British Soldier Torture Claims 'Lies' - Inquiry

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By Alistair Bunkall, Defence Correspondent

The Defence Secretary has accused Iraqi prisoners of attempting to use the UK legal system to damage the reputation of Britain's armed forces.

Michael Fallon lambasted them for making "false allegations" of abuse by British forces, which triggered a judge-led inquiry costing the British taxpayer £31m and put soldiers through six years of anxiety.

Mr Fallon made his comments after a major inquiry ruled allegations of torture and murder, made against British soldiers bythe former prisoners, were "wholly without foundation".

The Al Sweady Inquiry found accusations of war crimes made in 2008 were "entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility".

Mr Fallon said the claims had been a "shameful attempt to use our legal system to attack and falsely impugn our armed forces".

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Gallery: Al Sweady Inquiry Releases Images

Detained Iraqis being guarded by a British soldier - one of the images released by the Al Sweady Inquiry into alleged British army abuses of Iraqi prisoners

The inquiry, which lasted five years and cost the taxpayer £25m, has ruled claims that members of the British military tortured captured Iraqis were "lies". Continue through for more images

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He said the lawyers who represented the Iraqi prisoners had made errors which had cost the taxpayer money and put the soldiers involved through years of uncertainty.

And he called for them to issue an "unequivocal apology to the soldiers whose reputations they attempted to traduce".

The two solicitors' firms involved - Public Interest Lawyers and Leigh, Day & Co - are being investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

At the heart of the judge-led inquiry, the largest of its kind, was the claim that 20 or more Iraqis were unlawfully killed and mutilated after the so-called Battle of Danny Boy on 14 May 2004.

These claims were withdrawn earlier this year - after it emerged they were false - but the inquiry continued to examine claims British troops mistreated Iraqi detainees in their custody.

The Inquiry Chairman, Sir Thayne Forbes, noted that the British soldiers responded to the ambush with "exemplary courage, resolution and professionalism". Five were awarded the Military Cross for their actions and one the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross.

He said he found no evidence of tortured or war crimes and concluded the prisoners colluded to discredit the British Army.

Senior defence sources have told Sky News: "This has been a disgrace from start to finish. It has been the work of self-interested lawyers who, for whatever reason, have decided to take the word of those who sought to kill brave British soldiers."

However, the Army did not escape criticism. Sir Thayne found there had been instances of ill-treatment during "tactical questioning" of the detainees on the night of May 14/15.

The inquiry found the prisoners were blindfolded or deprived of their sight for an unacceptable amount of time and not fed properly.

The former High Court judge also criticised British soldiers for "tasteless trophies" such as striking poses for photos with detainees but said none of the behaviour amounted to war crimes.

Named after 19-year-old Hamid al Sweady, who died in British custody, the inquiry, which was announced in 2009, received evidence from 610 witnesses.

The report made nine recommendations for the British military including recording interrogations, making proper prisoner medical examinations and keeping records and making sure there are sufficient interpreters.

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