BUT this should surely have been an ideal forum for improving the understanding of what really happened which, if at any stage it becomes apparent that the basic premise for the flight had not be truthfully declared, that an extra objective/task had been put upon them without being declared, or there had been “new” equipment on board that had not been mentioned, then the verdict of gross negligence would simply have to be overturned pending a new and fuller independent inquiry.
Why so many remain silent is the worrying thing – you are supposed to be living in a free country and should be able to raise concerns or contribute your knowledge to debates when arguments about security that have gagged you seem unjustified.
What was it that philosopher Goethe said? - something like”No man is so hopelessly enslaved than he who falsely believes that he is free.”?
Even if the simplistic legal nicety gets their names cleared (which it has failed to do despite enormous effort over the years), how would it be right to end the debate while there are unanswered basic questions which could have led to a real inquiry into how this team perished at such a convenient time for a dodgy political solution? This team did not have confidence in the proposed peace process, saw it as wrong to make compromises with terrorists, and indeed had plans for much increased aggressive action against the terrorists.
Had the crew been involved in an activity near the Mull that depended upon a person or persons on the ground doing the right thing, there existed an opportunity for an arranged crash and, however unpalatable this may be, because of the implications for how our country is really run we must uncover every stone to either confirm or eliminate this awful possibility. There is sufficient evidence that there was a deliberate approach to a particular point and the requisite on board equipment turns out to have been fitted as was deduced to have been necessary to explain the pilots' approach.
Get your heads out of the sand – this is your country.