AN inquest expected to test SAS training after the deaths of three army reservists in the Brecon Beacons is due to start today (Mon).

The hearing in Solihull will examine circumstances surrounding the deaths of Lance Corporal Edward Maher, Lance Corporal Craig Roberts and Corporal James Dunsby who died in sweltering heat during an exercise  on Pen Y Fan in  July 2013.

L/Cpl Roberts, 24,  was pronounced dead on the mountainside, while L/Cpl Maher and Cpl Dunsby, both 31, died in hospital.

The inquest was delayed as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) reviewed its decision not to bring criminal charges of gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths – a decision subsequently upheld.

A separate investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Dyfed-Powys police is continuing.

Several other soldiers taking part in the exercise, with temperatures as high as  29C (84F), also collapsed and needed medical attention.

The inquest, expected to last four weeks is expected to hear evidence  from soldiers who were manning checkpoints on the day, as well as other military personnel responsible for managing the exercise.

In October 2013, the HSE issued a Crown Improvement Notice on the Ministry of Defence over how it was managing risks, following an initial inquiry into how the exercise was run.

The MoD "complied with the notice and took action before the next selection test exercise in January 2014", according to the HSE.

BACKGROUND – THE BRECON BEACONS SAS TRAINING DEATHS

Supervisors of the training exercise won’t face manslaughter charges.

In March, the CPS confirmed that an independent  review of an initial decision not to charge over the deaths had reached the same conclusion.

In a statement, the CPS said that conclusion concurred with the assessment of “ insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction” on charges of gross negligence manslaughter.

An investigation into the deaths by the health and safety executive (HSE) is on-going supported by Dyfed-Powys Police which carried out the criminal inquiry.

This review into the ruling out of criminal charges started in September last year after an appeal by two of the soldiers’ families.

The deaths saw the HSE say SAS training posed a “serious risk” to soldiers with the regiment put under orders to tackle risks revealed by an ongoing investigation.

Maher, Roberts and Dunsby  were taking part  in a 40-mile hike over the Beacons in temperatures topping 29.5C (85F).

They were among six men rescued during the exercise which had been part of a four-week trial for the Territorial Army’s SAS reservists.

Roberts, 24, died at the scene.  Maher, 31, died at  Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil, three hours later, and Dunsby later that month.

The HSE subsequently served a Crown Improvement Notice ordering the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to improve its response to heat illness risk on exercises.

That order meant an HSE inspector believed such exercises presented a serious health and safety risk.

The notice stated that the MoD as an employer “failed to make a suitable and sufficient assessment” of risks to the health and safety of the soldiers on the test, including those relating to heat illness.

With no right of appeal, the MoD had to comply over issues including the duration and intensity of the exercise, the suitability of clothing, and availability of water.