Duchess Driver,
It appears you may have misunderstood my posting as you seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet as me. My hope is that something comes from this inquest that will make FTO's more culpable in a case whereby an experienced instructor in a position of authority can give his blessing and encouragement to dangerous flying (it is my understanding that weather for take off was below VFR minima) to those pilots registered as flying club members at the FTO where he is employed. If this is indeed the case here then the CFI should've known better but the lads who went obviously didn't. If he didn't know any better then he should not be in the position he was. Either way there should be some accountability. If the letter of the law does not necessarily back this up at present I hope it will change. Doubtful but hopeful. It should never get to a stage whereby ops staff have to refuse the keys.
VFE.