Dubious cases targeting British heroes to be thrown out as disgraced lawyer’s firm collapses

INVESTIGATORS probing vile allegations of war crimes by British forces are set to throw out hundreds of cases after “tank-chasing” lawyer Phil Shiner’s firm collapsed.

Shamed Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) will close at the end of this month after the Legal Aid Agency stopped giving it public money.

Now scores of cases face been cut from the Iraq Historic Allegations Team’s workload.

A spokesman said on Monday: “IHAT is only obliged to look at the credible allegations and will investigate if it is reasonable and proportionate to do so.

“The IHAT has already sifted out over 1500 allegations.

“In light of the legal aid agency’s decision and PIL’s closure IHAT is now considering very carefully whether this has any bearing on the credibility or otherwise of the remaining cases.

“It remains likely that of the very large number of allegations that have been made only a relatively small proportion will go on to require a full investigation.”

The £57m MoD-run IHAT unit into alleged war crimes during the Iraq War had been swamped with more than 1,500 cases – the majority from PIL.

And until its shock closure PIL were planning to launch over 1,000 more cases to the courts to rake in compensation cash.

Shiner owned Birmingham-based PIL outright and closing it does not stop him facing further action. He still faces a misconduct hearing and a potential criminal investigation.

Shiner is battling to have his hearing into alleged breaches during the collapsed £31m Al-Sweady war crimes inquiry secret.

He could be struck off if found to have breached the solicitors code of conduct and face fines.

Meanwhile the self-styled human rights lawyer faces a probe by the National Crime Agency into claims Iraqi civilians were bribed to bring abuse claims against British heroes.

Phil Shiner is accused by legal regulators of knowing about the bribes which were allegedly disguised as expenses and then submitted as legal aid claims funded by the taxpayer.

A dossier on Mr Shiner has been compiled by the Legal Aid Agency which handed £3 million to his law firm Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) over the course of a decade.

The collapse of PIL emerged in a document it submitted to the High Court at the start of this month and was revealed on Monday.

The Legal Aid Agency turned off the tap of public cash following a review of PIL’s practices and an investigation by the solicitors’ watchdog, which referred the firm to a tribunal.

The 145-strong IHAT team has taken on 1,668 cases. But out of 176 claims already examined, only one has had a result: a £3,000 fine and referral for disciplinary action.

Hounded heroes have faced as many as five investigations over single incidents years ago.

Veterans and MPs were jubilant at the news PIL was finally going out of business.