Kovco details lost
Shannon McRae and Gerard McManus
Melbourne Herald Sun
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The family of Private Jake Kovco has been devastated by yet another Defence bungle, in which a computer disk containing sensitive details about his death was left at Melbourne airport.
Defence Force chief Angus Houston was yesterday forced into an embarrassing apology to the family after an investigating officer lost the disc in the Qantas Club lounge.
The disk contained the draft findings of a probe into the botched repatriation of Pte Kovco's body.
A passenger retrieved it and passed it to radio host Derryn Hinch. Some of the report's details were aired on radio last night.
A livid Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has ordered a further inquiry into how the investigation of the body bungle was itself bungled.
Dr Nelson said it was inexcusable that the draft report, which he had not yet seen, had been leaked, and he was "angry and disappointed".
Speculation mounted last night that senior heads would roll.
Dr Nelson has ordered a crisis meeting next week of Defence chiefs.
"I will be seeking the outcome of the inquiry and what the Department of Defence, including the service chiefs, intend to do to see that this does not occur again," he said.
Shelley's mother, Lorraine Small, said the family was too upset to speak.
Mrs Kovco was yesterday being comforted by family and friends.
The disk was left in a computer terminal at the Qantas Club lounge by Brig. Elizabeth Cosson, who is heading the inquiry into the body bungle.
May 18, 2006
Shannon McRae and Gerard McManus
Melbourne Herald Sun
________________
The family of Private Jake Kovco has been devastated by yet another Defence bungle, in which a computer disk containing sensitive details about his death was left at Melbourne airport.
Defence Force chief Angus Houston was yesterday forced into an embarrassing apology to the family after an investigating officer lost the disc in the Qantas Club lounge.
The disk contained the draft findings of a probe into the botched repatriation of Pte Kovco's body.
A passenger retrieved it and passed it to radio host Derryn Hinch. Some of the report's details were aired on radio last night.
A livid Defence Minister Brendan Nelson has ordered a further inquiry into how the investigation of the body bungle was itself bungled.
Dr Nelson said it was inexcusable that the draft report, which he had not yet seen, had been leaked, and he was "angry and disappointed".
Speculation mounted last night that senior heads would roll.
Dr Nelson has ordered a crisis meeting next week of Defence chiefs.
"I will be seeking the outcome of the inquiry and what the Department of Defence, including the service chiefs, intend to do to see that this does not occur again," he said.
Shelley's mother, Lorraine Small, said the family was too upset to speak.
Mrs Kovco was yesterday being comforted by family and friends.
The disk was left in a computer terminal at the Qantas Club lounge by Brig. Elizabeth Cosson, who is heading the inquiry into the body bungle.
May 18, 2006
