“The Ministry of Defence bowed to pressure yesterday by agreeing to hold a public inquiry into the death of an Iraqi hotel worker in British custody in Basra. “
The Times, 15th May 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Archive for the 'armed forces' Category
MoD gives in over calls for public inquiry into Baha Musa’s death - The Times
Published May 15, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , news , torture 0 CommentsInquests into the deaths of service personnel in operations and exercises overseas - Ministry of Justice
Published May 2, 2008 armed forces , inquests 0 Comments“Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has made a written ministerial statement about the deaths of servicemen and women overseas.”
Ministry of Justice, 30th April 2008
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
Coroner blames MoD again over troops’ deaths - Daily Telegraph
Published April 21, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , inquests , news 0 Comments“An outspoken coroner has condemned shortages of military equipment again and claimed that two British soldiers would not have died in Iraq had they been in armoured vehicles.”
Daily Telegraph, 19th April 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Clash of arms - Law Society’s Gazette
Published April 18, 2008 Saudi Arabia , armed forces , corruption , deportation , human rights , special report 0 Comments“Four landmark court rulings last week placed into sharp focus the ongoing trial of strength between ministers and the judiciary.”
Law Society’s Gazette, 17th April 2008
Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk
The Law Explored: human rights on the battlefield - The Times
Published April 17, 2008 armed forces , human rights , special report 0 Comments“Mr Justice Collins has drawn gasps of disbelief in some quarters by ruling that human rights law might apply to soldiers on active service. In particular, he said, soldiers might enjoy the protection of law on the right to life. “
The Times, 16th April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Regina (Smith) v Assistant Deputy Coroner for Oxfordshire - WLR Daily
Published April 16, 2008 Iran , armed forces , human rights , inquests , law reports 0 Comments“The procedural obligations arising under art 2 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms applied to an inquest on an United Kingdom soldier who had died of hyperthermia while on active service in Iraq.”
WLR Daily, 15th April 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Blow for MoD as judge rules soldiers have battlefield rights - Daily Telegraph
Published April 11, 2008 armed forces , human rights , news 0 Comments“The Ministry of Defence has been dealt a groundbreaking legal defeat by a High Court judge who ruled soldiers’ human rights must be protected on the battlefield.”
The Daily Telegraph, 11 April 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
High Court rejects MoD attempt to ‘gag’ outspoken coroners over defence failures - The Times
Published April 11, 2008 armed forces , coroners , news 0 Comments“The Government suffered its second important legal defeat in 24 hours today when a High Court judge rejected an attempt by Des Browne, the Defence Secretary, to ban coroners using phrases such as “serious failure” in their verdicts on dead soldiers.”
The Times, 11th April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
R (Gentle and another) v Prime Minister and others [2008] UKHL 20 - WLR Daily
Published April 11, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , human rights , international law , law reports , war 0 CommentsR (Gentle and another) v Prime Minister and others [2008] UKHL 20
“Art 2 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which provided that “everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law”, did not place the Government under a duty to members of the armed forces and their families to hold a public inquiry into whether it had obtained adequate legal advice on the lawfulness under international law of the invasion of Iraq.”
WLR Daily, 10th April 2008
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
Bloody Sunday inquiry 10 years on: £182m in costs and no end in sight - Legal Week
Published April 10, 2008 Northern Ireland , armed forces , demonstrations , news 0 Comments“The Bloody Sunday inquiry faced its 10-year anniversary this month with a scathing verdict from the profession after senior lawyers strongly criticised the inquiry for waste, having swallowed nearly £100m in legal costs.”
Legal Week, 10th April 2008
Source: www.legalweek.com
Mothers lose bid for Iraq public inquiry - The Times
Published April 9, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , news , war 0 Comments“The mothers of two young soldiers killed in Iraq today lost their legal attempt in the House of Lords to force the Government to hold a public inquiry into Britain’s involvement in the conflict.”
The Times, 9th April 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Legal bid to force Iraq inquiry - BBC News
Published April 9, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , human rights , news , war 0 Comments“Nine Law Lords are to rule on another legal bid to force a public inquiry into Britain’s involvement in Iraq.”
BBC News, 9th April 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Former Ghurkha faces deportation - BBC News
Published April 4, 2008 Gurkhas , armed forces , deportation , news 0 Comments“A Nottingham man who served as a Ghurkha in the British Army for 15 years has expressed his anger at a decision to deport him.”
BBC News, 3rd April 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
MoD criticised over soldier death - BBC News
Published March 28, 2008 Afghanistan , armed forces , inquests , news 0 Comments“A British soldier who was crushed while repairing a tank in Afghanistan died becasue his regiment was not provided with proper equipement, a coroner ruled.”
BBC News, 28th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
UK admits breaching human rights convention over detainee’s death - The Guardian
Published March 28, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , human rights , news , torture 0 Comments“The government is to admit ’substantive breaches’ of the European Convention on Human Rights over the death and torture of Iraqi civilians in the custody of British soldiers, Des Browne, the defence secretary, revealed yesterday.”
