Ex-SAS soldier denies involvement in mercy killings

A former SAS solider has denied carrying out mercy killings during the 2003 Iraq war.

Colin MacIachlan was reported to be facing a murder probe over claims made in a book that he engaged in mercy killings - illegal under UK military law and against Geneva Convention standards.

Mr Maclachlan has distanced himself from a passage which described the aftermath of an attack on an Iraqi army convoy where several fatally wounded enemy soldiers were shot dead.

Speaking to The Sun, Mr Maclachlan, who appeared in Channel 4 programme SAS: Who Dares Wins, said: "If anywhere in that book says there were three wounded guys and I killed them, all that is absolute nonsense".

Britain invaded Iraq in 2003 Credit: PA

A manuscript of the book in question has been submitted to the Ministry of Defence -- part of standard procedures to ensure classified information is not leaked.

Military police are understood to have then been passed a copy before carrying out "preliminary inquiries".

No formal investigation into the claims has begun.

Mr Maclachlan, 42, said a draft copy of the book that was passed to a newspaper had been ghost written and he had not read it.

He said: "I certainly didn't walk up and execute three people. I stand by what happened but I didn't kill them. That's taking it a bridge too far".