Inquiry into Queens Lancashire regiment clears army of systematic abuse - Blackburn Citizen
Inquiry into Queens Lancashire regiment clears army of systematic abuse
12:50pm Sunday 28th August 2011
AN independent inquiry into how a hotel worker died while being held by former Queens Lancashire regiment soldiers is set to clear the Army of systematic torture and mistreatment.
But several individual soldiers from the county regiment will be criticised when the report into the death of Baha Mousa is released, a Sunday newspaper has reported.
Father-of-two Mr Mousa, 26, sustained 93 injuries while being held by the Queen's Lancs' 1st Battalion (QLR) in Basra, southern Iraq, in 2003.
The three-year inquiry also examined the abuse of nine other Iraqi men, also detained.
Former members of the regiment are said to have 'closed ranks', according to the Sunday Telegraph, and senior officers and serving soldiers will be accused of dereliction of duty.
An original investigation into Mr Mousa's death will also be blasted, it is claimed.
The hotel receptionist's detention began when British forces raided a Basra hotel in September 2003.
AK47s, sub-machine guns, pistols, fake ID cards and military clothing were discovered and Mr Mousa and several colleagues were arrested and taken to the QLR headquarters.
Banned torture methods including hooding, sleep deprivation and making them stand in painful stress positions were deployed, the inquiry heard.
Mr Mousa, was hooded for nearly 24 of the 36 hours he spent in British custody before his death.
Seven QLR soldiers, including former commanding officer Colonel Jorge Mendonca, were accused of mistreating prisoners at a 2007 court martial.
But the trial ended with them all cleared, apart from Corporal Donald Payne, who pleaded guilty to inhumanely treating civilians.
The Ministry of Defence has agreed to pay £2.83 million in compensation to the families of Mr Mousa and the nine other Iraqi men.
Surviving detainees and Mr Mousa's father are expected to call for a full public inquiry following the official release of the report on September 8.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the the actions which led to the death of Baha Mousa were 'shameful and inexcusable'.
"Lessons have been learned and much has been done since 2003 but we look forward to the inquiry's report and will look carefully at any recommendations they make."
28 Aug, 2011
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