[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] Theresa May slammed the disgraced lawyer Phil Shiner for hounding Iraq veterans today and promised to crack down on others who chase after former soldiers. She said it was 'absolutely appalling' that the likes of Mr Shiner, who was struck off last week, could 'make a business out of chasing after our brave troops'.
And the PM promised to reduce the number of cases being pursued by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (Ihat), which has been heavily criticised for leading a 'witch-hunt' and is estimated to have cost £36.3million to date.
It was set up in 2010 to probe claims of abuse of civilians following the 2003 invasion.
Professor Shiner made his name suing the Government at taxpayers' expense but last week a disciplinary tribunal found he acted dishonestly in bringing murder claims against British troops.
Today the PM was pressed by Tory MP Johnny Mercer, who is leading a parliamentary inquiry into Ihat, to 'get a grip' on the process, which led to many more claims than the Government expected, 'so that never again will our servicemen and women be exposed to the likes of Phil Shiner'.
Mrs May responded: 'In relation to Ihat, we are committed to reducing its case load to a small number of credible cases as quickly as possible.
’I recognise that the action that has been taken in relation to the individual that he has referred to.
I think it is absolutely appalling when people try to make a business out of chasing after our brave troops.'
Earlier this week MailOnline revealed that the disgraced lawyer was part of a group of conspiracy theorists that plotted legal action even before the Iraq War started.
Professor Shiner, 60, was a member of the ’Legal Inquiry Steering Group (LISG)’, which was set up in August 2002 to plan court cases and threaten the Government. British troops went into action in March 2003.
A damning report by MPs into Ihat set to be published next week is expected to call for the £60million probe to be scrapped immediately.
Mr Mercer said he believed a 'rotten core' of civil servants had warped the purpose of the process.
The report is set to blame the Ministry of Defence for creating a system that allowed Professor Shiner to bring criminal cases against former soldiers on an 'industrial scale'.
The MoD has said it is obliged to investigate criminal allegations and the existence of Ihat keeps British soldiers from being hauled through international courts.
The Defence Sub-Committee's report on the support given to former and serving personnel who face legal proceedings is due to be published on February 15.
Since its launch there have been 3,392 cases lodged with Ihat, two thirds of which were brought by Shiner and his firm, Public Interest Lawyers (PIL).
The allegations against British military personnel have ranged from low-level mistreatment of civilians to claims of torture and murder.
Mr Shiner was finally struck off last week after a string of misconduct charges against him, including five of dishonesty, were found proven following a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal hearing.
There have been calls for the lawyer to face criminal prosecution and the National Crime Agency is said to be reviewing evidence from the Legal Aid Authority.