11/03/2004
HRC 'disappointed' at Law Lords' decision on McKerr case
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission have today expressed "disappointment" that the Law Lords have "unanimously decided that standards required by the European Convention on Human Rights are not to be applied to investigations into killings occurring before October 2000".
The reaction was in response to the decision announced today by the House of Lords in a case brought by the son of Gervaise McKerr, who was shot dead by RUC officers at Tullygally Road in Lurgan on 11 November 1982.
Speaking on behalf of the Human Rights Commission, Brice Dickson, said: “We are extremely disappointed at this decision, especially as it had seemed from an earlier decision on Article 2 that the House of Lords was prepared to apply the European Convention retrospectively.
"The Commission will be examining the judgments very carefully with a view to considering what alternative mechanisms may need to be put in place to ensure that the families of victims of the troubles can get better access to information about how those deaths occurred."
In May 2001 the son won his case in the European Court of Human Rights, when it was decided unanimously that the United Kingdom authorities had not provided the kind of effective investigation into the killing of his father that was required by Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In Belfast Mr McKerr Jnr persuaded the Court of Appeal in January 2003 that there should be an Article 2 compliant investigation into his father’s death.
On appeal to the House of Lords the Crown has now successfully argued that the standards required by Article 2 are to be applied only to killings occurring after 2 October 2000, the date on which, by virtue of the Human Rights Act 1998, the European Convention became part of the law throughout the UK.
The HRC described today’s decision as a "blow to all those who want the hundreds of unsolved killings which occurred during the troubles in Northern Ireland to be thoroughly investigated".
(SP)
The reaction was in response to the decision announced today by the House of Lords in a case brought by the son of Gervaise McKerr, who was shot dead by RUC officers at Tullygally Road in Lurgan on 11 November 1982.
Speaking on behalf of the Human Rights Commission, Brice Dickson, said: “We are extremely disappointed at this decision, especially as it had seemed from an earlier decision on Article 2 that the House of Lords was prepared to apply the European Convention retrospectively.
"The Commission will be examining the judgments very carefully with a view to considering what alternative mechanisms may need to be put in place to ensure that the families of victims of the troubles can get better access to information about how those deaths occurred."
In May 2001 the son won his case in the European Court of Human Rights, when it was decided unanimously that the United Kingdom authorities had not provided the kind of effective investigation into the killing of his father that was required by Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
In Belfast Mr McKerr Jnr persuaded the Court of Appeal in January 2003 that there should be an Article 2 compliant investigation into his father’s death.
On appeal to the House of Lords the Crown has now successfully argued that the standards required by Article 2 are to be applied only to killings occurring after 2 October 2000, the date on which, by virtue of the Human Rights Act 1998, the European Convention became part of the law throughout the UK.
The HRC described today’s decision as a "blow to all those who want the hundreds of unsolved killings which occurred during the troubles in Northern Ireland to be thoroughly investigated".
(SP)
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Human rights are central to citizenship and have an important role to play in moving Northern Ireland towards an equal, just and peaceful future. That was the message from Education Minister, Angela Smith, at today's cross-border conference on Human Rights Education in Dublin.
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Human rights are central to citizenship and have an important role to play in moving Northern Ireland towards an equal, just and peaceful future. That was the message from Education Minister, Angela Smith, at today's cross-border conference on Human Rights Education in Dublin.
08 June 2005
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
Queen’s to debate future of Human Rights Commissions
The future of Human Rights Commissions in the UK and Ireland will be examined at Queen's University Belfast this week. The Human Rights Centre at the Queen's School of Law, in co-operation with the Faculty of Law, University of Bristol, will hold a half-day conference in Belfast on Friday on the role of both Commissions.
16 September 2010
NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing
As the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford (pictured here) vowed to reshape the region's justice system to fit the needs of the people of Northern Ireland, human rights commissions across the UK have backed a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
NI Bill Of Rights Wins UK Backing
As the Stormont Justice Minister David Ford (pictured here) vowed to reshape the region's justice system to fit the needs of the people of Northern Ireland, human rights commissions across the UK have backed a proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland.
29 July 2009
NI Informant Payouts Revealed
Northern Ireland police informers were paid £299,000 during the last financial year, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. The BBC, who submitted the request, learned that across the UK, police forces had handed out more than £6m for information on criminal activity while NI pay-outs ranked the third largest behind the £1.
NI Informant Payouts Revealed
Northern Ireland police informers were paid £299,000 during the last financial year, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. The BBC, who submitted the request, learned that across the UK, police forces had handed out more than £6m for information on criminal activity while NI pay-outs ranked the third largest behind the £1.
23 March 2009
Police Granted More Time Over Dissident Murder Probes
A further extension has been granted to the police investigating three dissident republican murders in Northern Ireland. The detectives have been granted a further seven days to question the suspects. A man and a woman are among those being held over the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll (pictured) in Co Armagh, as claimed by the Continuity IRA.
Police Granted More Time Over Dissident Murder Probes
A further extension has been granted to the police investigating three dissident republican murders in Northern Ireland. The detectives have been granted a further seven days to question the suspects. A man and a woman are among those being held over the murder of Constable Stephen Carroll (pictured) in Co Armagh, as claimed by the Continuity IRA.
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
