Law firms accused of hounding British troops with Iraqi war crime claims cleared of wrongdoing
Three human rights lawyers were cleared of a number of misconduct charges over their actions against the Ministry of Defence
LAWYERS accused of hounding British troops with false war crime claims have been cleared of wrongdoing.
Legal outfit Leigh Day and its lawyers Martyn Day, Sapna Malik and Anna Crowther were told 20 misconduct charges had not been proved.
They were cleared of the allegations, which they had all consistently denied, after a seven-week hearing before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal.
But Col Richard Kemp, a former commander of British forces in Afghanistan, said: “Whatever the findings of the tribunal there is no doubt Leigh Day tormented innocent veterans with years of needless worry.
“The very least they can do is apologise.”
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The case arose after a £31million war crimes inquiry cleared Brit troops of torture, murder and mutilations in Iraq.
Allegations against the firm included paying a tout £75,000 to drum up work in Iraq and holding a press conference to stir up trouble.
Tank-chaser Phil Shiner was struck off over similar claims in February.
But after his firm was cleared, Mr Day said: “The tribunal confirmed our view that we did not act improperly.”