A YOUNG Iraqi man who was accidentally shot by a British soldier is set to receive £2 million, it emerged last night.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the man – who cannot be named – was to receive the money after suffering spinal injuries that left him paralysed.
The sum is far higher than any paid to any British troops injured in Iraq and is likely to
reopen the controversy over compensation levels for wounded service personnel.
There were also fears among opposition MPs that it could set a precedent, opening the way for further big compensation claims by Iraqis.
The MoD last night insisted the case was a one-off. "It is not a precedent; it is an exceptional case. It is not expected there are any other cases of such severity," a spokesman said.
He also rejected comparisons with the compensation scheme for injured troops, which offers a maximum lump sum of £285,000.
The spokesman said it was a no-fault scheme, which also provided a lifetime income for those who were covered. In the case of the Iraqi, the high pay-out reflected both the costs of care for the rest of his life and the fact the MoD had accepted that the shot that injured him was a "negligent discharge".
The man was wounded in September 2003 when a British soldier – one of a group he had befriended – accidentally dropped his gun and the weapon went off.
He later moved to the UK, where he began legal action through the British courts. The final settlement is awaiting a further High Court hearing.
The award is far higher than any paid to Iraqis who made claims against the British through the Iraqi courts.
Liberal Democrat treasury spokesman, Vince Cable, said other Iraqis might now try to take action through UK courts. He said: "The government claims this is a unique case, but it is difficult to believe that. If Iraqis were able to get access to British courts, they would clearly be entitled to much higher levels of compensation, based on this precedent."
The full article contains 355 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
