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Iraqi families drop unlawful killing claim against UK troops

The families of dead Iraqis who claimed they were unlawfully killed by British soldiers a decade ago have dropped their claims after admitting there was "insufficient evidence." But they intend to pursue their claims of mistreatment.

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'Insufficient evidence' on unlawful killings claim

Lawyers representing families of dead Iraqis admitted there was "insufficient evidence" to back their claims British soldiers unlawfully killed civilians nearly a decade ago.

From the outset the families have had the simple objective of discovering the extent of any wrongdoing and, if so, how it came about and who was responsible.

It is accepted that, on the material which has been disclosed to date, there is insufficient evidence to support a finding of unlawful killing in Camp Abu Naji.

– John Dickinson, of Public Interest Lawyers

The Iraqi core participants will not submit that, on the balance of probabilities, live Iraqis captured in the course of the battle died or were killed at Camp Abu Naji.

– Patrick O'Connor QC confirming PIL's position to inquiry

However, PIL said there were still allegations of mistreatment of prisoners for the inquiry to consider.

The Al-Sweady Inquiry is examining allegations British troops mistreated and killed 20 or more Iraqi detainees after the Battle of Danny Boy in May 2004. The MoD has vigorously denied the claims, saying any deaths occurred on the battlefield.

Families drop claims of unlawful killings against troops

Claims that British troops unlawfully killed Iraqis a decade ago have been dropped by the families of the deceased who admitted there was "insufficient evidence."

Families have dropped claims that British soldiers unlawfully killed Iraqi civilians. Credit: Lewis Whyld/PA Archive

On the last full day of evidence at the year-long Al-Sweady Inquiry, Public Interest Lawyers, who are representing the families of the deceased, said there had been "insufficient evidence" to back their allegations that civilians were killed while in British troops' custody in May 2004.

PIL said it came to the decision after the end of military evidence and "the current state of disclosure by the Ministry of Defence".

The inquiry has heard evidence from hundreds of witnesses both here and abroad, at a cost of more than £22 million.

Read: Al-Sweady inquiry claims 'not supported by evidence'

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Unlawful killing claims against UK troops are dropped

Allegations British soldiers unlawfully killed Iraqi civilians a decade ago are not supported by evidence heard by a public inquiry investigating their deaths, a lawyer acting for the families of the dead told the Al-Sweady Inquiry in London today.

The inquiry has been examining claims that UK soldiers murdered 20 or more Iraqis, and tortured detainees after the "Battle of Danny Boy" in Maysan Province, southern Iraq, in May 2004.

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