This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/law/2017/feb/02/phil-shiner-steep-fall-from-grace-leading-uk-human-rights-lawyer-iraq

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Phil Shiner: steep fall from grace for leading UK human rights lawyer Phil Shiner: steep fall from grace for leading UK human rights lawyer
(35 minutes later)
The legal disqualification of Phil Shiner is a vertiginous fall from grace for a public figure who was once widely lauded and honoured for his dedication to human rights.The legal disqualification of Phil Shiner is a vertiginous fall from grace for a public figure who was once widely lauded and honoured for his dedication to human rights.
Supporters, formerly vocal but now largely silent, dismissed attacks against him as a vendetta initiated by tabloid newspapers in response to the large number of cases he brought against British soldiers and the Ministry of Defence.Supporters, formerly vocal but now largely silent, dismissed attacks against him as a vendetta initiated by tabloid newspapers in response to the large number of cases he brought against British soldiers and the Ministry of Defence.
The fact that the prosecution was triggered by the MoD when it handed over a dossier of evidence on Shiner to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), initially reinforced those suspicions.The fact that the prosecution was triggered by the MoD when it handed over a dossier of evidence on Shiner to the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), initially reinforced those suspicions.
But Shiner’s admission last December that he paid an Iraqi middleman to find clients, his admission of other misconduct, his failure to defend himself in the hearings and the tribunal’s final decision will pulverise his reputation.But Shiner’s admission last December that he paid an Iraqi middleman to find clients, his admission of other misconduct, his failure to defend himself in the hearings and the tribunal’s final decision will pulverise his reputation.
Shiner has been said to be in a fragile mental state, but the tribunal’s decision to proceed in his absence was interpreted as scepticism about his medical condition.Shiner has been said to be in a fragile mental state, but the tribunal’s decision to proceed in his absence was interpreted as scepticism about his medical condition.
Shiner’s professional humiliation will force future historians to navigate through an extraordinary switchback of fictitious allegations, difficult duties and occasions of genuine military misbehaviour, when they come to write the final record of British military conduct during the Iraq war. This professional humiliation will force future historians to navigate through an extraordinary switchback of fictitious allegations, difficult duties and occasions of genuine military misbehaviour, when they come to write the final record of British military conduct during the Iraq war.
Brought up in Coventry, where he attended a Catholic comprehensive, Shiner studied law at Birmingham University and graduated in 1978. Brought up in Coventry, where he attended a Catholic comprehensive school, Shiner studied law at Birmingham University and graduated in 1978.
He set up his Birmingham law firm Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) in 1999 and led it until the firm closed down last year following the SRA prosecution. He set up his Birmingham law firm Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) in 1999 and led it until the firm closed last year following the SRA prosecution.
He was named human rights lawyer of the year in 2004, an award given jointly by human rights organisations Liberty and Justice, for “his tremendous skill, tenacity and dedication to fighting for justice”. Shiner was named human rights lawyer of the year in 2004, an award given jointly by the human rights organisations Liberty and Justice, for “his tremendous skill, tenacity and dedication to fighting for justice”. In 2007, he was named the Law Society’s solicitor of the year.
In 2007, he was named Law Society’s solicitor of the year. Shiner has been a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics, professor of law at Middlesex University, the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Kent University and formerly vice-president of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers. Shiner has been a visiting fellow at the London School of Economics, professor of law at Middlesex University, the recipient of an honorary doctorate from Kent University and is a former vice-president of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers.
Twice married, Shiner has five children. Some worked with him at his law firm. He is a keen cyclist and runner. Twice married, Shiner has five children, some of whom worked at his law firm. He is a keen cyclist and runner.
Shiner’s renown was at its highest following his pursuit of justice on behalf of the family of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi hotel receptionist who died after being beaten by British troops in Basra in 2003. His renown was at its highest during his pursuit of justice on behalf of the family of Baha Mousa, an Iraqi hotel receptionist who died after being beaten by British troops in Basra in 2003.
The report of the official inquiry into Mousa’s death, published in 2011, found that British soldiers inflicted “violent and cowardly” assaults on Iraqi civilians, subjecting them to “gratuitous” kickings and beatings. It stopped short, however, of suggesting that there had been a policy of systematic abuse of detainees. The report of the official inquiry into Mousa’s death, published in 2011, found that British soldiers inflicted “violent and cowardly” assaults on Iraqi civilians, subjecting them to “gratuitous” kickings and beatings. It stopped short, however, of suggesting there had been a policy of systematic abuse of detainees.
Shiner nonetheless argued that Mousa’s killing was symptomatic of a wider problem. At that stage, he represented more than 150 Iraqis in other claims and called for a single inquiry into the UK’s detention policy in Iraq.Shiner nonetheless argued that Mousa’s killing was symptomatic of a wider problem. At that stage, he represented more than 150 Iraqis in other claims and called for a single inquiry into the UK’s detention policy in Iraq.
Foremost among those claims were allegations about the 2004 so-called Battle of Danny Boy near Basra, in which members of the Mahdi army, an Iraqi militia, ambushed a British patrol. Shiner claimed that Iraqi civilians had been captured, tortured and executed by British troops in the aftermath of the battle. Foremost among those claims were allegations about the 2004 “Battle of Danny Boy” near Basra, in which members of the Mahdi army, an Iraqi militia, ambushed a British patrol. Shiner claimed that Iraqi civilians had been captured, tortured and executed by British troops in the aftermath of the battle.
Shiner’s firm was one of several organisations that referred Iraqi detention cases to the international criminal court in The Hague, triggering a preliminary examination into “alleged war crimes committed by UK nationals” during the Iraq conflict. That inquiry continues.Shiner’s firm was one of several organisations that referred Iraqi detention cases to the international criminal court in The Hague, triggering a preliminary examination into “alleged war crimes committed by UK nationals” during the Iraq conflict. That inquiry continues.
In June 2014, after his firm withdrew some claims against British troops from the al-Sweady inquiry, Shiner reported that he had received death threats. A West Midlands police investigation into malicious messages was launched.In June 2014, after his firm withdrew some claims against British troops from the al-Sweady inquiry, Shiner reported that he had received death threats. A West Midlands police investigation into malicious messages was launched.
At the time, Shiner said: “It is apparent that some people object to and disapprove of the work carried out by PIL, but the directing of abuse at PIL for the legitimate work we do to uphold the rule of law in a democratic country cannot continue unchallenged.”At the time, Shiner said: “It is apparent that some people object to and disapprove of the work carried out by PIL, but the directing of abuse at PIL for the legitimate work we do to uphold the rule of law in a democratic country cannot continue unchallenged.”
Before this week’s trial, Shiner acknowledged that he was likely to be disqualified for misconduct. Last December, he admitted eight counts of acting without integrity and one of acting recklessly, but denied acting dishonestly or misleading the courts.Before this week’s trial, Shiner acknowledged that he was likely to be disqualified for misconduct. Last December, he admitted eight counts of acting without integrity and one of acting recklessly, but denied acting dishonestly or misleading the courts.
When Shiner first publicised claims that the Danny Boy incident involved innocent Iraqi civilians, he compared the alleged atrocity to the massacre carried out by US troops at My Lai during the Vietnam war.When Shiner first publicised claims that the Danny Boy incident involved innocent Iraqi civilians, he compared the alleged atrocity to the massacre carried out by US troops at My Lai during the Vietnam war.