Our son will never fulfil his dreams, says Corporal Brent McCarthy family

The 25-year-old, who is buried in Codsall, died of 'unsurvivable injuries' after being shot by two rogue Afghan policemen while they guarded a base in Lashkar Gar, Helman Province.

Just moments before he was attacked in May last year alongside Lance Corporal Lee Davies, Cpl McCarthy had posed with one of the men who killed him.

At the conclusion of a two day inquest into his death, Oxfordshire Coroner Darren Salter said he was unlawfully killed while on active service.

Afterwards Corporal McCarthy's father John said his family remained devastated.

"Since the loss of our son Brent our lives have been shattered beyond belief," he said.

And he added: "Although the inquest seems to have brought some closure, we remain devastated at the loss of our wonderful son.

"Brent was fun-loving, highly motivated and had big plans for the future.

"Sadly now we will never get to share these times with him."

And he added: "Brent's memory will live on through everyone that knew him, through his niece Mia and nephew Kyron, plus all future generations of our family."

Corporal Brent McCarthy's father John and Major Jules Salisbury speak after the inquest

As he concluded the hearing the coroner said that although he had heard evidence that there was confusion over the roles the men were fulfilling he would not request the Ministry of Defence to review procedures as steps had already been taken to protect servicemen from insider attacks.

His commander at the time of the shootings, former Lieutenant Benjamin Bardsley gave evidence at the hearing and said he believed the pair had been killed by 'opportunistic' Afghan policemen who had been turned by the Taliban.

Lt Bardsley, who has since left the army, said: "It was just an opportunistic moment for two policemen who may well have been turned by the Taliban in the previous weeks, months or years.

"It was just the wrong time, wrong place and two men were set on doing what they did."

The court was told that there was a degree of confusion as to who was fulfilling the role called 'guardian angel', which involved watching over the base and being ready to react to any situation.

Wing Commander Lee Taylor, who gave evidence on the subsequent investigation, said measures were now in place for it to be explicitly clear who the guardian angel is at any time and they must not be distracted.

Cpl McCarthy lived in Telford but had many friends and relatives living in Wolverhampton and was buried with full military honours at St Nicholas Church in Codsall.

He joined the RAF police in 2008. Major Jules Salusbury on behalf of the Ministry of Defence paid tribute to Cpl McCarthy at the conclusion of the inquest.

He said: "His intelligence, wit and desire to muck in with every aspect of the battalion he was supporting ensured that he became hugely respected amongst the men that he went on to live and fight with in Helmand.

"He shared every danger and discomfort alongside us and was incredibly professional in his role as an advisor to the Afghan National Police. We extend our sympathies to the family of an airman who became very much part of our family in Afghanistan."