Inquest returns unlawful killing verdict

More supervision needed after death of a student working for railway contractor

Ten days after the accident that killed seven people, train services have resumed through Potters Bar. At the same time the Transport Secretary Stephen Byers has promised big improvements to the way the rail network is maintained. He said he didn't want to pre-judge the enquiry into the derailment at Potters Bar, but said it was the right time to look at the use of contractors in train repairs.

That will mean little to the family of 22 year old Michael Mungovan who was killed after being hit by a train while working for a rail maintenance contractor. A London inquest today returned a verdict of unlawful killing on the Irish student who, the court heard, had never worked on the railways before , was poorly supervised and unqualified to carry out the work to which he was assigned. Angus Crawford was in court today for PM

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For the Royal Marines of Three Commando Brigade in Afghanistan, it's a political storm in a teacup with little bearing on their regard for the man at the centre of the controversey. The troops serving under Brigadier Roger Lane, back the Defence Secretary's assertion that he is doing an excellent job

Yet despite Geoff Hoon's very public seal of approval on BBC television yesterday, it has emerged that Brigadier Lane is to leave his post as soon as his current mission is over.

Downing Street dismissed suggestions that he'd been removed because of concerns over his handling of the operation in Afghanistan and pointed out that his replacement had been made known back in April. Brigadier Jim Dutton will take over the mission.

The Tories believe Brigadier Lane is being " hung out to dry" for a percieved lack of progress in the Afghanistan operations. Jill McGivering reports for PM.

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