Mr Blair, you sent my son to die in a war based on lies

Pauline Hickey — 2006-03-02T19:08:26Z

This is an edited version of a letter delivered by Pauline Hickey to 10 Downing Street yesterday

Occupation has achieved nothing positive. It is time to bring our troops home and let the Iraqi people decide their own future

Dear Prime Minister, Ref: Sgt Christian Ian Hickey of the 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, who became the 97th fatality of the Iraq conflict

As a parent yourself, you will be aware that the most precious thing we have in our lives is our children. Until four months ago, I had been blessed with two grown-up sons. I still cannot get used to speaking about one of my sons in the past tense.

My youngest son Christian, 30, was a member of the armed forces; he was an exceptional character, full of fun, with a great sense of humour and was a generous, caring person who brought out the best in people. He was an excellent soldier, who had progressed rapidly through the ranks, and became a full sergeant at the age of 29. I enclose a summary from the Coldstreams' website (www.shinycapstar.com) to show I am not biased as his mother.

Since the death of my son on October 18 2005, three days before his tour was due to end, I have started to question why the invasion of Iraq occurred. My son's remit in Iraq was as a "peacekeeper", helping with the rebuilding of schools and the infrastructure, and training the Iraqi police to enable them to maintain stability in the future. At the time of his death, Chris was the platoon commander and was responsible for clearing a safe route for a large convoy. (...)

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- / Guardian