Parents await inquest on tragic Telford airman Brent McCarthy

A military inquest will be held on Monday for Corporal Brent McCarthy, 25, from Priorslee, Telford, who was killed in Helmand Province by two men who were wearing Afghan police uniforms.

He and comrade 27-year-old Lance Corporal Lee Davies were shot dead as they guarded a base in Lashkar Gah in May 2012.

Today, Corporal McCarthy's parents, Sarah and John, spoke of their heartache at the upcoming hearing, set to last two days in Oxford – and their frustration it has taken so long to organise.

"It's just bringing everything back," said Mrs McCarthy, 57. "It's just raw.

"We've had to fight for a lot of information and 18 months down the line it's now the inquest and I can't wait for it to be over so we can start to grieve."

Mr McCarthy, 58, said: "We are just shattered. We hope the inquest will answer questions. It's very confusing for us to piece together what happened when we weren't there. But we are told his RAF colleagues and officers in charge at the time are going to give evidence."

Corporal McCarthy, who also survived by his sister Jodie, 31, and her children Mia Jay, eight today, and Kyron, 22 months, was born into a military family in Germany but lived in Priorslee most of his life.

The former Lilleshall Primary and Orleton Park pupil joined the RAF police in 2008. He was assigned to the base in 2009 where he volunteered to deploy with 174 Provost Company, 3rd Regiment Royal Military Police, where he helped train and mentor Afghan police.

His body was flown into the RAF Brize Norton base in Oxfordshire and his flag draped coffin carried by six soldiers from a military aircraft and saluated as it was put into a waiting hearse.

Hundreds of mourners paid their respects as Corporal McCarthy was buried with full military honours at St Nicholas's Church, Codsall.

For the full, moving interview, see your Weekend Shropshire Star