Al Sweady

The Al-Sweady Inquiry was a public inquiry established to investigate allegations of unlawful killing and ill-treatment of Iraqi detainees by British soldiers following the Battle of Danny Boy on May 14, 2004. The inquiry was led by Sir Thayne Forbes and commenced in 2009, concluding with the publication of its report in December 2014.

The Battle of Danny Boy occurred near the town of Al Majar al-Kabir in Iraq, where British soldiers from the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and the Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment were ambushed by Iraqi insurgents. During the battle, 20 Iraqi insurgents were killed, and their bodies were taken back to the British military base at Camp Abu Naji for identification.

The inquiry was initiated following claims by Iraqi detainees that they had been unlawfully killed and subjected to ill-treatment by British soldiers during their detention. The allegations included accusations of torture, murder, and other forms of mistreatment.

After a thorough investigation, the Al-Sweady Inquiry concluded that the allegations of unlawful killing were "wholly without foundation and entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation, and ingrained hostility". However, the inquiry did find that nine Iraqi detainees had been ill-treated, although the treatment did not amount to torture.

The inquiry cost nearly £25 million and spanned five years, involving extensive witness testimonies and evidence gathering. The report was critical of the conduct of some British soldiers but also highlighted issues with the handling of the case by the law firms representing the Iraqi detainees.

The findings of the Al-Sweady Inquiry were significant in addressing the allegations and providing a comprehensive account of the events surrounding the Battle of Danny Boy. The inquiry's conclusions helped to clarify the circumstances of the battle and the treatment of detainees, contributing to the broader understanding of military conduct during the Iraq War.