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British Foreign Minister William Hague Yves Logghe/AP/Press Association Images

Britain rejects Iraq torture claims

The British government says complaints to the International Criminal Court are “unnecessary”.

BRITAIN HAS SAID that it was already dealing with cases of alleged abuse by its troops in Iraq after human rights lawyers sent a dossier to the International Criminal Court.

The Ministry of Defence said action through the ICC in The Hague was unnecessary because the cases were either already under investigation or had been dealt with through various courts and processes.

Lawyers have drawn on the cases of more than 400 Iraqis, dating from 2003 to 2008, arguing they represent “thousands of allegations of mistreatment amounting to war crimes of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment”.

They describe incidents ranging from “hooding” prisoners to burning, electric shocks, threats to kill and “cultural and religious humiliation”.

Other forms of alleged abuse between 2003 and 2008 include sexual assault, mock executions, and threats of rape, death, and torture.

The head of the army, General Sir Peter Wall, ex-defence secretary Geoff Hoon, and former junior defence minister Adam Ingram are among those named in the 250-page dossier, according to The Independent on Sunday newspaper.

The Ministry of Defence said it rejected the suggestion that the British military systematically tortured detainees, but said the government regrets the “small number of cases where abuses have taken place”.

“These matters are either under thorough investigation or have been dealt with through various means including through the Iraq Historic Allegations Team, independent public inquiries, the UK and European courts and in parliament,” a spokeswoman said.

“As such, further action through the ICC is unnecessary when the issues and allegations are already known to the UK government, action is in hand and the UK courts have already issued judgements.

“Should we be approached by the ICC, we will take the opportunity to explain the very extensive work under way to deal with historic allegations of abuse.

“Wherever allegations have been substantiated, we have compensated victims and their families.”

The formal complaint to the ICC was lodged Saturday by Birmingham-based Public Interest Lawyers and the Berlin-based European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights.

It calls for an investigation into the alleged war crimes under Article 15 of the Rome Statute.

© – AFP 2014

Read: Car bombings kill 13 civilians in Iraqi capital

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    Mute Jack Murphy
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    Jan 7th 2015, 12:33 AM

    How many times has this happened now? stupid bloody drivers

    159
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    Mute Malachy Mc Carron
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    Jan 7th 2015, 1:40 AM

    Should b made refund everyone’s ticket, if driver was negligible in any way. Understandable if driver had heart attack R something . People going to and from work delayed due to 1 person

    38
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    Mute The Todd
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    Jan 7th 2015, 1:59 AM

    Accidents happen all the time, but here have your €2.20. Hope the driver is ok

    114
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    Mute Lloyd Hetherington
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    Jan 7th 2015, 2:09 AM

    Agree. How does one end up doing something like this unless it is a heart attack or seizure or similar? Why can’t I help thinking the driver was on his/her phone?

    37
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    Mute KATHLEEN KAVANAGH
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    Jan 7th 2015, 2:11 AM

    Exactly!

    17
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    Mute Shawn Rahoon
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    Jan 7th 2015, 2:17 AM

    “Stupid bloody drivers” so you know the cause of this incident?

    31
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    Mute Charles Mcdonald
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    Jan 7th 2015, 2:51 AM

    Might have been stolen and a joyrider

    40
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    Mute Dermot Ryan
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    Jan 7th 2015, 7:31 PM

    Didn’t a Chinese company offer to put in an underground system in Dublin for the ticket take for 25 years and they were turned down – Something like that any way …
    Can’t crash a car into an underground !

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    Mute Joe Travers
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    Jan 7th 2015, 12:38 AM

    Is optimus ok.?

    104
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    Mute Scrap Croke Park1
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    Jan 7th 2015, 1:19 AM

    I feel sorry for the driver. She must be mortified

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    Mute Scrap Croke Park1
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    Jan 7th 2015, 1:20 AM

    Ok sisters. I’m ready

    53
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    Mute Kane O Hara
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    Jan 7th 2015, 12:33 AM

    Let’s hope the driver and passengers are not hurt.

    67
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    Mute Kathleen Kavanagh
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    Jan 7th 2015, 12:40 AM

    Driving Suspension 3-6 months – give themselves time to think if they should continue driving !

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    Mute Phillip Brady Brady
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    Jan 7th 2015, 1:03 AM

    Do u know something we don’t?

    58
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    Mute Marty Flood
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    Jan 7th 2015, 12:39 AM

    Luas tickets valid on buses. Aaaaahhhh… memories of Munich 1992.

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    Mute Shane Walsh Photos
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    Jan 7th 2015, 7:18 AM

    Wouldn’t happen on the red line :)

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    Mute paul compton
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    Jan 7th 2015, 7:39 AM

    Any money says drink driver.

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    Mute Cormac Mc Greal
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    Jan 7th 2015, 12:33 AM

    Bang bang Rosie/roger.

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    Mute Paul O'Grady
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    Jan 7th 2015, 2:47 PM

    Extra penalty points should be awarded for blatant stupidity – such as hitting an inanimate object.

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