DEFENCE Minister Adam Ingram is under fire over claims that a highly-skilled soldier jailed for killing a North-East corporal is still employed in the Army.

Labour MP Kevin McNamara, who is backing the families of the Deepcut Four, is demanding answers from the Minister and has tabled questions in the House of Commons.

Corporal Anthony Green, of Stanley, County Durham, was serving with the Royal Logistics Corp when he died in January 2001 at Shackleton barracks, Ballykelly, in Northern Ireland.

Another soldier from the same regiment, Private William Graham, was charged with unlawfully killing him and sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Liz Green, mother of Cpl Green, has since discovered Graham, who lost an appeal against his sentence and was released in January, has been promoted to lance corporal and is still employed in the Army.

Mr McNamara has taken up the families' fight for answers. He told The Northern Echo last night it is one of only two cases in recent times where soldiers with convictions have returned to duties.

He said: "For a long time it has been the case that soldiers are automatically discharged from the Army if convicted of an offence and so a decision has been made to keep him in.

"It is terrible for Liz Green. This guy undisputedly shot her son and for the Army to let him remain in the establishment sends out a dreadful message.

"People are surprised at the ill treatment of prisoners in Iraq but it started in barracks in England. If you let people get away with it here, they will get away with it anywhere."

Mr McNamara has demanded to know if Graham was sent out to join his regiment which has recently returned from a six-month tour of duty in Iraq.

Mrs Green said: "Everybody is just reeling from the news. It seems you can do anything, you can get promotion, you can get taken back into the Army, even if you have been in prison for something like this."

The Ministry of Defence was unable to comment last night.