TANK-CHASING LAWYER AWOL
He fails to attend tribunal probing Iraq abuse ‘lies’
A LAWYER accused of drumming up false allegations of abuse against British soldiers in Iraq did not attend his tribunal yesterday.
Phil Shiner was expected to appear in public for the first time in two years to answer claims of acting dishonestly.
Instead, he sent a letter asking for the case to be adjourned, saying he was unwell and did not have money to instruct a defence.
Andrew Tabachnik, for watchdog the Solicitors Regulation Authority, told the tribunal Mr Shiner ignored the profession’s rules and had been prepared to put forward “allegations of murder that had no regard for the truth”.
Mr Tabachnik also accused Mr Shiner of trying to avoid the tribunal going ahead in full. Mr Shiner denies acting dishonestly but previously admitted acting without integrity, including “cold calling” potential Iraqi clients.
He also admitted acting recklessly by claiming in 2008 the Army unlawfully killed, tortured and mistreated Iraqi civilians. Mr Shiner also allegedly offered payment to a fixer to change evidence on how he identified clients to go before the Al-Sweady inquiry into the deaths in 2004 of 20 Iraqis.
Mr Tabachnik said yesterday over £1million of the inquiry costs went to Mr Shiner’s now-defunct firm Public Interest Lawyers. The probe cleared troops of murder and torture claims.
The alleged victims’ testimonies were slammed as “the product of deliberate lies”. Mr Tabachnik said Mr Shiner’s emails regarding the “agent” in Basra indicated he knew what he was doing, meaning his conduct was dishonest. But Mr Shiner denies this, insisting he was under such stress he was “not responsible” for his actions, Mr Tabachnik added.
The tribunal in Central London is being brought by the watchdog and will go ahead in Mr Shiner’s absence.
A memorial to the 635 UK military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan will be unveiled by the Queen on March 9 in Westminster.
He made allegations of murder that had no regard for the truth ANDREW TABACHNIK FOR SOLICITORS WATCHDOG