A former human rights lawyer has been handed a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting three counts of fraud linked to cases against British soldiers in Iraq.
Phil Shiner, 67, of Birmingham, was the principal solicitor of the law firm Public Interest Lawyers.
He gained prominence for representing Iraqi civilians who alleged British soldiers had tortured them and carried out unlawful killings while stationed in their country.
In 2004, Shiner’s legal challenge sparked the launch of a public inquiry into the troops’ alleged atrocities.
However, Shiner and his law firm were widely criticised when, 10 years later, the inquiry concluded the allegations were untrue. The inquiry’s findings led to him being struck off as a solicitor in 2017.
In September, Shiner pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud relating to applications made in 2007 for public funding for legal action against the Ministry of Defence.
Shiner applied for up to £200,000 in legal aid funding to represent Iraqis – but failed to disclose that an agent acting on his behalf had been cold-calling potential clients.
His application also failed to include the fact he was paying referral fees, which breached his firm’s contract.
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Shiner received about £3m in the value of the contract. On top of that, the inquiry sparked by the allegations cost the taxpayer £24m, according to the National Crime Agency (NCA).
Shiner was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday.
Judge Christopher Hehir told the former lawyer: “You have already suffered professional and personal ruin and I
do not consider it is necessary to add to that by sending you straight to prison.”
Shiner “got carried away with enthusiasm by his clients’ cause and his judgement suffered as a result,” the judge added.
Following Shiner’s conviction earlier this year, the NCA said his actions put “untold pressure” on members of the British forces.
Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s International Corruption Unit, said: “This conviction is a milestone in what has been a thorough and complex domestic and international investigation.”
