THE FAMILIES of soldiers killed during the Iraq war are planning to use the results of the Chilcot inquiry to sue Tony Blair, former minister and generals for failing in their public duties.
An Iraq families action group, set up to seek justice for the 179 soldiers killed in the eight-year war, is looking to take legal action against former officials for unlimited damages that could run into millions of pounds.
Families had already threatened legal action over Sir John Chilcot's 2.6 million-word Iraq war inquiry report if it was not published by the end of last year. It is due to be published on July 6.
The group say one of hte key issues is over the legality of the war and also the alleged failure to provide effective equipment to the troops.
It is believed the families are most likely to accuse ministers and officials of misfeance in public office or breaching their duty of care.
Misfeance of public office is a charge dating back to 1703 which means the misuse or abuse of power while in public office.
Rose Gentle of Glasgow, whose whose Royal Highland Fusilier son, Gordon, was killed in Iraq in 2004 confirmed there had been talks about what to do after the report was published.
"We are going to have to take legal advice to see what we could do once the report is out," she said.
"We can't do anything till we see the report itself."
The former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has already said he wants Tony Blair to face international criminal proceedings over Britain's involvement in the Iraq War - if the Chilcot inquiry finds the former British Prime Minister made a secret commitment to US president George Bush to support the invasion.
Ms Gentle said: "If it is proved there was a lot of lying then he should be held to account for what has happened."
Salmond - who led SNP MPs in voting against war in Iraq in the House of Commons in 2003 – said he believes the Chilcot Report will reveal that Blair committed Britain to joining the US-led military action in private conversations with Bush, possibly during a 2002 visit to the then president's ranch in Crawford, Texas.
Salmond believes that any prosecution of Blair should be carried out by the International Criminal Court - the tribunal that has jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and 'crimes of aggression'.
It is understood that the inquiry report will not take a view on the legality of the acts of individuals or events, including whether the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was legal.
But those examining the report will be looking for it to provide evidence that might lead a court to make a a judgement on legality.
Mr Blair has hinted he could dispute the report's findings.
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