Hassan judgement ‘a green light to kidnappers and murderers’, says family

The family of Margaret Hassan have reacted angrily to today's judgement by an Iraqi court, which freed two of the three men accused of being involved in the kidnapping and murder of Mrs Hassan.

The Irish-born 59-year-old care worker was killed in 2004 after having been held hostage in Iraq for more than a month.

Mustafa Salman, who had been charged with aiding and abetting the kidnappers, received a life sentence, whilst the two other accused men were freed by a court in Baghdad.

In a statement, Mrs Hassan's family said they were “devastated and appalled” at the decision of the court, reached after a brief hearing.

The statement said: “Mustapha Al-Jabouri was found guilty of “joining the group who kidnapped Margaret.

“This man was found with Margaret’s personal belongings. He had used her mobile telephone up until the eve of her death, to make demands of her husband Tahseen.

“He admitted to the Iraqi police that he had interrogated Margaret. Why was he not found guilty of murder? He is now entitled to appeal against this sentence and may be free within months.”

The remaining two defendants, they said, had showed “neither pity nor humanity”.

Deirdre, Geraldine, Kathryn and Michael Fitzsimons said: “Justice has not been done.”

They added: “They did not have the decency to return her body to her family to allow us to bury her with the dignity she deserves.”

Relatives of Mrs Hassan, a Catholic, who had dual Iraqi and British citizenship – again criticised the British authorities for their handling of her kidnap, calling it “inept”.

“Their refusal to interview the kidnappers who were arrested by US forces on May 1 2005 leaves our family to draw one conclusion: they would have to admit to incompetence in this investigation.

“We feel that Margaret has been betrayed and that truth and justice have been denied.

“We ask all men and women of honour and compassion to plead with the British and Iraqi governments to recover Margaret’s body.

“Margaret’s loss is not only to her family but also to the Iraqi people for whom she worked tirelessly and for whom she gave her life.”

“Today’s judgment gives a green light to all kidnappers and murderers in Iraq to continue their terrible deeds.

“Both the British and Iraqi governments should hang their head in shame.”