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Law firm Leigh Day cleared over Iraq murder compensation claims Law firm Leigh Day cleared over Iraq murder compensation claims
(35 minutes later)
The law firm Leigh Day and three of its solicitors have been cleared of all the allegations of professional misconduct they faced over Iraq war murder compensation claims.The law firm Leigh Day and three of its solicitors have been cleared of all the allegations of professional misconduct they faced over Iraq war murder compensation claims.
The not-guilty verdicts delivered by the solicitor’s disciplinary tribunal in London are a setback for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which launched the costly prosecution, and the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, who had called for legal action. The not guilty verdicts delivered by the solicitor’s disciplinary tribunal in London are a setback for the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which launched the costly prosecution, and the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, who had called for legal action.
The SRA can appeal against the findings of the seven-week trial, which is believed to have cost almost £10m and came after a three year investigation by the SRA. The SRA can appeal against the findings of the seven-week trial, which is believed to have cost almost £10m and came after a three-year investigation by the SRA.
None of the 20 allegations against Martyn Day, Sapna Malik and Ann Crowther or the London law firm were proved. None of the 20 allegations against Martyn Day, Sapna Malik and Anna Crowther, or the London law firm, were proved.
The case involved allegations over the way in which legal claims were made that British soldiers tortured and murdered Iraqi detainees after the so-called battle for Danny Boy near Basra in 2004.The case involved allegations over the way in which legal claims were made that British soldiers tortured and murdered Iraqi detainees after the so-called battle for Danny Boy near Basra in 2004.
Fighting had erupted after members of the Mahdi army Shia militia ambushed a UK military patrol. It was alleged that some Iraqis were captured and taken back to a British base where they were supposedly tortured and murdered.Fighting had erupted after members of the Mahdi army Shia militia ambushed a UK military patrol. It was alleged that some Iraqis were captured and taken back to a British base where they were supposedly tortured and murdered.
The claims were subsequently found to be fictitious by the £31m al-Sweady inquiry in 2014. It was also revealed that the Iraqi claimants were not innocent civilians but members of the Mahdi army.The claims were subsequently found to be fictitious by the £31m al-Sweady inquiry in 2014. It was also revealed that the Iraqi claimants were not innocent civilians but members of the Mahdi army.
Confirmation of their military role was contained in a personnel list issued by the Office of the Martyr al-Sadr (OMS), which revealed Leigh Day’s clients were Mahdi army fighters rather than civilians. Confirmation of their military role was contained in a personnel list issued by Shia militia group the Office of the Martyr al-Sadr (OMS), which revealed Leigh Day’s clients were Mahdi army fighters rather than civilians.
The OMS list had been in the possession of Leigh Day since 2007 but the firm initially failed to appreciate its significance or hand it over to other lawyers, the high court or the al-Sweady inquiry.The OMS list had been in the possession of Leigh Day since 2007 but the firm initially failed to appreciate its significance or hand it over to other lawyers, the high court or the al-Sweady inquiry.
Leigh Day, its partners, Day and Malik, and Crowther all denied any wrongdoing. Leigh Day, its partners Day and Malik, and Crowther all denied any wrongdoing.
An MoD spokesman said: “We have noted today’s decision and are disappointed that, unlike in the case of Phil Shiner’s Public Interest Lawyers, the tribunal has not agreed with the concerns we have raised.An MoD spokesman said: “We have noted today’s decision and are disappointed that, unlike in the case of Phil Shiner’s Public Interest Lawyers, the tribunal has not agreed with the concerns we have raised.
“We will continue to both vigorously defend any opportunistic claims when we believe they are false or exaggerated, and to bring any evidence of wrongdoing to the attention of supervising bodies.”“We will continue to both vigorously defend any opportunistic claims when we believe they are false or exaggerated, and to bring any evidence of wrongdoing to the attention of supervising bodies.”
A spokesman for the SRA said: “We note the judgment handed down today. We need to wait and see the full detail and rationale behind the tribunal’s decision. We will then consider the possibility of an appeal.”A spokesman for the SRA said: “We note the judgment handed down today. We need to wait and see the full detail and rationale behind the tribunal’s decision. We will then consider the possibility of an appeal.”
A further hearing to assess and apportion costs will be heard at a later date.A further hearing to assess and apportion costs will be heard at a later date.