Downing Street is taking measures to prevent the British troops who had served in Iraq from being harassed by 'parasitic law firms' and 'ambulance chasers' who had accused them of going beyond their ethical, legal, and moral boundaries during their tour of duty in the war-torn country. No less than Prime MInister David Cameron had called for moves to 'stamp out' these spurious claims, saying that the men and women who had risked thier lives for their country deserved better. Defence Minister Penny Mordaunt asserted that service troops apparently had to be wrapped in "more than just their body armour" once they are sent to the front lines.
The Belfast Telegraph gave a few examples of the 1,500 cases that had been filed by Leigh Day and the Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) representing claims made by Iraqi citzens to the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat). An Iraqi bombmaker sued the British forces for taking him prisoner to face charges instead of shooting him down. Another case wanted compensation for a supposedly out-of-control British soldier's shooting down a citizen, although the Danish government 11 years prior had accepted liability and made the necessary reparations to the family. A 13-year-old girl whose death was blamed on her picking up a British bomb turned out to be a 13-year old boy who was caught in the crossfire of an attack made by an iraqi mobile missile launcher.
Conservative MP Richard Drax of South Dorset criticized Leigh Day and PIL as "left-leaning lawyers intent on undermining one of the pillars of the establishment ...the armed forces." Mr. Drax had also served his country as a British soldier.
Meanwhile, in a report by RT, Leigh Day's response was to stand by its ten-year record of defending Iraqi civilians who they claim had suffered abuse at the hands of Britsh forces. They also say that neither the British government nor the British armed forces are above the law.
The latest govenrment initiative involves proposals crafted by the National Security Council (NSC) to validate the allegations made by lawyers against returning British forces. According to the Guardian, these include stronger investigative powers that will check the claims made by ambulance chasers; a residence test which will deter any lawsuit made by an individual who has not lived in the UK for a year; and new limitations on the "no win, no fee" funding arrangements made by lawyers.
