Courts / Armagh / Report
Government to appeal finding that "Hooded Men" were not tortured
Summary
The Irish Government has announced its intention to appeal the European Court of Human Rights' (ECHR) finding that 14 men in Northern Ireland were not tortured when detained by the British Army in 1971. The appeal will be directed to the ECHR's Grand Chamber, following a ruling last March. The decision comes after Mary McKenna, daughter of Sean McKenna, one of the detainees known as 'the hooded men,' initiated proceedings in the Irish High Court to compel the government to inform her of its appeal intentions. Michael Halleron, representing Ms. McKenna, stated that the referral to the Grand Chamber offers another opportunity to revise the 1978 ECHR ruling, which found the treatment of the men to be inhuman and degrading but not torture. In 1971, Mr. McKenna and 13 others were subjected to interrogation and sensory deprivation practices by the British Army. Mr. McKenna was released into a psychiatric hospital and died in 1975. Ms. McKenna believes his death was directly attributable to the treatment he suffered. The Irish Government had requested a revision of the 1978 decision in 2014 after new information was disclosed. Last March, the ECHR refused the request. The Government had until June 20th to seek a referral to the Grand Chamber. Ms. McKenna brought High Court proceedings after being informed that any decision on the appeal would be made on June 19th. Mr. Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Government to appeal finding that "Hooded Men" were not tortured. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 20th Hearing Or Sentence
- June 19th Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-06-12 Publication
Case subjects
Applicant
Outcome: Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.
Applicant
Outcome: In 1971 Mr McKenna and 13 other men were subjected to various techniques of interrogation and sensory deprivation practices by the British Army following their detention.; Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.
Applicant
Outcome: In 1971 Mr McKenna and 13 other men were subjected to various techniques of interrogation and sensory deprivation practices by the British Army following their detention.; Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.
Applicant
Outcome: Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.
Applicant
Outcome: In 1971 Mr McKenna and 13 other men were subjected to various techniques of interrogation and sensory deprivation practices by the British Army following their detention.; Mr Justice Seamus Noonan adjourned the matter to Wednesday's sitting of the court.
Places mentioned
- Irish High Court
- High Court
Topics
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