself.
Donal said he and his wife Liz have known the details of the accident for some 16 months, since a meeting with the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) in August 2010.
The draft of the final report then arrived in July of this year, at which point submissions were invited. Donal said that 'a very lengthy submission was put in by an interested party at that stage'.
He said that he and his wife also made a submission based on the draft report, but that it concerned 'a very minor thing in relation to an ongoing safety issue we felt needed highlighting'.
The final report from the AAIU was distributed on October 11 and was due for publication on November 8, before it was halted by the Department of Transport.
Donal said it is a very detailed and technical report and is based on data taken from the Cockpit Voice and Flight Data Recorder, as well as eye witness reports.
'The AAIU have done an excellent job in preparing this report. These reports are nonjudgemental. They are a statement of facts - the AAIU makes no decision on blame,' said Donal.
He said he and Liz are now concerned that the publication of the report may be significantly delayed. 'We want it to be known what happened our son,' said Donal. ' We find it very, very difficult in that we can't defend his honour - that's the biggest problem for us.'
He pointed out that they can't even discuss the report's findings with close family members and said that the review of the report may also set ' a dangerous precedent' for cases like this. ' We're afraid that the review process will become an endless stream of appeals and reinvestigations,' said Donal, adding that he has 'no idea whatsoever' when the report will now be published by the Department of Transport, which can even appoint a public tribunal with judicial powers to look into the matter if it feels it's merited.
' We would find it very difficult if this drags on for the next two or three years - or longer. And if it's not published then there are no lessons to be learned,' he said.
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