| "Never mind." |
There is "insufficient material" to prove that British soldiers unlawfully killed Iraqi civilians following a vicious battle in 2004, lawyers for families of the alleged victims told a British public inquiry on Thursday.The Al-Sweady Inquiry is investigating claims that British troops committed abuses in the aftermath of a notorious firefight near the town of Majar al-Kabir, southwest Iraq, that came to be known as the "Battle of Danny Boy" after a nearby checkpoint.
Troops had been accused of unlawfully killing 20 or more Iraqis at Camp Abu Naji near Majar-al-Kabir in May 2004 after they were taken prisoner following the battle, which was triggered when Iraqi insurgents mounted an ambush.
But following a year of evidence from 281 witnesses, at a cost of more than 22 million ($36.3 million, 26.3 million euros), lawyers for the claimants told the London hearing there was no evidence that British soldiers had carried out unlawful killings.
"Following the conclusion of the military evidence and current state of disclosure by the Ministry of Defense (MoD) it is our view there is insufficient material to establish that Iraqi civilians were unlawfully killed whilst in the custody of British troops at Camp Abu Naji and we have advised the Inquiry of this conclusion," said a statement from Public Interest Lawyers.
However, the lawyers stressed there were "numerous allegations of violent and other ill-treatment of Iraqi Civilians in British custody which the Inquiry will have to consider."
The MoD, which had strenuously denied the allegations, said it was "pleased" by the admission.
"We have long said that there was no credible evidence for these allegations and are pleased that they have been withdrawn," said a spokesman.
British army officials had dismissed the claims as "baseless rumors".