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| Al-Sweady Inquiry: UK army murder claims 'deliberate lies' | Al-Sweady Inquiry: UK army murder claims 'deliberate lies' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Allegations of murder and torture made against British soldiers by Iraqi detainees were "deliberate lies", a five-year public inquiry has ruled. | Allegations of murder and torture made against British soldiers by Iraqi detainees were "deliberate lies", a five-year public inquiry has ruled. |
| The £31m Al-Sweady Inquiry found claims that up to 20 Iraqis were killed and mutilated after a 2004 battle were "reckless speculation". | The £31m Al-Sweady Inquiry found claims that up to 20 Iraqis were killed and mutilated after a 2004 battle were "reckless speculation". |
| The murder allegations were withdrawn from the inquiry earlier this year. | The murder allegations were withdrawn from the inquiry earlier this year. |
| The report also found British soldiers mistreated nine Iraqi detainees, but it was not deliberate ill-treatment. | The report also found British soldiers mistreated nine Iraqi detainees, but it was not deliberate ill-treatment. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the inquiry "puts to rest once and for all these shocking and, as we now know, completely baseless allegations". | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the inquiry "puts to rest once and for all these shocking and, as we now know, completely baseless allegations". |
| Inquiry chairman Sir Thayne Forbes said the "most serious allegations" which "have been hanging over these soldiers for the past 10 years" have been found to be "without foundation." | Inquiry chairman Sir Thayne Forbes said the "most serious allegations" which "have been hanging over these soldiers for the past 10 years" have been found to be "without foundation." |
| A Number 10 spokesman said: "Where there are allegations of mistreatment, it is right and proper we look into and learn lessons from the past." | A Number 10 spokesman said: "Where there are allegations of mistreatment, it is right and proper we look into and learn lessons from the past." |
| Mr Fallon said the inquiry - set up in 2009 - has cost the taxpayer £31m. | Mr Fallon said the inquiry - set up in 2009 - has cost the taxpayer £31m. |
| 'Exemplary courage' | 'Exemplary courage' |
| The hearing took evidence about the actions of soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, who were ambushed by insurgents, leading to a three-hour gun battle that became known as the Battle of Danny Boy. | The hearing took evidence about the actions of soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, who were ambushed by insurgents, leading to a three-hour gun battle that became known as the Battle of Danny Boy. |
| Sir Thayne, a former High Court judge, found there had been instances of ill-treatment during "tactical questioning" of the detainees at Camp Abu Naji, near Majar-al-Kabir in southern Iraq, on the night of 14 May. | Sir Thayne, a former High Court judge, found there had been instances of ill-treatment during "tactical questioning" of the detainees at Camp Abu Naji, near Majar-al-Kabir in southern Iraq, on the night of 14 May. |
| These included blindfolding the prisoners, depriving them of food and sleep and using threatening interrogation techniques contrary to the Geneva Convention. | These included blindfolding the prisoners, depriving them of food and sleep and using threatening interrogation techniques contrary to the Geneva Convention. |
| But Sir Thayne said Iraqi detainees who alleged they were tortured and abused - and subjected to mock executions - had given evidence that was "unprincipled in the extreme" and "wholly without regard to the truth". | But Sir Thayne said Iraqi detainees who alleged they were tortured and abused - and subjected to mock executions - had given evidence that was "unprincipled in the extreme" and "wholly without regard to the truth". |
| The report said that soldiers responded to the ambush with "exemplary courage, resolution and professionalism" but that the conduct of some individual soldiers, and some of the procedures of the military, "fell below the high standards normally to be expected of the British army". | The report said that soldiers responded to the ambush with "exemplary courage, resolution and professionalism" but that the conduct of some individual soldiers, and some of the procedures of the military, "fell below the high standards normally to be expected of the British army". |
| It found that: | It found that: |
| It also described as "ill treatment" an interrogator banging a tent peg on a table and walking around a blindfolded detainee blowing on the back of his neck. | It also described as "ill treatment" an interrogator banging a tent peg on a table and walking around a blindfolded detainee blowing on the back of his neck. |
| It is understood that the former Iraqi detainees - who are now known to have been armed insurgents at the time - will not pursue claims of compensation. | It is understood that the former Iraqi detainees - who are now known to have been armed insurgents at the time - will not pursue claims of compensation. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Norman Smith, Assistant Political Editor, BBC News | By Norman Smith, Assistant Political Editor, BBC News |
| It's a very symbolic case for the British military because the charges were so grave, namely the mutilation of bodies of Iraqis and suggestions of torture. | It's a very symbolic case for the British military because the charges were so grave, namely the mutilation of bodies of Iraqis and suggestions of torture. |
| These were very serious allegations which the soldiers involved and the Ministry of Defence have always contested all the way along following what became as the Battle of Danny Boy when these British soldiers where ambushed by Iraqi insurgents. | These were very serious allegations which the soldiers involved and the Ministry of Defence have always contested all the way along following what became as the Battle of Danny Boy when these British soldiers where ambushed by Iraqi insurgents. |
