Irish law firm in 'war crimes' suit (against U.S. soldiers)

The Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 09/01/03 | Ted Oliver

[Pokey78]

The Northern Ireland law firm which represents most of the families of the Bloody Sunday victims is mounting a multi-million pound lawsuit against US soldiers over alleged war crimes in Iraq.

Solicitors at Madden and Finucane will seek damages of $15 million (£10 million) in American courts after four members of an Iraqi family were shot dead at a checkpoint in Baghdad last month.

Three representatives from the firm, which was founded by Pat Finucane, the Belfast solicitor shot dead by loyalists in 1989 in one of the most controversial shootings of the Northern Ireland troubles, have visited the Iraqi capital to meet lawyers and representatives of the al-Kawas family and human rights groups.

They have compiled a dossier of evidence and are expected to initiate the court proceedings early next year.

Madden and Finucane represent most of the families of the 14 victims of the Bloody Sunday shootings in January 1972 and has received substantial fees for work in the Saville Inquiry.

The firm has also advised three suspected IRA men on trial in Colombia accused of training Farc guerrillas and have been involved in the commission investigating the shooting of 13 Israeli-Arab demonstrators by Israeli police in October 2000.

Richie MacRitchie, a solicitor, said yesterday: "If there are grave breaches of the fourth Geneva Convention in war crimes, Britain and America have an obligation to search for people suspected of committing these war crimes and bring them to justice."

He called for an independent inquiry into the shooting at the road block in which four of the al-Kawas family - Adel Abdul Kareem, 43, Hadir, 18, Ola, 16, and Mervit, eight, - were killed on Aug 7.

A car carrying three young men which failed to slow down at the checkpoint manned by soldiers from the US First Armoured Division was fired on, killing one occupant and a passer-by. The car carrying the al-Kawas family was also riddled with bullets.

It is understood that Madden and Finucane became involved in the Iraqi shootings after being contacted by human rights activists in Baghdad and Caoimhe Butterly, an Irish-born peace campaigner.

[dr_who_2]

Even an Irishman would be ill advised to pick a fight with the US military.

[dighton]

Three representatives from the firm, which was founded by Pat Finucane, the Belfast solicitor shot dead by loyalists in 1989 in one of the most controversial shootings of the Northern Ireland troubles, have visited the Iraqi capital to meet lawyers and representatives of the al-Kawas family and human rights groups.

Who is giving these people visas?

[Sub-Driver]

Madden and Finucane, check your backs.......

[DLfromthedesert]

Congressmen Flake and Kolbe. We don't have enough lawyers, and they're coming here to do the work no Americans will do.

[Arpege92]

Good, then the American families who's loved ones were murdered at the hands of Iraqi soldiers while in custody should counter-sue!!!

[BigAndy]

I support this investigation. We have nothing to hide - our soldiers wouldn't shoot at innocent civilians without reason, and this will prove it. What do we gain by resisting the investigation - people would only say there's a cover up. This way, the Iraqis get their investigation, it shows we did nothing we shouldn't have, and another media/Iraqi lie is crushed.

[dr_who_2]

Even an Irishman would be ill advised to pick a fight with the US military.

[Arpege92]

I support it too but I strongly feel they wouldn't accept the investigation if it turns out in favor of the soldiers.

[general_re]

Who is giving these people visas?

How does an Irish court have any sort of jurisdiction?

So many questions... ;)

[dighton]

How does an Irish court have any sort of jurisdiction?

By beating up a Belgian court, or drinking it under the table.

;-)

[Bogey78O]

What does Scottish law say?

[freedumb2003]

"What does Scottish law say?"

"Grease mah up, women, Ahm a-goin aftarra the Big Boys"

[general_re]

By beating up a Belgian court, or drinking it under the table.

Why choose? Beat the tar out of the limp-wristed girly-men of the Belgian court, and then pop down and have a pint or two ;)

[vpintheak]

PISS OFF!!!

[mathurine]

Why even cavil. Ireland is not squat and can not enforce anything its courts might decide. If they find against us and try to enforce it,we can easily kick their butts into the North Sea. There is nothing and nobody in Ireland which could resist one half of one U.S. Division for one half an hour. It is time that the petit pissant nations of the world just screw -off. All of them put together don't amount to one third world mini-power. There is serious business to be done and the pissants as ususal are getting in the way for pleasure and profit. When the Irish, French, Saudi Arabians and other such international riff-raff have something worthwhile to offer to the rest of us, we will be surprised and possibly pleased--though we get along without them pretty well and have for a century or so.

[zip]

ping

[Prodigal Son]

Well, at least it's not the French doing it. Then we'd really let 'em have it.