Flawed Military Investigation into Iraq War Incident Sparks Calls for Reform

Strategic Insights -

A military investigation into a notorious Iraq war incident, in which British soldiers allegedly murdered and mutilated unarmed Iraqis, has been severely criticized by police as fundamentally flawed. The investigation, led by the Royal Military Police's (RMP) Special Investigation Branch (SIB), failed to collect forensic evidence, ignored key witnesses, and did not ask Iraqi witnesses relevant questions. The 120-page report by Greater Manchester police concluded that some interviews with Iraqi detainees may have been conducted in an effort to justify their arrest, rather than to probe human rights abuses.

Key Takeaways:

  • The RMP's SIB investigation into the "Battle of Danny Boy" incident was flawed from its earliest days, with investigators failing to collect forensic evidence, ignore key witnesses, and not ask Iraqi witnesses relevant questions.
  • The investigation was delayed for over a month, allowing potential witnesses and suspects to alter their accounts or leave the area.
  • Interviews with Iraqi detainees were not conducted until 76 days after their arrest, and the investigators were predominantly interested in justifying their arrests, not uncovering the truth.
  • Captain Lucy Bowen, the officer in charge of the investigation, admitted that she did not have the credentials or the time to run the investigation properly.
  • The delay in launching an official RMP investigation had potential implications for evidence recovery, forensic opportunities, scene security, and witness opportunities.
  • Four military investigators led the Danny Boy investigation between 2004 and 2008, with two of them not being accredited senior investigating officers.
  • Even by September 2008, the RMP had not identified all members of army personnel who had come into contact with Iraqi nationals.
  • The original Red Cap investigation cleared all military personnel of wrongdoing, but after lawyers representing Iraqis sought a judicial review, a new investigation was opened in September 2007.
  • Two new investigating officers took up the task of reviewing the previous investigation, re-investigating the investigation, and examining new claims that had arisen from lawyers.

Statistics:

  • 20 Iraqis died in the "Battle of Danny Boy" incident, with several witnesses claiming that some of them were taken as prisoners to be interrogated and tortured before being killed.
  • 150 army personnel and 50 Iraqi nationals were interviewed as part of the 2005 SIB investigation.
  • By September 2008, the RMP had not identified all 165 army personnel who had come into contact with Iraqi nationals.
  • Four military investigators led the Danny Boy investigation between 2004 and 2008.
  • Two new investigating officers took up the task of reviewing the previous investigation in 2007.

Sources:

  • "Police Inquiry into Iraqi Torture Claims Finds Army Investigation 'Fundamentally Flawed'" by Rajeev Syal and Mark Townsend, The Observer, 2013
  • Greater Manchester police report into the RMP's SIB investigation (2013)
  • Ministry of Defence press release (2013)
  • Human Rights lawyers' evidence presented in court (2013)
  • Red Cross officials' testimony in court (2013)
  • Bob Ainsworth's letter to the court (2013)