[bluebear]

Newsletter
2 Sep 2003
http://www.icnorthernireland.co.uk

Royal Irish Hero cleared of mistreating POW`s

A SENIOR British Army officer was yesterday cleared of mistreating prisoners of war in Iraq.

No criminal proceedings will be brought against Colonel Tim Collins, the former commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, the Ministry of Defence said.

Col Collins, who has always strenuously denied the claims, shot to fame on the eve of fighting in Iraq when he gave a rousing speech to his Royal Irish Regiment troops.

Confirming that he had been cleared, a spokeswoman said: "I can confirm that the investigation into allegations against Colonel Collins has now concluded and that no criminal proceedings will be taken against him."

A statement issued by Col Collins' solicitor, Lewis Cherry, following the formal confirmation to his client of the conclusion of the investigation, said the officer would put the inquiry "behind him" and get on with his life as a soldier.

Mr Cherry said: "His pre-war speech said *You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest, for your deeds will follow you down through history. We will bring shame on neither our uniform or our nation'.

"His actions in battle have been examined by a detailed investigation.

"This must be the first time in history a battlefield commander has faced such immediate public scrutiny.

"Iraq was, and remains, a dangerous place for the British Army.

"Col Collins brought his battle group home safely from the war.

"This investigation is at an end, he can put it behind him.

"This is a matter between him and the Army."

The investigation, ordered by the Ministry of Defence, centred on claims made by a US military officer, Major Re Biastre of 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, Buffalo, New York, who alleged abuse of captured Iraqis.

The reports said that Maj Biastre's complaint followed a period of tense Anglo-American relations.

Maj Biastre was involved in a clash with Col Collins after he handed out sweets to Iraqi children in defiance of orders, it was said.

Col Collins feared that Maj Biastre's actions would cause chaos and endanger the children.

Reports also said there was an anti-American atmosphere among senior British servicemen.

Col Collins, who was lieutenant-colonel with the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment, has since been promoted.

A second separate inquiry into the culture and the environment of the 1st Battalion, the Royal Irish Regiment, at the time of the suicide of 18-year-old soldier Paul Cochrane in 2001, when Col Collins was in command, has not yet concluded, the MoD said.

Colonel Rory Clayton, a former colleague of Col Collins told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "Tim Collins is a very tough leader, he did drive a very tough regiment of soldiers and he was in a very tough theatre of operations.

"Robust leadership is what is required in those situations. It is very easy for someone who observes that style of leadership in certain circumstances to say 'I would have done it differently'.

"But of course the differentry is never, ever going to be put to the test so I'm glad that Tim has been cleared."


Career soldier nicknamed Nails for his determination


TIM Collins's rousing speech to his men on the eve of battle in Iraq won him headlines around the world.

Such was the impact of his inspirational address to the men of the 1 st Battalion of the

Royal Irish Regiment that he received a written commendation from Prince Charles and a request for a

copy of the speech from US President George W Bush.

The Prince said Col Collins had displayed "the highest traditions of military leadership".

President Bush is understood to have had the address framed and given pride of place on the walls of the Oval Office.

Colonel Collins told his men: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."

Poignantly, he warned the 600 soldiers poised on the Iraqi border that some of them may not return to their families.

He urged his troops to wrap fallen comrades in sleeping bags, fight on and grieve for them after the battle.

With rugged film star looks, a liking for designer sunglasses and often with a large cigar clamped between

his teeth, the Northern Ireland-born officer was regularly the target of newspaper photographers during the war.

Military colleagues said Colonel Collins, a 43-year-old career soldier with 22 years' experience, was being

groomed for the highest ranks of the Army.

A former paratrooper described him as a very professional soldier who was highly regarded by everyone who served with him.

To his men he is known as "Nails", a tribute to his steely determination.

Born in Belfast in 1960, Col Collins was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution which he left with

three A-Levels.

He was always destined to join the army and his mother said that as a young boy growing up in Belfast, he once

told her: "I'm going to be a great soldier."

The 72-year-old told a Sunday newspaper in the days before the war in Iraq: "When he came home from

school, he'd get out of his school clothes and put on his camouflage suit.

"There was a field of army huts nearby and soldiers there and that's where Timothy would play.

"He recruited all the young boys in the neighbourhood into his army and he was the commanding officer."

Classmate Jack Moffatt said the future Royal Irish commander had always wanted to be a soldier and

had been a crack shot in rifle competitions.

"He was very keen on the Combined Cadet Force. He was never terribly sporty, but certainly at school his ambition

was to join the Army.

"He was a fairly regular, decent bloke, a good lad but obviously focused on what he wanted to do."

After graduating from Queen's University in Belfast with a degree in social sciences, he went to the Royal

Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Signals, transferring to the Royal Irish Rangers in

1982.

He served in Germany, Cyprus, the Falklands, Gibraltar and had two tours of duty on home soil in south

Armagh and east Tyrone.

He was appointed commanding officer of the 1 st Battalion Royal Irish over two years ago. He left the regiment

following promotion to full Colonel after the war in Iraq and is awaiting a new posting.

Throughout his career he has stretched himself both physically and intellectually, combining gruelling physical training courses with further education.

In 1994 he graduated with a Master of Arts after attending the Army Command and Staff College at Camberley.

A married man with five children, his spare time is spent shooting, fly fishing and playing golf near his home in Canterbury.