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02/04/2004
Iraq war hero awarded High Court damages
Colonel Tim Collins, who won praise for his pre-Iraq war speech to British troops, has won undisclosed libel damages against two UK newspapers for allegations made about his conduct during the war.
Col Collins won damages against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
The court found that war crimes 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 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. The paper apologised.
Damages awarded in both cases were described as "substantial".
Born in Belfast, Tim Collins, a professional career soldier for 22 years, made headlines across the globe for the rousing 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)
Col Collins won damages against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
The court found that war crimes 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 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. The paper apologised.
Damages awarded in both cases were described as "substantial".
Born in Belfast, Tim Collins, a professional career soldier for 22 years, made headlines across the globe for the rousing 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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