1995 Mitsubishi FTO won't start

I would be looking at the starter motor and also making sure that the ring gear is ok, start here.

yeah thanks for confirming my suspicion , also wondered if the alternator was knackered even with a brand new battery would it fail to start as alternator just charges the battery no?

I will not be the alternator, if the battery fails to charge this can be the reason, also get the battery fully charged on a bench charger and then get a load test the battery may be so bad it is not taking a charge causing the starter not to engage.

the battery had been dodgy for couple years once car left cold going flat but the battery was the 1st thing I changed after showing bat was dead but after changing it the new bat was getting same response nothing just engine not turning over, turning the key and a grind noise coming from side of engine just wondered if the bat was dead would it of killed the alternator or not and if so would it fail to turn over with a broken alternator with a new bat? or should it only be starter motor , ring key ?? or ignition coil? also wondered if spark plugs knackered could cause nothing to happen when turning the key ?

meant ring gear on ring key, actually not sure what a ring gear is does this connect to the starter motor ?

The ring gear is the gear the starter drives to turn the engine, often if a starter fails and it is not repaired quickly the Bendix drive will damage the ring gear, to replace this the transmission will have to be removed and a new gear fitted to the fly wheel, you can see the ring gear when the starter is out and damaged teeth will be easily seen as you turn the motor over by hand.