Former human rights lawyer Phil Shiner has pleaded guilty to fraud charges related to claims made against Iraq war veterans. The 67-year-old appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Monday, admitting to three counts of fraud, as reported by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Shiner, who was the principal solicitor at Public Interest Lawyers, will be sentenced on December 2.
In 2007, Shiner applied to the Legal Services Commission for up to £200,000 in legal aid to represent clients, including Khuder Al-Sweady, in a judicial review application. The NCA revealed that Shiner received approximately £3 million from this contract, while the subsequent Al-Sweady inquiry cost UK taxpayers around £24 million.
The investigation found that Shiner failed to disclose that an agent, acting with his knowledge, had been cold-calling potential clients in Iraq. He also did not reveal that he was paying referral fees, which violated the terms of his legal aid contract. Additionally, he provided a witness statement in support of his application based on an unsolicited approach.
Andy Kelly, head of the NCA’s international corruption unit, described the conviction as a significant milestone in a complex investigation, noting that Shiner’s dishonest actions inflicted considerable stress on members of the British armed forces.
The Al-Sweady inquiry was initiated following the death of 19-year-old Iraqi Khuder Al-Sweady, who was killed by British troops in 2004 during the battle of Danny Boy. The inquiry, which began public hearings in 2013, faced scrutiny over the Ministry of Defence’s failure to disclose critical information about the incident.
While British lawyers for the Iraqis initially claimed there was insufficient evidence to prove unlawful killings, they maintained allegations of ill-treatment. The Ministry of Defence characterized these claims as fabricated, asserting they were part of a criminal conspiracy.
In 2014, the inquiry dismissed claims that British soldiers had murdered insurgents but acknowledged instances of prisoner abuse and violations of the Geneva Conventions.