The final report in the Iraq Fatality Investigations is laid before Parliament

Dame Anne Rafferty DBE’s report in the Iraq Fatality Investigations (“IFI”) has been laid before the House (announcement: here). The IFI were set up on a quasi-inquest model to hold inquiries into civil deaths in Iraq in any cases where there existed an Article 2 ECHR obligation to hold an inquiry and where it was clear there would be no prosecution of any British soldiers allegedly involved in the deaths. This report records the outcome of the ninth (and final) investigation into civilian deaths referred to the IFI by the Secretary of State for Defence. The investigation covered the deaths of three Iraqi civilians in the custody of UK forces: Mr Radhi Nama and Mr Mousa Ali, who died on 8 and 13 May 2003 respectively whilst in the custody of UK Forces at Camp Stephen in Basra, and Mr Ahmed Jabbar Kareem Ali, who Sir George Newman (former 3 Hare Court Head of Chambers) had found in an earlier investigation was left to drown in a waterway by UK forces. Katharine Bailey acted as one of four Counsel to the Inquiry team. Sophie Warner (Broadfield) acted as Solicitor to the Inquiry.