“Tank chasing” lawyer Phil Shiner faces being struck off over collapsed £31m Al-Sweady war crimes inquiry into Brit troops
The human rights lawyer Shiner has been charged over his role in false allegations made against British troops serving in Iraq
LAWYER Phil Shiner has been charged over his role in a collapsed £31m war crimes inquiry into spurious allegations of murder and torture by British troops, The Sun can reveal.
Self-styled Human Rights solicitor Shiner – who runs “tank chasing” legal firm Public Interest Lawyers – now faces being struck off alongwith one of his colleagues if found guilty.
Shiner’s firm PIL acted for the Iraqi’s at the Al-Sweady Inquiry which effectively collapsed when they admitted vile allegations of war crimes after a 2004 firefight in Iraq were false.
After a 12 month probe by the solicitors watchdog both Shiner and Johnv Dickinson - who represented the Iraqis at the inquiry - have been told there is a case to answer over their role in the fiasco.
Shiner argued the fact he had been charged and the details of his charge should remain secret and that any evidence he gives should be held in a secret court, because he is in poor health.
But after a legal challenge by The Sun it was decided the decision to charge should be made public.
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A spokesman for the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal confirmed a case against Shiner had been certified.
A source, said: “Phil Shiner is trying to make sure the charges against him in relation to Al-Sweady are not made public.
“They say it could have a detrimental impact on his health."
An attempt was also made by Shiner's leak team to have a first hearing at the SDT heard in private.
But the hearing was abandoned as legal rows raged over whether Shiner - who has made a name for himself by hounding British troops through the courts - could be named.
When asked if Shiner faces a charge, a spokesperson for the SDT, said: “I can confirm that a case to answer has been certified.”
PIL reportedly made over £2.5m form the Al-Sweady inquiry and millions more from other cases against brave British soldiers.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority investigated PIL and a second firm Leigh Day over the Al-Sweady Inquiry.
Al-Sweady war crimes inquiry
Case has cost UK taxpayer £31 million
British soldiers were accused of killing 20 Iraqis and mistreating nine others.
Allegations came after 2004 firefight dubbed Battle of Danny Boy
Nine Iraqi detainees complained of mistreatment to Red Cross.
But inquiry dismissed claims saying troops responded to ambush with 'courage and professionalism'
While the details of the allegations against PIL are not public the MoD claimed the firm knowingly allowed the inquiry to continue for a year despite knowing the allegations “were or may have been untrue”.
An MoD dossier against PIL suggests the firm had doubts about the “credibility” of its clients’ evidence as early as March 2013.
But say they did not withdraw the untrue allegations of torture and murder until March 2014.
The firm’s alleged failure forced the Al-Sweady inquiry to take evidence from around 100 additional witnesses, adding at least £780,000 to the cost of the inquiry, the Government claimed.
PIL and Shiner also came in for flak for winning legal aid for PIL to bring a judicial review in 2009 which triggered the inquiry.
And there has been allegations they used a “tout” to win work in Iraq.
Leigh Day plus lawyers Martyn Day, Sapna Malik and Anna Jennifer Crowther already face the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, which held its first hearing on Monday.
They stand accused of 19 serious breaches which could see them struck off if proved.
Charges include paying an agent £75k to “tout” for work and concealing a key document for years which proved Brit soldiers had fought militiamen, not innocent farmers as they claimed.
They are also charged with making and maintaining “improper” allegations of unlawful killing, torture and mistreatment to seek compensation cash for their clients.
The hearing into Leigh day is scheduled to take place in November and is likely to last seven weeks.
It is understood Shiner and all those accused dent the charges.
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