No justice for the Red Caps

It is also an insult to the memory of these six brave young men – and their families, who have suffered injustice after injustice since a baying mob of 400 men attacked their loved ones seven long years ago.

The devastated family of L/Cpl Hyde have been betrayed on three fronts.

First, their son – and his comrades – should never have found themselves in such an inflammatory position without adequate rounds of ammunition to defend themselves, or satellite telephones so they could call their commanders for help. It shows how equipment shortcomings have compromised the safety of UK soldiers in both Iraq and Afghanistan. It also spurred Reg Keys, whose son Tom was killed alongside L/Cpl Hyde, to stand against Tony Blair in the 2005 General Election.

Second, the Ministry of Defence is culpable for not keeping the families properly abreast of developments, in particular failing to honour its pledge to be able to follow the proceedings on a television link or by other means. This has intensified the sense of betrayal.

And, finally, the Iraqi authorities are guilty of failing to treat this appalling case with the utmost seriousness and proving to the world that their country has reformed following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Of course, it would be misplaced to expect the UK's legal system to be replicated in Iraq. Yet this does not excuse the decision of the courts to drop charges and, effectively, close the case without justice being achieved.

For, unlike those soldiers who were in armed combat, the Red Caps were liberators – they were actually training Iraqis to be police officers when they were killed. They were on the side of the Iraqi people. And, given both the delays in bringing the case to the courts, and yesterday's unsatisfactory decision, the very abrupt nature of proceedings risks sending out the message that lawlessness will be tolerated in Iraq. This must not be allowed to happen. For, if mob rule is seen to prevail, and even return, the UK and US-led invasion of 2003 will have been totally in vain.