TWO SAS servicemen have been acquitted of charges in relation to a march on the Brecon Beacons in which three reservists including a Penrhyn Bay serviceman died.

The men, known only as 1A and 1B, denied negligently performing a duty by failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of candidates taking part in the exercises.

L/Cpl Craig Roberts, from Penrhyn Bay, and L/Cpl Edward Maher, of Winchester, were pronounced dead on the Welsh mountain range after suffering heatstroke on July 13, 2013.

Cpl James Dunsby, of Trowbridge, died in hospital from multiple organ failure more than two weeks later.

1A and 1B went on trial at the Court Martial Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire.

1A was a captain and the training officer in charge of the march, while 1B was a warrant officer and the chief instructor on the exercise.

Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett ruled the defendants had no case to answer and directed the five-person panel to acquit them of the charge.

An anonymity order protects the identity of a number of people and organisations that feature in the court martial.

This includes ‘MoD A-Block’, which refers to an organisation within Joint Forces Command.

The judge told the families of the three reservists: “The allegations of negligent performance of duty were only a small part in the overall failings – the deaths occurred because of the systemic failures within Joint Forces Command.

“Of course, the system is made up of people but there have been successive people in A-Block and within the chain of command who have failed to address their minds to the real risks involved in exercising in extreme temperatures, and who have failed to ensure that those delivering the training or invigilating the test were properly trained in all aspects.

“These two defendants did the best they could in the circumstances of fewer resources than requested, a lack of even the most basic of training in relation to heat illness and risk assessment and within the culture that existed at the time.”

The media applied to identify A-Block, after evidence by the Health and Safety Executive during the court martial placed the blame for what happened “fairly and squarely” with the organisation.

Judge Blackett refused this application and said he would not give further clarification as to the identity of A-Block.

Louis Mably QC, prosecuting, confirmed he would not seek leave to appeal the decision.