MoD faces 417 compensation claims over Iraq

MORE than 400 claims for compensation relating to treatment of Iraqis have been dealt with by the Ministry of Defence, new figures show.

The 417 civil cases relating to “Iraq private law” were revealed last week, and a further 13 relating to Afghanistan.

Allegations of breaches of the Geneva Convention and the Human Rights Act have been made, including unlawful killings, false imprisonment and assault during the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Hooding – the act of placing a sandbag over the head of a detainee – was common among the fresh claims against British soldiers. Many claim they were unaware the practice had been outlawed by Ted Heath when he was prime minister in 1972.

Though many of the details of the cases have not been revealed, one involved the death of a 13-year-old boy.

This year it was revealed that the MoD had paid out compensation in relation to 300 Afghan civilian deaths that British forces are linked with, where the youngest recorded civilian victim was three years old. Martyn Day, of Leigh

Day Solicitors told The Guardian: “The settlements here cover a mix of cases, false imprisonment, assault. When it comes to what amounts to policing in a foreign state, the military are simply not the right people to do it.”

The MoD expects to pay more than £124million, including legal costs.

It said: “While the vast majority of UK personnel conducted themselves to the highest standards in Iraq and Afghanistan, it has been necessary to seek negotiated settlements of outstanding claims in both the Iraq civilian litigation and Afghan civil litigation.”