As Royal Navy whistleblower William McNeilly remains in military custody for criticizing Trident nuclear safety procedures, an ex-Navy sailor who backs many of his allegations has spoken at length to RT.
Euan Bryson, 25, served in Britain’s Royal Navy for 4 1/2 years as a communications and IT specialist. Among his leading roles were positions onboard the UK’s ex-Royal Navy flagships HMS Ark Royal and HMS illustrious.
The former sailor also served at the Faslane nuclear submarine base where McNeilly was working before publishing his 18-page report, which argued that the Trident nuclear program posed serious safety and security risks to Britain.
Bryson told RT on Wednesday he was disturbed by how the issue is being covered by UK mainstream media outlets – a number of which approached him after he commented on the Trident scandal in the Guardian on Tuesday.
READ MORE: ‘Nuclear disaster waiting to happen’: Royal Navy probes Trident whistleblower's claims
He said despite various invitations he was “uncomfortable” at the thought of speaking to them after observing the tone of much of the commentary on the case.
Bryson said: “Nobody is questioning what the guy’s said.”
“They are focusing on his personality and mental health, rather than the security issues he is pointing out.”
William McNeilly is going to go to prison, or worse, the guy may have mental issues - IDK - but there's truth in that report
— Adam (@AdamBam360) May 18, 2015
Bryson, who says he is a concerned ex-serviceman and not a whistleblower, slammed media commentators’ attempts to undermine McNeilly’s credibility in recent days.
He said questioning McNeilly’s mental health was just “an easy default” used against people who speak out, and insisted he believes the Trident whistleblower had joined the naval force "to serve the public” like himself.
Bryson felt McNeilly’s actions were too coherent for him to be written off as mentally ill. “He was willing to risk it all, you don’t do that on a whim: that is a calculated risk,” he said.
@METAKNlGHT TBF, they've contacted me and want to chat tomorrow. However, I'm concerned about talking to them after seeing that.
— Euan Bryson (@euanwrites) May 18, 2015
The former sailor said that even if it was true that NcNeilly had mental health issues, it was just another example of the Navy’s lamentable security and safety standards.
While agreeing with many of McNeilly’s criticisms, which center on the Faslane base and its nuclear submarines, Bryson said that there were security issues “across the fleet.”
Bryson recalled he had seen drunken service personnel in civilian dress let into secure facilities while at the naval base in Portsmouth, England.
They had secured entry by flashing bank cards at inattentive sentries from across a road, he said. He added during his entire time serving the Royal Navy, he was rarely searched when entering a British naval base.
Big congratulations due to William McNeilly "The Whistleblower" for raising concerns about safety & security @ Clyde Naval Base & Trident
— EFM (@EFM_1) May 20, 2015
He conceded, however, that he was occasionally searched when returning from deployments around the world in case he was trying to smuggle in cartons of cigarettes.
“This is a bigger issue than just an occasional security lapse. There is an attitude problem in the military in general. They just don’t think it will happen to them,” he said.
The 2013 murder of British soldier Lee Rigby by jihadists in Woolwich, London, was interpreted by many as a glaring “security lapse.” Referencing the murder, Bryson said many have failed to accept that the War on Terror has come to Britain’s doorstep.
The MoD has announced that they will not charge McNeilly for breaking the Official Secrets Act. Bryson thinks this is part of a tactic to discredit him.
“It is easier to discredit him. If they charge him it suggests his comments ring true,” he said.
“I think if this is the route they are going they might not even dishonorably discharge him, or they might just try and charge him with bringing the service into disrepute.”
READ MORE: Trident whistleblower William McNeilly hands himself in to police
Asked if there should be an inquiry into McNeilly’s claims, Bryson said: “I think there should be an inquiry into every claim made, every claim was made with a reason.”
He did not hold much faith this would happen, however, because of resistance from senior commanders and a “clear lack of acceptance among higher ups.”
“Particularly surrounding the MoD, they rely on a ‘dark arts’ attitude, the less the public know, the better,” he said.
Bryson said it was important to make sure the story did not leave the public consciousness. He also appreciated the political context of the allegations, particularly given the rise in Scotland of the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) with their anti-nuclear stance.
Asked why he added his voice to McNeilly’s in the first place, Bryson cited his own military service: “The sense of duty does not go away because you leave.”
Since the McNeilly allegations came to light, the Royal Navy has maintained it places the highest priority on security and safety.
“The Royal Navy disagrees with McNeilly’s subjective and unsubstantiated personal views but we take the operation of our submarines and the safety of our personnel extremely seriously and so continue to fully investigate the circumstances of this issue,” a spokesperson for the Royal Navy said.
By Joe Glenton @joejglenton