MoD censured over 'preventable' death of Pte Conor McPherson

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has come under criticism for the "preventable" death of Private Conor McPherson, who was shot dead during a night-time training exercise in Northumberland in 2016. Private Conor McPherson's tragic death has raised serious concerns about the safety and effectiveness of military training exercises. The incident occurred during a routine exercise in the Otterburn Training Area, where live ammunition was being used. The circumstances surrounding McPherson's death have been described as "avoidable" and "preventable" by the coroner, who accused the MoD of failing to provide adequate safety measures. The lack of supervision and the poor communication among the troops were identified as key contributing factors. During the exercise, McPherson was serving as an acting enemy within an opposing force. He was shot in the head by a soldier who mistook him for a target. The coroner concluded that the accident could have been avoided if the soldiers had been given clearer instructions and if there had been better coordination between the troops on the ground. The coroner's report highlights several failures on the part of the MoD. It states that there was inadequate training provided to the soldiers involved, with a lack of emphasis on the necessary command and control procedures. Additionally, there was no effective system in place to identify and prevent the use of live ammunition against friendly forces. The lack of proper supervision during the exercise was also identified as a significant factor in McPherson's death. The