The Guardian, 28th March 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Soldier wife wins deportation row - BBC News
Published March 27, 2008 armed forces , deportation , news 0 Comments“The wife of a Northumberland soldier threatened with deportation has won the right to stay with her family.”
BBC News, 26th March 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Crippled marine is refused full payout - The Observer
Published March 25, 2008 Afghanistan , armed forces , compensation , news 0 Comments“A Royal Marine who lost both his legs and an arm in a Taliban landmine blast in Afghanistan has been told by the Ministry of Defence that he is not entitled to the full compensation package offered to injured troops.”
The Observer, 23rd March 2008
Source: http://observer.guardian.co.uk/
Father of soldier killed in Afghanistan ‘will sue MoD for damages’ - Daily Telegraph
Published March 19, 2008 armed forces , damages , news 0 Comments“The father of a soldier killed in Afghanistan vowed last night to take legal action against the Ministry of Defence, demanding that it accepts liability for his son’s death.”
Daily Telegraph, 19th March 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
MoD in court bid to silence critical coroners - The Independent
Published March 18, 2008 armed forces , coroners , news 0 Comments“Defence Secretary Des Browne yesterday asked the High Court to outlaw the use of language strongly critical of the MoD in inquest verdicts on soldiers who have died on active service.”
The Independent, 18th March 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
MoD office worker gets £200,000 payout - Daily Telegraph
Published March 17, 2008 armed forces , compensation , news , personal injuries 0 Comments“Soldiers’ families reacted angrily after it emerged the Ministry of Defence awarded £202,000 to an office employee who strained his back picking up a printer.”
Daily Telegraph, 17th March 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Gurkhas ask High Court for pension parity - The Times
Published March 14, 2008 armed forces , news , pensions 1 Comment“They have fought and died in the British Army over centuries and taken part in every significant conflict since 1947 including the Falklands, Afghanistan and Iraq. But today the Gurkhas are embroiled in a new battle — this time with the Ministry of Defence.”
The Times, 13th March 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Inquest criticises Navy over officer death - The Independent
Published March 6, 2008 armed forces , inquests , news 0 Comments“The Royal Navy was criticised by an inquest jury yesterday over the death of a female officer who was left lying in a coma on the floor of her cabin by shipmates who thought she was drunk.”
The Independent, 6th March 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Court gags ex-SAS man who made torture claims - The Guardian
Published February 29, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , injunctions , news , torture 0 Comments“A former SAS soldier was served with a high court order yesterday preventing him from making fresh disclosures about how hundreds of Iraqis and Afghans captured by British and American special forces were rendered to prisons where they faced torture.”
The Guardian, 29th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Former SAS man condemns British role in torture tactics - The Guardian
Published February 26, 2008 Afghanistan , Iraq , armed forces , news , torture 0 Comments“Hundreds of Iraqis and Afghans captured by British and American special forces were rendered to prisons where they faced torture, a former SAS soldier said yesterday. Ben Griffin said individuals detained by SAS troops in a joint UK-US special forces taskforce had ended up in interrogation centres in Iraq, including the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, and in Afghanistan, as well as Guantánamo Bay.”
The Guardian, 26th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
British troops executed 20 captives in southern Iraq, say lawyers - The Guardian
Published February 22, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , news , torture 0 Comments“British troops may have executed up to 20 captives in southern Iraq in 2004, human rights lawyers claimed today.”
The Guardian, 22nd February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Coroner urges action on armoured vehicles - The Guardian
Published February 20, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , inquests , news 0 Comments“A coroner investigating the deaths of four British soldiers killed in Iraq by a bomb yesterday promised to press the government to improve the protection of armoured vehicles.”
The Guardian, 20th February 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Tribunal closure ‘will deny veterans’ pensions’ - Daily Telegraph
Published February 18, 2008 armed forces , news , pensions , tribunals 0 Comments“Injured servicemen and military widows will lose out under Government plans to sweep away a tribunal that guarantees their pension rights, ministers have been told.”
Daily Telegraph, 18th February 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
Coroner blasts ‘unforgiveable’ MoD over death of soldier - The Times
Published February 15, 2008 armed forces , inquests , news 0 Comments“The Ministry of Defence has come under withering fire from a coroner after an inquest into the death of a young officer in Afghanistan was told troops were having to fight the Taleban without enough machineguns and night-vision goggles.”
The Times, 15th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Mothers of Iraq victims take case for inquiry to law lords - The Times
Published February 12, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , news , war 0 Comments“The ‘overwhelming’ body of legal advice received by the Government in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was that it would be unlawful without a proper mandate by the United Nations, nine law lords were told yesterday.”
The Times, 12th February 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Freedom Of Information: Government blocks access to secret military papers on Diego Garcia - The Independent
Published February 1, 2008 armed forces , detention , freedom of information , special report , terrorism 0 Comments“The role of the British-owned Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia in the detention of terror suspects remains unproven. There may be more to know, says Robert Verkaik, Law Editor.”
