WARRINGTON South MP David Mowat is calling for a change in the way DNA is stored for those on active duty, after a young mum won her fight to prove her soldier fiance fathered their daughter before he was killed during active service in Afghanistan.
Emma Hickman, 19, from Warrington was engaged to Private Daniel Wade but struggled to officially identify him as the father of five-month-old Lexie-Mai because of a legal wrangle over his DNA.
Private Wade, (pictured right) from the 3rd Battalion of The Yorkshire Regiment, died in a Taliban bomb attack in March, three months before the birth of his daughter.
Because they were not married, Miss Hickman had to press the Ministry of Defence to release his DNA so she could prove paternity and name him on the birth certificate.
Mr Mowat took up Miss Hickman’s case and when he raised the issue in the House of Commons last month, Prime Minister David Cameron pledged to tackle the “dreadful situation”, saying it “could not be allowed to continue”.
Officials have now released a sample proving Pte Wade was the father – making Lexie-Mai and her family eligible for compensation, although Miss Hickman says it was not about the money but allowing her daughter to know who her father was.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday, Monday, Mr Mowat (pictured left) urged ministers to consider asking the Army to routinely hold DNA samples for those on active duty, as they do in France and America.
In response defence Minister Mark Francois said: “The case in question has been a long journey but I believe we are nearly there. It is current MoD policy to offer all military, deployable MoD civilians and other entitled personnel
the opportunity to provide reference samples suitable for DNA analysis.
“This is entirely on a voluntary basis and it is to enable identification post-mortem should that unfortunately be required.
“This policy is under review and I can confirm the United States position is being considered. I expect this work to be complete by the spring of 2013.”
Family law expert Jennifer Roulston, a partner at QualitySolicitors Forshaws Davies Ridgway in Warrington, has been helping to fight the battle on her behalf. And with the support of local MP Mr Mowat and the Prime Minister David Cameron, she is delighted the DNA sample has now been released.
Ms Roulston said: “We are very grateful for Mr Cameron and Mr Mowat’s support in rectifying this dreadful situation. It is appalling that Emma’s trauma at losing her fiancé just before the birth of her daughter should be compounded by this legal wrangle to establish her fiance’s paternity.
“We are delighted Daniel’s family has agreed to release the DNA sample and Daniel’s paternity has at last been established. Emma is so relieved she can finally enter his name on her daughter’s birth certificate.”
