Military campaign in Afghanistan was a 'waste of lives', says mother of airman killed on duty
Britain's nine-year military campaign in Afghanistan was nothing more than a 'waste of lives', according to the mother of an airman killed serving his country.
Sarah McCarthy, whose son Brent was murdered by a rogue policeman while on duty in Afghanistan, said news that British troops have been withdrawn from the country had left her feeling 'numb'.
She said she couldn't bring herself to watch news programmes and said the departure of troops had brought 'everything back' from the time of Brent's death.
Corporal McCarthy is one of the 453 servicemen and women who lost their lives during Britain's 13-year war on Afghanistan.
An inquest found the 25-year-old, whose family hails from Codsall, was unlawfully killed while on active service in Helmand Province. He and comrade 27-year-old Lance Corporal Lee Davies were shot dead by two men wearing Afghan Police Uniform in May 2012.
One of the murderers was shot dead by Afghan police but the other, thought to be Cpl McCarthy's killer, escaped and his family still await justice. The last British troops left Helmand Province yesterday.
Cpl McCarthy's mother Sarah, from Telford, said the British troops leaving Afghanistan is an upsetting time for her family and all the others who have lost servicemen and women in the war.
She said: "It's just a waste of lives. Is it ever going to make a difference? I don't know.
"I'm just numb. It's really upset me. I've recorded the news programmes because I can't watch them. It just brings everything back from losing Brent. It's awful – it's a really difficult time for us. And for the families of the 453 that lost their lives I am sure everybody is going through the same. It's very difficult to put into words because it's a very poignant time."
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 to the RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and his flag-draped coffin carried by six soldiers from the aircraft and saluted 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.