The Independent, 1st February 2008
Source: www.independent.co.uk
Ex-forces heads reject war votes - BBC News
Published February 1, 2008 armed forces , war 0 Comments“Four former chiefs of the defence staff have attacked the prime minister’s plans to let Parliament have the final say on sending troops to war.”
BBC News, 31st January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
High Court lifts gagging order on Iraqi abuse case - The Times
Published February 1, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , news , reporting restrictions 0 Comments“The High Court today lifted a restraining order on The Times and other newspapers which had prevented reporting of allegations that British troops took part in the killing of 22 Iraqis.”
The Times, 31st January 2008
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Porton Down veterans awarded £3m compensation - The Guardian
Published January 31, 2008 armed forces , chemical weapons , compensation , news 0 Comments“Hundreds of veterans who were subjected to tests at the Porton Down chemical warfare installation are to be awarded compensation totalling £3m, the defence minister Derek Twigg announced today.”
The Guardian, 31st Janaury 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Army detainee training “flawed” - BBC News
Published January 25, 2008 Iraq , armed forces , detention , news 0 Comments“Serious flaws existed in the training of British soldiers to deal with Iraqi prisoners, a report is expected to say.”
BBC News, 25th January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
MoD offers nerve gas veterans £3m and an apology - The Guardian
Published January 17, 2008 armed forces , chemical weapons , compensation , experiments , news 0 Comments“The Ministry of Defence is to offer compensation and an apology to the Porton Down victims of secret chemical testing, it was reported today.”
The Guardian, 17th January 2008
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Lesbian soldier Kerry Fletcher wins case - Daily Telegraph
Published January 17, 2008 armed forces , compensation , news , sex discrimination , sexual orientation discrimination , victimisation 0 Comments“A lesbian soldier who endured lewd sexual innuendo from a senior staff sergeant who claimed he could ‘turn her straight’ could win compensation of more than £400,000, after winning her case against the Ministry of Defence.”
Daily Telegraph, 17th January 2008
Source: www.telegraph.co.uk
New compensation rules to benefit seriously injured personnel approved - Ministry of Defence
Published January 16, 2008 armed forces , compensation , news 0 Comments“New rules to improve the level of compensation awarded to the most severely injured military personnel will come into effect on 8 February, the Ministry of Defence announced today (15 January 2008).”
Ministry of Defence press release, 15th January 2008
Source: www.gnn.gov.uk
Coroner refuses MoD papers plea - BBC News
Published January 15, 2008 armed forces , disclosure , inquests , news 0 Comments“A coroner has refused to return secret documents mistakenly handed to him by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), a pre-inquest hearing was told.”
BBC News, 14th January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Deepcut inquiry fight to continue - BBC News
Published January 7, 2008 armed forces , bullying , news 0 Comments“The father of a soldier who died at a Surrey barracks says he will continue to fight for a public inquiry, even if the site is bulldozed.”
BBC News, 6th January 2008
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
High court gags Iraqis’ claims of abuse by troops - The Guardian
Published December 19, 2007 Iraq , armed forces , media , reporting restrictions 0 Comments“The Ministry of Defence has obtained a gagging order preventing the media from repeating allegations of abuse of Iraqis by British soldiers. A high court order bans newspapers and broadcasters from publishing details of the case reported in the Guardian two months ago.”
The Guardian, 19th December 2007
Source: www.guardian.co.uk
Six SAS men accused over missing £250,000 jungle cash - The Times
Published December 14, 2007 armed forces , conspiracy , courts martial , fraud , news 0 Comments“Six SAS soldiers have become the first members of the regiment to be charged with embezzling army funds, it was revealed last night.”
The Times, 14th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Terror suspect held lawfully - The Times
Published December 13, 2007 Iraq , armed forces , detention , news , terrorism 0 Comments“An Iraqi terrorist suspect held without trial by the British military for three years is being detained lawfully, the Law Lords ruled yesterday.”
The Times, 13th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Regina (Al-Jedda) v Secretary of State for Defence - Times Law Reports
Published December 13, 2007 Iraq , armed forces , detention , law reports , terrorism 0 CommentsRegina (Al-Jedda) v Secretary of State for Defence
“The detention without trial of persons in Iraq by British Armed Forces under the legal regime established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1546 was attributable to the United Kingdom rather than the UN.”
The Times, 13th December 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
MoD sued over security measures - BBC News
Published December 11, 2007 armed forces , compensation , news , rape 0 Comments“A former RAF servicewoman has launched a compensation claim against the Ministry of Defence, blaming them for an alleged rape at a barracks in Lincs.”
BBC News, 11th December 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Arms treaty ‘must not be blunted’ - BBC News
Published December 11, 2007 armed forces , news , treaties , weapons 0 Comments“A treaty to ease the supply of military equipment from the US to UK forces must not be ‘blunted’ by over-restrictive regulations, MPs have said.”
BBC News, 11th December 2007
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
