Judge refuses Iraq war ‘torture death’ probe – The Independent

Posted February 26th, 2009 in armed forces, human rights, inquiries, Iraq, news, torture by sally

“An Iraqi who claims his brother was arrested by British forces and tortured and killed during the Iraq war has failed in a High Court bid to win an inquiry into the death under human rights laws.”

Full story

The Independent, 25th February 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Army victims’ lawyer ‘had death threats’ – The Independent

Posted February 9th, 2009 in armed forces, intimidation, legal profession, media, news by sally

“MoD accused of waging ‘black propaganda’ campaign against human rights activists.”

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The Independent, 7th February 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Ratcliffe v Secretary of State for Defence – WLR Daily

Posted February 6th, 2009 in armed forces, asbestos, law reports, war pensions, widows by sally

Ratcliffe v Secretary of State for Defence [2009] EWCA Civ 39; [2009] WLR (D) 33

“A woman who had been the partner of a naval officer for over 25 years at the time of his death from disease said to derive from exposure to asbestos during his employment was in an analogous situation to that of a married woman. However, the Secretary of State for Defence was able to justify a distinction in war pension entitlement between her case and that of a married survivor.”

WLR Daily, 4th February 2009

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.

Inquests into the deaths of service personnel on operations and exercises overseas – Ministry of Justice

Posted February 3rd, 2009 in armed forces, inquests, news by sally

“Justice Minister Bridget Prentice has made a written ministerial statement about the deaths of servicemen and women overseas.”

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Ministry of Justice, 2nd February 2009

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Deal reached on Gurkhas’ right to settle in UK – The Guardian

Posted January 30th, 2009 in armed forces, Gurkhas, immigration by sally

“Thousands more Gurkha veterans and their families will have the right to settle in the United Kingdom in an agreement expected to be announced next week, government officials have confirmed.”

Full story

The Guardian, 30th January 2009

Do atomic test victims deserve compensation? – The Times

Posted January 22nd, 2009 in armed forces, news, nuclear weapons, personal injuries by sally

“Fifty years ago the UK Government began a series of atomic and thermonuclear weapons tests on the Australian mainland, on Christmas Island and elsewhere in the South Pacific. About 25,000 members of the British, Australian and New Zealand Armed Forces, many national servicemen, and some Fijians, took part in the testing programme — either actively or as bystanders.  This week nearly 1,000 veterans took their multimillion-pound compensation claim against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to the High Court. They say they have suffered illnesses — including cancers, skin defects and fertility problems — because of exposure to radiation from the tests.”

Full story

The Times, 22nd January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Nuclear test veterans launch case – BBC News

Posted January 21st, 2009 in armed forces, news, nuclear weapons, personal injuries by sally

“Veterans involved in British nuclear tests in the Indian and Pacific oceans are to launch a legal bid against the government at the High Court later.”

Full story 

BBC News, 21st January 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

British military policewoman who ‘worked as prostitute’ forced out of Army – Daily Telegraph

Posted January 20th, 2009 in armed forces, news, prostitution by sally

“A British military policewoman has been forced to leave the Army after she was allegedly discovered to have been working as a prostitute.”

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Daily Telegraph, 20th January 2009

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

MoD investigates race hate on web – The Guardian

Posted January 19th, 2009 in armed forces, internet, news, racism by sally

“The Ministry of Defence launched a fresh inquiry into racism in the army last night after the Guardian uncovered a series of extreme and offensive comments on the social networking site Facebook.”

Full story

The Guardian, 19th January 2009

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Nuclear veterans told: No case for compensation – The Independent

Posted January 12th, 2009 in armed forces, news, nuclear weapons, personal injuries by sally

“Ministers have been accused of blocking compensation claims brought by hundreds of nuclear test veterans who believe they developed cancers and other illnesses after being forced to witness atomic bomb experiments in the 1950s and ’60s.”

Full story

The Independent, 11th January 2009

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Bruce Houlder, QC, the top criminal silk taking on the Armed Forces – The Times

Posted January 8th, 2009 in armed forces, barristers, news by sally

“When appointed the first civilian in charge of military prosecutions, Bruce Houlder, QC, faced accusations that he would ‘let our boys hang out to dry’. Others said that he had been put in post to ‘whitewash the crimes of the military’. Houlder, who took over on January 1 as the independent Director of Service Prosecutions for all three Armed Forces, is determined to prove that he can steer a middle course.”

Full story

The Times, 8th January 2009

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Gurkhas decision delay criticised – BBC News

Posted January 8th, 2009 in armed forces, Gurkhas, immigration, news by sally

“The government has been criticised for delays in producing a new policy on Gurkha veterans wanting to settle in the UK.”

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BBC News, 7th January 2009

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Compensation for injured troops doubled by Ministry of Defence – Daily Telegraph

Posted December 15th, 2008 in armed forces, compensation, news, personal injuries by sally

“Compensation payouts to severely wounded soldiers are to be doubled after criticism the payouts were far lower than those given to injured civilians.”

Full story 

Daily Telegraph, 15th December 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Army spy is jailed for 10 years – BBC News

Posted November 28th, 2008 in armed forces, interpreters, news, sentencing, spying by sally

“Army interpreter Daniel James, found guilty of spying for Iran last month, has been jailed for 10 years.”

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BBC News, 28th November 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Lesbian soldier wins £190,000 over male sergeant’s sexual harassment – The Guardian

Posted November 27th, 2008 in armed forces, harassment, news by sally

“A lesbian soldier who was sexually harassed by a male sergeant today won £190,000 from the Ministry of Defence.”

Full story

The Guardian, 26th November 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Teenage Army recruit drowned after commanding officer made ‘wrong decision’ – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 24th, 2008 in armed forces, inquests, news by sally

“A commanding officer made ‘the wrong decision’ when deciding whether to lead a group of Army recruits over a swollen stream, which claimed the life of a teenage soldier, a coroner said yesterday.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 24th November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Courts martial after BBC filming – BBC News

Posted November 21st, 2008 in armed forces, bullying, courts martial, news by sally

“Four Army training instructors will face courts martial after allegations of abuse that came to light during an undercover investigation by the BBC.”

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BBC News, 20th November 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Judge in Baha Mousa death inquiry to question ‘every witness’ – The Guardian

Posted November 21st, 2008 in armed forces, Iraq, news, torture, witnesses by sally

“The judge presiding over the public inquiry into the death of Baha Mousa, the Iraqi hotel receptionist killed while in the custody of British troops in Basra, made clear today that he intended to question every soldier who witnessed the incident, whether or not they were directly responsible.”

Full story

The Guardian, 20th November 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

MoD pays out £2.4m to Kosovan shot in the jaw – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 6th, 2008 in armed forces, damages, news, personal injuries by sally

“A Kosovan man shot in the jaw by a British soldier has been awarded £2.4 million compensation after suing the Ministry of Defence.”

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Daily Telegraph, 6th November 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

British interpreter Daniel James found guilty of spying for Iran – The Times

Posted November 5th, 2008 in armed forces, interpreters, news, spying by sally

“A salsa dancing Army interpreter who worked for Britain’s top general in Afghanistan was today found guilty of spying for Iran.”

Full story

The Times, 5th November 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk