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Ex-officer denies abuse knowledge Ex-officer denies abuse knowledge
(30 minutes later)
A former Army officer has told the inquiry into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa he knew nothing about alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by his men.A former Army officer has told the inquiry into the death of Iraqi Baha Mousa he knew nothing about alleged abuse of Iraqi detainees by his men.
Mr Mousa, 26, died in Basra in 2003 while in British military custody.Mr Mousa, 26, died in Basra in 2003 while in British military custody.
Colonel Jorge Mendonca was cleared of all charges relating to the case at a 2007 court martial and left the service unhappy about the way he was treated.Colonel Jorge Mendonca was cleared of all charges relating to the case at a 2007 court martial and left the service unhappy about the way he was treated.
His officers may have kept him "out of the loop" because of his "reputation for doing things properly", he said.His officers may have kept him "out of the loop" because of his "reputation for doing things properly", he said.
Col Mendonca said he thought his colleagues were aware of this attitude towards the tour.Col Mendonca said he thought his colleagues were aware of this attitude towards the tour.
"We were there to help the people of Basra," he said. "That was the approach we were taking to the Iraqis." "We were there to help the people of Basra," he said.
When asked in the inquiry as to whether, with hindsight, it now seemed to him that things were not as they ought to have been, Col Mendonca said: "There may well have been things going on that I was unaware of, but my general impression of the tour was that the soldiers did an extremely good job and carried out my intent." "That was the approach we were taking to the Iraqis."
When asked at the inquiry as to whether, with hindsight, it now seemed to him that things were not as they ought to have been, Col Mendonca said: "There may well have been things going on that I was unaware of, but my general impression of the tour was that the soldiers did an extremely good job and carried out my intent."
Court martialCourt martial
He also strongly denied a claim by a previous witness that he punched an Iraqi prisoner in front of more than 100 troops.He also strongly denied a claim by a previous witness that he punched an Iraqi prisoner in front of more than 100 troops.
Whilst what you have shown to me [during the inquiry] is shocking and disappointing and a deeply embarrassing situation, it is not representative of the 1 QLR on that operation Colonel Jorge Mendonca
The inquiry had earlier heard allegations that Col Mendonca was "trigger happy".The inquiry had earlier heard allegations that Col Mendonca was "trigger happy".
Col Mendonca was commanding officer of Preston-based 1st Battalion the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (1QLR) at the time of the alleged abuse in Basra, southern Iraq.
Earlier on Monday, as questions were put to him about other incidents of both alleged and admitted violence against Iraqi detainees, Col Mendonca said he had not been aware of these incidents.
"If soldiers [had been] beating up Iraqis around the city, I am sure I would have come across it."
"Whilst what you have shown to me [during the inquiry] is shocking and disappointing and a deeply embarrassing situation, it is not representative of the 1 QLR on that operation. It is a slice of what went on clearly, but it is not representative of the whole battalion."
He said what the inquiry did now show was the "thousands upon thousands" of reports of good patrolling that was going on in Basra at the time.
And he said there was "no truth" in claims by another witness that he was "gung ho" and pistol-toting.
Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, was found dead with 93 separate injuries after being held in the custody of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.Mr Mousa, a hotel receptionist, was found dead with 93 separate injuries after being held in the custody of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment.
