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Many of us will remember Col. Tim Collins, the British officer whose address to his troops before the Iraq war drew admiration from many. He was subsequently accused by the British tabloid press of participating in "atrocities" - allegations which have been disproved. Here are two articles from the BBC News about him.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3386487.stm
Iraq War colonel quits Army
Sunday, 11 January, 2004, 14:08 GMT
An Army officer who achieved fame for his speech to troops on the eve of the Iraq War has resigned.
Colonel Tim Collins believes the Army is in danger of being "a glorified Home Guard" because of underfunding and bureaucracy, he told the Mail on Sunday.
Belfast-born Col Collins was widely praised when he told his soldiers: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed his resignation application.
Col Collins was recently awarded an OBE, after being cleared of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
The process of leaving the army, which includes consideration of the application by a board, usually concludes within a year, although officers can ask to leave sooner.
The Mail on Sunday says the 43-year-old is expected to be out of the Army by the summer, after 22 years' service.
Col Collins' wife, Caroline, told the paper: "Tim is no longer convinced that the Army reflects the country with the fourth largest economy in the world.
"He fears it is becoming a cottage industry."
Mrs Collins also said her husband was concerned by political correctness in the Army and "the refusal of politicians who send British soldiers to war to give them enough money to do their job".
Mrs Collins also told the newspaper a major factor in her husband's decision to resign was what he saw as the Army's failure to support him when he was wrongly accused of war crimes.
He was investigated by the MoD after allegations were made by an American officer about his treatment of Iraqi civilians and prisoners of war.
No disciplinary procedures were ever brought against him.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams said there was no suggestion Col Collins had been asked to leave the army as a result of the allegations.
At the time of the conflict, Col Collins was a lieutenant colonel, but has since been promoted.
Mrs Collins added: "The height of his ambition was to command the Royal Irish Regiment on operations, something he achieved during the Iraq campaign.
"It's time for a fresh challenge."
The paper said the father of five was thought to be considering a civilian career in leadership and management.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3593027.stm
Friday, 2 April, 2004, 11:16 GMT 12:16 UK
Hero wins libel damages
Iraq war hero Colonel Tim Collins has won substantial undisclosed libel damages and costs against two newspapers.
The Northern Ireland army officer won damages against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
The newspapers withdrew allegations that he had been involved in war crimes including the murder of an Iraqi prisoner.
He achieved fame for his speech to troops of the Royal Irish Regiment on the eve of the Iraq War.
Belfast-born Col Collins, 43, was widely praised when he told his soldiers: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."
The Sunday Express newspaper reported in May that Colonel Collins had stood by as a henchman of Saddam Hussein's was allegedly doused in petrol, set alight then shot.
In the High Court, the newspaper accepted the allegations were untrue and should not have been published.
Colonel Collins was also awarded damages against the Sunday Mirror which reported that there had been an MOD investigation into a claim that nine Iraqi soldiers had been shot dead while surrendering to members of his regiment.
The Sunday Mirror accepted in court that the allegations were false and apologised to Col Collins.
The amount of damages was not disclosed but was said to be substantial.
Col Collins, who was in court for the hearing, made no comment.
After the hearing, the officer's solicitor, Ernie Telford, said his client was delighted to "have been vindicated of such distressing and unfounded allegations".
"This is one fight he had to win. He has been to hell and back," he added.
"This was a hugely important issue he had to fight on his own. He is used to leading his men into conflict for a cause which he believes is right and just, but this time he was by himself.
"He put his reputation and his financial security on the line, but he has emerged a stronger person for the experience."
Col Collins was awarded an OBE, after being cleared of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
He is due to leave the army in August.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3386487.stm
Iraq War colonel quits Army
Sunday, 11 January, 2004, 14:08 GMT
An Army officer who achieved fame for his speech to troops on the eve of the Iraq War has resigned.
Colonel Tim Collins believes the Army is in danger of being "a glorified Home Guard" because of underfunding and bureaucracy, he told the Mail on Sunday.
Belfast-born Col Collins was widely praised when he told his soldiers: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed his resignation application.
Col Collins was recently awarded an OBE, after being cleared of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
The process of leaving the army, which includes consideration of the application by a board, usually concludes within a year, although officers can ask to leave sooner.
The Mail on Sunday says the 43-year-old is expected to be out of the Army by the summer, after 22 years' service.
Col Collins' wife, Caroline, told the paper: "Tim is no longer convinced that the Army reflects the country with the fourth largest economy in the world.
"He fears it is becoming a cottage industry."
Mrs Collins also said her husband was concerned by political correctness in the Army and "the refusal of politicians who send British soldiers to war to give them enough money to do their job".
Mrs Collins also told the newspaper a major factor in her husband's decision to resign was what he saw as the Army's failure to support him when he was wrongly accused of war crimes.
He was investigated by the MoD after allegations were made by an American officer about his treatment of Iraqi civilians and prisoners of war.
No disciplinary procedures were ever brought against him.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Adams said there was no suggestion Col Collins had been asked to leave the army as a result of the allegations.
At the time of the conflict, Col Collins was a lieutenant colonel, but has since been promoted.
Mrs Collins added: "The height of his ambition was to command the Royal Irish Regiment on operations, something he achieved during the Iraq campaign.
"It's time for a fresh challenge."
The paper said the father of five was thought to be considering a civilian career in leadership and management.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/3593027.stm
Friday, 2 April, 2004, 11:16 GMT 12:16 UK
Hero wins libel damages
Iraq war hero Colonel Tim Collins has won substantial undisclosed libel damages and costs against two newspapers.
The Northern Ireland army officer won damages against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror newspapers at the High Court in Belfast on Friday.
The newspapers withdrew allegations that he had been involved in war crimes including the murder of an Iraqi prisoner.
He achieved fame for his speech to troops of the Royal Irish Regiment on the eve of the Iraq War.
Belfast-born Col Collins, 43, was widely praised when he told his soldiers: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."
The Sunday Express newspaper reported in May that Colonel Collins had stood by as a henchman of Saddam Hussein's was allegedly doused in petrol, set alight then shot.
In the High Court, the newspaper accepted the allegations were untrue and should not have been published.
Colonel Collins was also awarded damages against the Sunday Mirror which reported that there had been an MOD investigation into a claim that nine Iraqi soldiers had been shot dead while surrendering to members of his regiment.
The Sunday Mirror accepted in court that the allegations were false and apologised to Col Collins.
The amount of damages was not disclosed but was said to be substantial.
Col Collins, who was in court for the hearing, made no comment.
After the hearing, the officer's solicitor, Ernie Telford, said his client was delighted to "have been vindicated of such distressing and unfounded allegations".
"This is one fight he had to win. He has been to hell and back," he added.
"This was a hugely important issue he had to fight on his own. He is used to leading his men into conflict for a cause which he believes is right and just, but this time he was by himself.
"He put his reputation and his financial security on the line, but he has emerged a stronger person for the experience."
Col Collins was awarded an OBE, after being cleared of alleged war crimes committed during the conflict.
He is due to leave the army in August.