Europe looks at torture allegation - 27-04-97

 Three have those arrested have since been charged with terrorist offences and IRA membership. There is no doubt excessive force was used at the time of the arrests some of the men required hospital treatment and the arrest site was described by eye witnesses after the event as "being like a butchers yard".

 The League protested to the N. Ireland Office and in addition to the CPT also wrote to all EU Embassies, the US Embassies in London and Dublin and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture. 

British Media Hypocrisy - 21-04-97

Condemn the IRA - but look the other way when British troops administer rough justice!

 Last week the IRA once again caused widespread disruption throughout the United Kingdom. As they no doubt intended, this action created great media attention. Considerable coverage was provided to senior UK politic leaders who were effusive in their criticisms.

 Strangely, events in the north of Ireland several days earlier do not seem to have exercised the British media or British political leaders. After arrests in South Armagh on Thursday 10 April, its quite clear that those detained were subjected to appalling physical abuse.

 The British Security Forces have a well documented track record of abuse in this region of Ireland and one would have hoped, following recent criticisms by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and other International bodies, that the British media would highlight any recurrences so as to ensure the pattern of previous decades is not repeated.

 However, the British media looked the other way and are every bit as guilty as the thugs that beat the three detainees mentioned in our letter to The Sec. of State for N. Ireland. (below)

Text of Letter to Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

 Dear Sir,

 I write to express the concern of our organisation at the ill treatment suffered by three persons detained by the Security Forces in South Armagh on Thursday 10th of April.

 The three men, we are aware, have since been charged with a variety of offences although a number of persons detained with them have since been released.

 From press reports of the men's appearance in Court, and also the complaints registered on their behalf by their Solicitors, it is clear the men were subjected, either at the time of arrest or subsequently whilst in detention at Gough Barracks in Armagh, to considerable violence.

 Injuries were so serious that at least one of the three required Hospital treatment and injuries to all three seem consistent with an extremely violent beating, probably involving the use of weapons, and carried out over a considerable period.

 We would remind you that this latest series of incidents is, regrettably, completely compatible with the track record of the United Kingdom's Security Forces for a period of over twenty years in N. Ireland.

 In 1972 the Irish government complained formally to the European Commission about interrogation techniques then used. The Commission found against the United Kingdom and confirmed that those techniques contravened Article 3 of the European Convention. Periodically over the years there were sustained allegations about methods used in Police Stations and Army bases throughout N. Ireland.

 In 1991, Amnesty International issued a report bringing together these concerns and confirmed that "existing procedures and safeguards are inadequate to prevent the ill-treatment of detainees". Indeed on that occasion Amnesty issued an "urgent action" notice to its members in relation to N. Ireland Security Force behaviour, a step the organisation only takes in the most serious of instances. In October of 1991 Amnesty referred a specific case of ill-treatment at the Castlereagh interrogation centre to the UN Committee on Torture.

 In addition to Amnesty concerns, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment has expressed its concern following many substantiated complaints. In 1994 it urged improvements in procedures at one holding centre whilst one year later the UN Human Rights Committee recommended that the same centre, Castlereagh, be closed.

 The prohibition on torture, inhuman and degrading treatment set out in the Universal Declaration is also reflected in both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 7) and the European Convention on Human Rights (article 3). Uniquely these protections are regarded as so sacrosanct that whatever the internal security situation States are allowed no derogation.

 We often hear British government representatives, including yourself, on radio and TV condemning the "vicious, nasty and cowardly behaviour" of the various paramilitary groups in N. Ireland. Your criticisms may be well founded. However we would put it to you that there can be nothing more despicable nor heinous than to carry out systematic abuse of detained persons who are invariably manacled and defenceless.

 I would reiterate our concern over the treatment of these three men, Brendan Martin McGinn, Micheal Caraher and Martin Mines, and ask if you will be as fulsome in your criticisms of this "vicious, nasty and cowardly behaviour" as you are on other occasions.

 Yours faithfully,

 J. B. Moffatt
General Secretary

 20/4/97

 cc.

 European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
Department of Foreign Affairs - Ireland
EU Embassies
United States Embassy - London and Dublin

Text of Circular to EU Ambassadors

 Government of ......................

 An Open Communique to the Embassies of the European Union

 Dear Sir,

 I draw your attention to the attached communication to the British government following events on and after the 10th of April in N. Ireland.

 It is apparent that despite periodic criticism by International bodies and reputable Human Rights NGOs, the United Kingdom continues to allow abuse of those detained in the N. Ireland.

 We call upon your government to use its good offices with the British to bring an end to practices which involve physical and psychological ill-treatment of detained suspects in Ulster.

 Yours faithfully,

 J.B. Moffatt
20/4/97