the operator of the aeroplane has the right (some would say duty) to advise the hirer that what he intends to do is illegal. His decision to take off into IMC took him outside the privileges of his ratings and thus the FTO lending hi the aeroplane were complicit, given that they would have been aware of the weather at BPL at the time of take off.
Rubbish.
There is an exam in the PPL called "Human factors and performance"....The pilot should have known about the aeronautical decision making process, and should have decided to stay on the ground....The FTO shouldn't have to spoon feed every baby pilot that walks through the door. Indeed the dispatcher may not even have known the pilots ratings......
Sorry that some people died as a result, which is very sad, but unless people learn from other's mistakes and have a bit of common sense then these sorts of accidents will continue. I think we'll see a rise in them with the end of the IMC rating....