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22/11/2019
'Hooded Men' Investigation To Proceed
The Belfast Court of Appeal has rejected a PSNI application to appeal the 'Hooded Men' case to the UK Supreme Court.
The decision, following a Court of Appeal ruling in September, means an investigation into the men's torture will proceed.
The Chief Constable had planned to challenge the dismissal of their appeal against a ruling that detectives should revisit an earlier decision to end the inquiry into allegations of torture in custody in 1971 by a group of former internees known as the 'Hooded Men'.
The case of the fourteen men has been supported by Amnesty International.
One of the Hooded Men, Francis McGuigan, said: "This has been a long road and we've had to fight our way down every inch of it - but this is a good day.
"We now look forward to a full investigation into what happened to us. The ministers, members of the MOD and RUC officers responsible for authorising and carrying out our torture need to be held accountable."
Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland's Campaign Manager for Amnesty welcomed the Court of Appeal's decision.
"This is a great day for the Hooded Men," Ms Teggart said.
"After nearly five decades of fighting for justice, these men can now expect an independent, human rights-compliant investigation into their torture to finally get underway.
"Justice must be delivered. These men deserve answers. Those who sanctioned and carried out their torture must be held accountable, including where possible, with prosecutions."
In September, the Belfast Court of Appeal ruled that an investigation into criminal acts committed during the interrogation of the Hooded Men in Northern Ireland in 1971 should proceed and that the men's treatment amounted to torture.
The High Court in Belfast has also previously ruled that there must be an investigation into the unlawful treatment of the men. Mr Justice Maguire said in his judgment that the force's decision to end its investigation into the case in 2014 was "seriously flawed" and that a "completely fresh decision process should begin". He added it was "plain that the methods used were unlawful".
(JG/CM)
The decision, following a Court of Appeal ruling in September, means an investigation into the men's torture will proceed.
The Chief Constable had planned to challenge the dismissal of their appeal against a ruling that detectives should revisit an earlier decision to end the inquiry into allegations of torture in custody in 1971 by a group of former internees known as the 'Hooded Men'.
The case of the fourteen men has been supported by Amnesty International.
One of the Hooded Men, Francis McGuigan, said: "This has been a long road and we've had to fight our way down every inch of it - but this is a good day.
"We now look forward to a full investigation into what happened to us. The ministers, members of the MOD and RUC officers responsible for authorising and carrying out our torture need to be held accountable."
Grainne Teggart, Northern Ireland's Campaign Manager for Amnesty welcomed the Court of Appeal's decision.
"This is a great day for the Hooded Men," Ms Teggart said.
"After nearly five decades of fighting for justice, these men can now expect an independent, human rights-compliant investigation into their torture to finally get underway.
"Justice must be delivered. These men deserve answers. Those who sanctioned and carried out their torture must be held accountable, including where possible, with prosecutions."
In September, the Belfast Court of Appeal ruled that an investigation into criminal acts committed during the interrogation of the Hooded Men in Northern Ireland in 1971 should proceed and that the men's treatment amounted to torture.
The High Court in Belfast has also previously ruled that there must be an investigation into the unlawful treatment of the men. Mr Justice Maguire said in his judgment that the force's decision to end its investigation into the case in 2014 was "seriously flawed" and that a "completely fresh decision process should begin". He added it was "plain that the methods used were unlawful".
(JG/CM)
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