Ben Fordham Live on 2GB Breakfast
Oct 13, 2026 · 1 hr 31 min · 46 segments
\*Chris Minns in studio. \*Dead soldier controversy. \*Massive wine theft. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Ben FordhamHost
Chris MinnsGuest
Nick AbrahamGuestHarley Carnes
Adam GilchristLewisGuestPeter SwitzerMark LevyPanelistWe start
The parents of a soldier killed in action have slammed a heartless move from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
They say they did not receive an invite to a memorial commemorating Australia's service in Afghanistan.
And that's despite their son, Sean McCarthy, dying while serving in Afghanistan back in 2009.
A memorial to mark 25 years since Australia entered the conflict has taken place at the war memorial.
They found out about the event from other families who were invited to the service.
David and Mary say they later received a phone call from the Chief of Army, Susan Coyle.
She informed them the Department of Veterans Affairs did send them an invitation, but get this, it had been mistakenly sent to their son, Sean, who passed away 18 years ago.
How does that happen? Does the Defence Force not update their records when they lose a brave soldier in a war zone? Sean McCarthy was killed by a roadside bomb back in 2009.
And to make it even worse, this is not the first time the family has been bewildered by the actions of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Defence Force, because eight years after Sean's death, Mary and David received a letter from the ADF.
It was a notice telling them that their son had been cleared of alleged war crimes.
We start
The parents of a soldier killed in action have slammed a heartless move from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
They say they did not receive an invite to a memorial commemorating Australia's service in Afghanistan.
And that's despite their son, Sean McCarthy, dying while serving in Afghanistan back in 2009.
A memorial to mark 25 years since Australia entered the conflict has taken place at the war memorial.
They found out about the event from other families who were invited to the service.
David and Mary say they later received a phone call from the Chief of Army, Susan Coyle.
She informed them the Department of Veterans Affairs did send them an invitation, but get this, it had been mistakenly sent to their son, Sean, who passed away 18 years ago.
How does that happen? Does the Defence Force not update their records when they lose a brave soldier in a war zone? Sean McCarthy was killed by a roadside bomb back in 2009.
And to make it even worse, this is not the first time the family has been bewildered by the actions of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Defence Force, because eight years after Sean's death, Mary and David received a letter from the ADF.
It was a notice telling them that their son had been cleared of alleged war crimes.
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