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02/04/2004
Iraq war hero awarded High Court damages
A Northern Ireland-born colonel, who was praised by Prince Charles for a pre-Iraq war speech to British troops, has won substantial undisclosed libel damages against two UK newspapers for allegations made about his conduct during the war.
Tim Collins won damages against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
The court found that allegations which claimed Col. Collins had stood by as a henchman of Saddam Hussein's was allegedly doused in petrol, set alight and then shot, were false.
In another report, this time in the Sunday Mirror, it was reported that there had been an MOD investigation into a claim that nine Iraqi soldiers had been shot dead while surrendering to members of Col. Collins' regiment. Again this was proven to be false and the paper apologised.
Damages awarded from both cases are said to be substantial.
Born in Belfast, Col. Collins, who has been a professional soldier for 22 years, made headlines across the globe for the rallying speech he gave to the 650 men of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, on March 19, 2003.
In that speech, he called on his men to be ferocious in battle but "magnanimous in victory".
The Colonel also stressed the importance of being robust in combat but to follow humanitarian rules governing warfare.
Prince Charles wrote to him praising his "humane words" and President Bush is said to have a copy of the speech on display in the Oval Office.
(MB)
Tim Collins won damages against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
The court found that allegations which claimed Col. Collins had stood by as a henchman of Saddam Hussein's was allegedly doused in petrol, set alight and then shot, were false.
In another report, this time in the Sunday Mirror, it was reported that there had been an MOD investigation into a claim that nine Iraqi soldiers had been shot dead while surrendering to members of Col. Collins' regiment. Again this was proven to be false and the paper apologised.
Damages awarded from both cases are said to be substantial.
Born in Belfast, Col. Collins, who has been a professional soldier for 22 years, made headlines across the globe for the rallying speech he gave to the 650 men of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, on March 19, 2003.
In that speech, he called on his men to be ferocious in battle but "magnanimous in victory".
The Colonel also stressed the importance of being robust in combat but to follow humanitarian rules governing warfare.
Prince Charles wrote to him praising his "humane words" and President Bush is said to have a copy of the speech on display in the Oval Office.
(MB)
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