DETECTIVES cancelled a meeting with the distraught mother of a North-East soldier killed in Northern Ireland after she spoke out in The Northern Echo.

It has been revealed in the House of Commons that the Royal Ulster Constabulary cancelled the meeting at the last minute because of the Echo's article about Liz Green's plight.

Despite the third anniversary of Corporal Anthony Green's death at the weekend, the family are still fighting for answers from the police and the Army about his death in January 2001.

MP Kevin McNamara, who is spearheading a campaign for a public inquiry into non-combat Army deaths, tabled questions in the House of Commons to find out why the meeting with police chiefs had not gone ahead.

The Minister of State for Northern Ireland, Jane Kennedy, replied to Mr McNamara's questions.

In answers to the MP, in the Commons, she said: "The police were contacted by the Northern Echo newspaper and asked to respond to what appeared to be a complaint that police had failed to fully investigate her son's death.

"It was decided to postpone the meeting until it was clear what the precise nature of the allegations were."

Mrs Green said a new date had yet to be set.

"I am still waiting. The police have told me there is going to be another meeting but now they want a list of questions before I go.

"It is an ongoing battle to just get any information.

"There are still a lot of unanswered questions from the police and the Army."

Cpl Green, 25, of Stanley, County Durham was shot in the head in January 2001 and another soldier, Private William Graham, was jailed for unlawfully killing him after a trial at Belfast Crown Court.

As well as the meeting with police, the family are also still waiting for an Army Board of Inquiry to be held.

"It has been three years now," said Mrs Green, "The inquiry should have been held three months after he died nevermind three years. We are worried that after all this time they might have destroyed files as they only keep them for a certain amount of time."