Diane Gray, whose son Geoff died at Deepcut in 2001, said she was "devastated" a public inquiry had not been recommended.

BBC: James Collinson, 17, Perth

But he would not have been fat-headedly sent to Deepcut had the first court martial done more than gingerly reduce him to the ranks.

ECONOMIST: An army sex scandal: Rough justice | The

"We have been told that Deepcut, together with the ongoing war in Iraq, is having a considerable effect on recruitment in the British army, " he added.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Deepcut families vow to fight on

He criticised many of the practices at Deepcut during the period covering the four deaths, including that of allowing young recruits to do armed guard duty unsupervised.

BBC: NEWS | UK | The Deepcut investigations

The deaths at Deepcut, meanwhile, may indeed be suicides, but that does not explain the army's initial reluctance to investigate them or address the bullying which could have been their cause.

ECONOMIST: An army sex scandal: Rough justice | The