MPs’ fury as law firm hits MoD with 250 Iraq abuse claims
MPs reacted with fury last night after it emerged a law firm accused of hounding British troops is pushing ahead with compensation claims for hundreds of Iraqi clients.
Leigh Day is pursuing 250 cases of alleged mistreatment through the High Court, and has asked for extra information from the Ministry of Defence on 200 more.
The claims raise the prospect of the department being forced to pay out huge sums of taxpayers’ money for alleged human rights breaches during the Iraq war.
The law firm indicated it would go ahead with the claims after it won a test case over the treatment of four Iraqis who alleged, among other things, that they had been wrongly detained. The judge, Mr Justice Leggatt, ruled they were entitled to compensation under the Human Rights Act, with one of them being awarded more than £30,000.
Abd Al-Waheed, seized in a house raid in Basra in southern Iraq, was awarded £15,000 ‘in respect of the beating’ he suffered, £ 15,000 for ‘ inhuman treatment’ and £3,300 for being unlawfully held for 33 days, after a judge ruled he was not engaged in terrorist activities and posed no threat to the security of Iraq.
Leigh Day said the ruling could form the basis of settlement for more than 600 unresolved claims against the Ministry of Defence by Iraqis. The claims were brought by Iraqi civilians alleging they were unlawfully imprisoned and ill-treated by British forces during the war.
The solicitors were then ordered by the High Court to disclose how many cases they would be taking forward.
It is understood 150 of the cases were thrown out.
Leigh Day indicated last month it would proceed with 250 of the claims that were previously put on hold.
The law firm is waiting for more information before deciding whether to proceed with a further 200 claims.
Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who led an inquiry into investigations against British troops, said: ‘The Prime Minister must understand this tide of “lawfare” will not recede on its own.
‘It requires political leadership, courage, and a genuine commitment beyond meaningless platitudes about how brave our troops are. I will keep encouraging her and her ministers. This is a clear call on our moral compass, and one we cannot afford to get wrong.’
It is understood that most of the cases centre on allegations of mistreatment, including claims the Iraqis were detained for too long.
An MoD spokesman said: ‘Leigh Day brought claims on an industrial scale and have been ordered by the High Court to confirm how many cases they will take forward. While valid claims should always be compensated, false or exaggerated allegations make it harder for justice to be served. Defending false claims comes with a high human and financial cost, so we urge Leigh Day to ensure only genuine cases are pursued.’
Andrew Murrison MP, a Tory former defence minister, said: ‘Witch-hunting would come at a huge cost to the public purse and cause immeasurable distress to the brave men and women of our armed forces. Where’s the justice in that?’
A spokesman for Leigh Day, which was founded by Martyn Day, said: ‘These cases taken against the MoD were “stayed”
‘A call on our moral compass’
awaiting the judgment from the High Court last year, these are not new cases, the MoD has been aware of them for at least five years. The findings in the High Court case, that Iraqi civilians had their human rights breached whilst in detention, meant these 250 cases could be taken forward.
‘We have asked the MoD for further information on around 200 claims to help determine their validity. We welcome the MoD statement that valid claims should be compensated.’
In the test cases British troops were asked to give evidence. It is not clear whether they would have to give evidence in future compensation cases.
‘Where’s the justice in that?’