Alba/Scotland: David and Goliath Struggle As MoD Faces High Court battle
A `David and Goliath' struggle between a South of Scotland horse breeder and the Ministry of Defence moves on in the Scottish High Court later this month.
Alyson King, the horse breeder from Carsphairn, in South West Scotland is challenging the MOD over low flying in and around her property and gained a positive judgement at an earlier hearing last year.
Our earlier report on her action in the Court of Sessions (including the full judgement) can be found here:
Ms King had claimed that low flying jets have breached the basic 100' low fly prohibitions which are in place in the area, making life at her farm intolerable and causing distress to livestock.
She is claiming compensation for Distress, Structural Damage, Veterinary Bills and Loss of Income, Loss of Value to Property.
Her action is entirely self-funded and faces the full weight of a Government and Ministry of Defence determined to crush her action.
Success for Alyson King in this case could prompt similar actions by many other farmers and livestock breeders who live with the disturbance and menace caused by low flying over a number of Tactical Training Areas (TTAs) in Scotland, Wales and N. England.
The MOD insist they try to minimise the impact of low flying however complaint levels are consistently high and despite the operation of an RAF Provost mobile monitoring unit for several years no serious disciplinary action has been taken by the MOD against errant aircrew.
A range of differing aircraft types utilise the TTAs including , Fighters, Jet trainers, Transport aircraft and Helicopters.
The MOD insist all their aircrew are highly professional and rigorously adhere to stringent guidelines. However MOD protestations of aircrew professionalism took a knock last month when a helicopter crew involved in a fatal crash were criticised in a Coroners report.
The Coroner said that the fatal helicopter crash occurred "Against a background of deteriorating administration, airmanship and discipline."
See:
A number of riders have died or been injured over the years due to distress to their horse caused by low flying military aircraft and helicopters.
See:
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
14/11/09
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