Al-Sweady Inquiry

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The Al-Sweady Inquiry was a five-year public inquiry led by Thayne Forbes which investigated accusations of mistreatment of prisoners by the British Army following the Battle of Danny Boy. The enquiry commenced its investigations in 2009. [1]

The inquiry cost nearly £25 million. [2] The report was published in December 2014 and concluded that the allegations of torture and murder were "wholly without foundation and entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility", [3] but that nine Iraqi detainees had been ill-treated. [4]

Subsequently Leigh Day, one of the law firms involved, were referred to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal [5] to answer complaints about its handling of action brought by Iraqi detainees against the Ministry of Defence. Leigh Day were cleared of all charges by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, and this decision was upheld by the Court of Appeal in October 2018. [6] Another, Public Interest Lawyers, later closed down. [7]

The Inquiry was a major plot point of the 2021 BBC Two drama Danny Boy , starring Anthony Boyle and Toby Jones. [8]

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References

  1. "Al-Sweady Inquiry: UK army murder claims 'deliberate lies'". BBC News. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  2. "Inquiry Expenditure and Costs". Al-Sweady Public Inquiry. Archived from the original on 15 January 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  3. "Publication of the Al-Sweady inquiry report". News. GOV.UK. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
  4. "Al-Sweady inquiry: Iraqis mistreated but UK troops did not murder insurgents". TheGuardian.com . 17 December 2014. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  5. Law firm referred to disciplinary tribunal over Al-Sweady inquiry
  6. "Leigh Day in the clear as High Court throws out SRA appeal". Law Gazette.
  7. Law firm at centre of Al-Sweady inquiry to close down, say reports
  8. "Is BBC's Danny Boy a true story? How a soldier was falsely accused of murder". Radio Times . Retrieved 13 May 2022.