| I think the view in British military circles was they had to contest this, they had to absolutely demonstrate their innocence which is why I think this process has taken so long. | I think the view in British military circles was they had to contest this, they had to absolutely demonstrate their innocence which is why I think this process has taken so long. |
| They needed to absolutely check everything out and show nothing was being hidden because if there had been any lingering suspicion that British soldiers had been involved in torture, the ramifications in terms of the standing of the British military, would have been hugely profound. | They needed to absolutely check everything out and show nothing was being hidden because if there had been any lingering suspicion that British soldiers had been involved in torture, the ramifications in terms of the standing of the British military, would have been hugely profound. |
| I imagine it's a massive, massive relief and also a sense of vindication on the part of the MoD. | I imagine it's a massive, massive relief and also a sense of vindication on the part of the MoD. |
| Lawyers acting for several Iraqi families had originally claimed some men taken from the battlefield were mistreated and killed at Camp Abu Naji and Shaibah Logistics Base. | Lawyers acting for several Iraqi families had originally claimed some men taken from the battlefield were mistreated and killed at Camp Abu Naji and Shaibah Logistics Base. |
| But they withdrew those allegations - vigorously denied by the MoD - in March this year after conceding there was "insufficient material" to support those accusations. | But they withdrew those allegations - vigorously denied by the MoD - in March this year after conceding there was "insufficient material" to support those accusations. |
| Sir Thayne explained that the bodies of the dead Iraqis were taken from the battlefield because British forces were searching for a suspect in the murders of six Royal Military Policemen in Majar-al-Kabir in June 2003. | Sir Thayne explained that the bodies of the dead Iraqis were taken from the battlefield because British forces were searching for a suspect in the murders of six Royal Military Policemen in Majar-al-Kabir in June 2003. |
| He said removing the bodies had led to "rumours, stories and speculation" being spread among the local population . | He said removing the bodies had led to "rumours, stories and speculation" being spread among the local population . |
| Sir Thayne said perhaps the "most significant lie of many" was that 19-year-old Hamid Al-Sweady - after whom the inquiry was named - had been alive when he was captured. | Sir Thayne said perhaps the "most significant lie of many" was that 19-year-old Hamid Al-Sweady - after whom the inquiry was named - had been alive when he was captured. |
| He said: "Such assertions as that undoubtedly played a part in the persistence of the completely false allegations that Iraqi men had been detained alive and then in effect murdered at Camp Abu Naji." | He said: "Such assertions as that undoubtedly played a part in the persistence of the completely false allegations that Iraqi men had been detained alive and then in effect murdered at Camp Abu Naji." |
| 'No credible evidence' | 'No credible evidence' |
| In a House of Commons statement, Mr Fallon said the findings were "incontrovertible". | In a House of Commons statement, Mr Fallon said the findings were "incontrovertible". |
| "British soldiers did not carry out the atrocities that had been falsely attributed to them," he told MPs. | "British soldiers did not carry out the atrocities that had been falsely attributed to them," he told MPs. |
| Mr Fallon said it was "shameful" that the allegations of murder were only withdrawn in March. | Mr Fallon said it was "shameful" that the allegations of murder were only withdrawn in March. |
| He said the conduct of some of the lawyers acting for the detainees would be investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. | He said the conduct of some of the lawyers acting for the detainees would be investigated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. |
| He called on those lawyers to issue an "unequivocal apology to the soldiers whose reputations they attempted to traduce" as well as "to the taxpayers who have had to pay the cost of exposing these lies". | He called on those lawyers to issue an "unequivocal apology to the soldiers whose reputations they attempted to traduce" as well as "to the taxpayers who have had to pay the cost of exposing these lies". |
| John Dickinson of Public Interest Lawyers, which represented some of the families of Iraqis who made accusations against British soldiers, said it was not his place to apologise for the "situation which arose", adding that the inquiry could have been dealt with "more speedily". | |
| Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker said: "None of what the report found justifies what the inquiry said was untruthful evidence and deliberate lies from the accusers. Those who made the false allegations have not and will not besmirch the good name of our brave servicemen and women." | Shadow defence secretary Vernon Coaker said: "None of what the report found justifies what the inquiry said was untruthful evidence and deliberate lies from the accusers. Those who made the false allegations have not and will not besmirch the good name of our brave servicemen and women." |
| General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff, said the report would be a "huge relief" to the soldiers and families who had been affected, adding that "appropriate lessons" should be learned from the case. | General Sir Nicholas Carter, Chief of the General Staff, said the report would be a "huge relief" to the soldiers and families who had been affected, adding that "appropriate lessons" should be learned from the case. |
| Sir Thayne is making nine separate recommendations based on his findings. He said improvements had to be made to the collection, storage and ability to search documents and records. | Sir Thayne is making nine separate recommendations based on his findings. He said improvements had to be made to the collection, storage and ability to search documents and records. |
| Other recommendations include the need for better arrest records for detainees in theatres of war. | Other recommendations include the need for better arrest records for detainees in theatres of war. |