Iraq abuse probe ‘out of control’, says Tory MP
A £35million inquiry into alleged British military abuses in Iraq looks “completely out of control”, an MP said yesterday.
A £35million inquiry into alleged British military abuses in Iraq looks 'out of control', an MP said
Tory Johnny Mercer, a former soldier, spoke out as a senior member of the Iraq Historic Allegations Team admitted staff had been sacked for impersonating a police officer, falling asleep on the job and lying on a CV.
Most of the 3,300 allegations have been brought forward by legal firm Public Interest Lawyers.
It has since been shut down after being stripped of legal aid funding for breaching contractual requirements.
The inquiry was set to investigate allegations of murder, abuse and torture of Iraqi civilians by UK
The revelations came as Commons Defence SubCommittee MPs grilled heads of the inquiry team, set up six years ago to investigate allegations of murder, abuse and torture of Iraqi civilians by UK forces between 2003 and 2009.
We want you to weed out those who have committed war crimes and bang them up
More than half the allegations have been dismissed.
Only four investigations have prompted further action. Tory MPs have called for the inquiry to be closed down amid allegations of harassment of soldiers.
Tory MPs have called for the inquiry to be closed down amid allegations of harassment of soldiers
Some faced investigation even after being cleared by the criminal courts.
Mr Mercer told the inquiry chiefs: “We want you to weed out those who have committed war crimes and bang them up. But this thing just seems to have got completely out of control.”
The inquiry’s deputy head, Royal Navy Commander Jack Hawkins, admitted to problems with the mainly civilian staff.
He said: “We have had people not coming up to the right standards.”