Dishonest tank-chasing lawyer Phil Shiner struck off after making ‘baseless’ claims against Iraq war heroes
The 'human rights' solicitor has been condemned after spending millions of taxpayers' money hounding Brit troops over claims concoted on behalf of Iraqis
LYING lawsuit king Phil Shiner was finally struck off yesterday over his hounding of our troops for cooked-up war crimes.
The “human rights” solicitor, 59, cost taxpayers tens of millions by pursuing concocted claims on behalf of Iraqis. He was condemned by his profession’s watchdog.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said after the verdict: “Justice has finally been served. Phil Shiner made soldiers’ lives a misery.”
Last night Shiner, who claimed he was too ill to attend the probe by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, was facing ruin.
He has been ordered to pay £250,000 towards the costs of the hearing. And the Ministry of Defence and Legal Aid Authority are free to demand their cash back.
That is just a fraction of the bill he landed taxpayers after his fake claims of murder and torture fuelled two massive inquiries.
One, the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (Ihat), has cost £57million to date probing 3,281 allegations against vets.
Not a single prosecution has resulted — after lawsuits Shiner pursued were rumbled as “wholly baseless” and “calculated lies”.
Another probe, the five-year Al-Sweady public inquiry, cost £25million. It focused on claims made against Brit troops after the Battle of Danny Boy, when they were ambushed in 2004.
Heroes he accused of murder and mistreating captives were found to be innocent.
YEARS OF DECEPTION
1999: Public Interest Lawyers set up.
2004: British troops kill 28 insurgents at the Battle of Danny Boy. Rumours surface that soldiers murdered farmers. Shiner sends Iraqi Mazin Younis to find cases of abuse.
2009: Leigh Day pays Shiner £1.6m for passing on clients. Al-Sweady inquiry begins later that year.
2010: Ihat looks into 1,490 cases, most passed on by Shiner’s firm.
2014: Al-Sweady inquiry finds Shiner’s claims “calculated lies”.
2016: Public Interest Lawyers closes after losing legal aid contract.
2017: Shiner struck off.
Yesterday Tory MP and former Army officer Johnny Mercer said: “For too long we have been dancing to Phil Shiner’s tune.
“It’s about time we refocus on the soldiers who have been dragged through the mud. That should now close down.”
Shiner was also slated by Gen Sir Mike Jackson, ex head of the British Army.
He said: “A lot of soldiers and their families have been living under a dreadful shadow of his creation.”
The lawyer’s convictions came after he admitted nine misconduct charges. The watchdog heard he recklessly touted for business in Iraq.
He also acted dishonestly by paying his chief fixer “sweeteners” to change evidence to the Al-Sweady inquiry.
The Iraqi — Mazin Younis, 59 — had been paid £500 for every case he could drum up against British soldiers.
More than £3million was forked out in legal aid to Shiner’s now-defunct Birmingham firm Public Interest Lawyers.
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Another law firm accused of cashing in to the tune of £4.3million — Leigh Day — faces a Solicitors Regulation Authority hearing this year.
Meanwhile Shiner could face fraud charges.
Andrew Tabachnik, counsel for the SRA, described his antics as of a “criminal standard”.
YEARS OF DECEPTION
COLONEL James Coote DSO OBE called on Shiner to apologise.
Col Coote was in charge of the Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment at Danny Boy. He said: “The last 12 years have been hugely stressful for all the soldiers and their families. “It is difficult not to take the allegations personally and feel aggrieved. We defend democracy in the Army. Credible allegations should be investigated — but with dignity, transparency, respect and presumption of innocence. The SRA has yet to issue a full statement. But Shiner should apologise.”