Colonel Tim Collins, known for his rousing speech to British troops on the eve of war in Iraq, today won substantial libel damages and costs against two national newspapers.

The Northern Ireland army officer won his case against the Sunday Express and Sunday Mirror at the High Court in Belfast this morning. The level of damages was not disclosed.

Outside the High Court Ernie Telford, his lawyer, declared: "This is one fight he had to win. He has been to hell and back."

Belfast-born Colonel Collins, 43, was widely praised, including by Prince Charles, when he told his soldiers: "If you are ferocious in battle remember to be magnanimous in victory."

He was recently awarded an OBE, after being cleared of alleged war crimes.

During the case the newspapers had to withdraw allegations that the officer had been linked to war crimes including the murder of an Iraqi prisoner.

A lawyer for the Sunday Mirror admitted that allegations that nine Iraqi soldiers were shot while surrendering to Royal Irish Regiment troops and that war crimes investigators launched an inquiry into claims that shallow graves had been used to conceal war crimes were false.

In court, he said: "The information which was received by the Sunday Mirror came from a source at a time when Lieutenant Colonel Collins was being investigated by the Ministry of Defence over separate allegations, of which he has since been completely exonerated.

"The defendants are here today to apologise to Colonel Collins for the hurt and embarrassment he has been caused by the publication of this article."

The Sunday Express got it wrong as well with an article

which was carried on the same day, May 25 last year, the court heard.

The report claimed that the officer was at the centre of an investigation into an incident where one of Saddam Hussein’s henchmen was allegedly doused in petrol and accidentally set alight, and was then shot dead while the colonel stood by.

Mr Telford told the court: "The defendants now accept that all these allegations are untrue and should not have been published."

On the night before the fighting started in Iraq just over a year ago, Colonel Collins warned his 800 men that some of them might not return alive.

At one stage during an emotional 20-minute address at Fort Blair Mayne desert camp, 20 miles from the Iraqi border, he declared:

"We go to liberate not to conquer. We will not fly our flags in their country. We are entering Iraq to free a people and the only flag which will be flown in that ancient land is their own. Show respect for them."

The Northern Ireland-born officer, a father of five, is leaving the Army in August after 22 years' service. He was promoted to full Colonel last July. He has not commented on his future plans after he leaves the Army.

Mr Telford said today: "The last ten months have been particularly distressing for him, his colleagues and family. These allegations were totally unfounded and it is regrettable he had to take appropriate legal action to clear his name.

"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. It has taken its toll, however.

"It is not an experience he has enjoyed, because it meant stress and strain on his mother, wife and children. He is used to combat, they are not. But he is relieved it's over, and he now just wants to get on with his life."

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