29 April 202115 December 2022 4WardEverUK

UK government drops bid to shield soldiers from war crimes prosecutions

source: Middle East Eye
published: 27 July 2021

The UK government has abandoned attempts to shield members of its armed forces from prosecution for murder and war crimes committed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Ministers agreed to amend its deeply controversial Overseas Operations Bill following stiff opposition from members of parliament’s upper house, the Lords.

The initial proposal – to shield soldiers from prosecution for torture or genocide as well as murder and war crimes – had also faced condemnation by human rights groups and retired senior officers. This does not mean that soldiers and ex-soldiers will be prosecuted, however.

17 April 202115 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Lawsuit alleges foster agency failed to prevent abuse, death of toddler

all credits: FortWorth Star-Telegram
published: 15 April 2021

A lawsuit was filed this week against a Fort Worth foster care organization and its employees, accusing them of failing to follow proper requirements in the care of a 3-year-old who died last year.

The parents of Amari Boone, represented by The Button Law Firm, filed the lawsuit Monday in Dallas against ACH Child and Family Services in Fort Worth. Rodney Boone and Ariana George believe the foster care agency failed to keep their son safe from abuse by his foster parents, according to the lawsuit. Amari died April 12, 2020, after his third emergency visit to Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth.

3 March 202115 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Widow of Pat Finucane to issue fresh proceedings over inquiry refusal

source: Scottish Legal News
published: 1 March 2021

The widow of murdered solicitor Pat Finucane has issued fresh proceedings in the High Court in Belfast three months after the UK government refused to order a fresh public inquiry into the 1998 killing.

The UK Supreme Court ruled in February 2019 that the state had failed to deliver an Article 2 compliant investigation into the death of Mr Finucane, who was shot and killed by loyalist paramilitaries in collusion with UK security forces.

The government did not respond until December 2020, when it said it would not establish a public inquiry and highlighted an ongoing “review process” within the PSNI and investigations by the Police Ombudsman.