BAHA MOUSA TIMELINE September 2003: Iraqi hotel worker Baha Mousa, 26, dies while in British custody in Basra, having been detained along with nine other Iraqis. He was wrongly suspected of being an insurgentSeptember 2006: Six soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) plead not guilty at a court martial to charges relating to Mr Mousa's death, but Cpl Donald Payne, also of the QLR, pleads guilty to inhumanely treating Iraqi civilians at the start of the proceedingsMarch 2007: The six-month long hearing ends with the acquittal of the six soldiersApril 2007: Corporal Donald Payne becomes the country's first convicted war criminal as he is jailed for a year and dismissed from the Army March 2008: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) admits breaching Mr Mousa's human rightsMay 2008: The UK government announces a public inquiry into Mr Mousa's deathJuly 2008: The MoD agrees to pay out £2.83m, to be divided between the family of Mr Mousa, eight Iraqi men who were mistreated by British troops, and the brother of a 10th man who was mistreated but later died in an unrelated incidentJuly 2009: The public inquiry into Mr Mousa's death opensBAHA MOUSA TIMELINE September 2003: Iraqi hotel worker Baha Mousa, 26, dies while in British custody in Basra, having been detained along with nine other Iraqis. He was wrongly suspected of being an insurgentSeptember 2006: Six soldiers from the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR) plead not guilty at a court martial to charges relating to Mr Mousa's death, but Cpl Donald Payne, also of the QLR, pleads guilty to inhumanely treating Iraqi civilians at the start of the proceedingsMarch 2007: The six-month long hearing ends with the acquittal of the six soldiersApril 2007: Corporal Donald Payne becomes the country's first convicted war criminal as he is jailed for a year and dismissed from the Army March 2008: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) admits breaching Mr Mousa's human rightsMay 2008: The UK government announces a public inquiry into Mr Mousa's deathJuly 2008: The MoD agrees to pay out £2.83m, to be divided between the family of Mr Mousa, eight Iraqi men who were mistreated by British troops, and the brother of a 10th man who was mistreated but later died in an unrelated incidentJuly 2009: The public inquiry into Mr Mousa's death opens
Only one soldier, former corporal Donald Payne, has been convicted in connection with his death - he pleaded guilty at a court martial to inhumanely treating civilians.Only one soldier, former corporal Donald Payne, has been convicted in connection with his death - he pleaded guilty at a court martial to inhumanely treating civilians.
However, no-one has ever been punished for causing Mr Mousa's death.However, no-one has ever been punished for causing Mr Mousa's death.
Col Mendonca was commanding officer of Preston-based 1st Battalion the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (1QLR) at the time of the alleged abuse in Basra, southern Iraq, in 2003.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his "inspirational" leadership during 1QLR's tour of duty in Iraq.
He is the most senior British officer to face a court martial in recent history, and left the Army after the proceedings, saying he had been "hung out to dry" and made to feel like a "common criminal" by his commanders.
Payne previously told the inquiry of an incident where he says Col Mendonca cocked his pistol, held it above a prisoner's mouth and threatened to "blow his face off".Payne previously told the inquiry of an incident where he says Col Mendonca cocked his pistol, held it above a prisoner's mouth and threatened to "blow his face off".
Payne claimed Col Mendonca would "pull his pistol out at any opportunity".Payne claimed Col Mendonca would "pull his pistol out at any opportunity".
Another former member of 1QLR, identified only as S038, has also alleged that he saw Col Mendonca punch an Iraqi prisoner in the side of the face.Another former member of 1QLR, identified only as S038, has also alleged that he saw Col Mendonca punch an Iraqi prisoner in the side of the face.
He told the inquiry: "I was disgusted. A CO (commanding officer) is supposed to lead by example."He told the inquiry: "I was disgusted. A CO (commanding officer) is supposed to lead by example."
Payne was dismissed from the Army and sentenced to one year in a civilian jail after pleading guilty to the war crime of inhumane treatment in September 2006.Payne was dismissed from the Army and sentenced to one year in a civilian jail after pleading guilty to the war crime of inhumane treatment in September 2006.
The other six soldiers who faced the court martial, including Col Mendonca, were cleared on all counts in 2007.The other six soldiers who faced the court martial, including Col Mendonca, were cleared on all counts in 2007.
The colonel was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his "inspirational" leadership during 1QLR's tour of duty in Iraq.
He is the most senior British officer to face a court martial in recent history, and left the Army after the proceedings, saying he had been "hung out to dry" and made to feel like a "common criminal" by his commanders.
The Ministry of Defence agreed in July 2008 to pay £2.83m in compensation to the families of Mr Mousa and nine other Iraqi men mistreated by British troops.The Ministry of Defence agreed in July 2008 to pay £2.83m in compensation to the families of Mr Mousa and nine other Iraqi men mistreated by British troops.
The inquiry continues.