§ Mr. Frank Maguireasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will seek a judicial review of all cases which have used statements taken at Castlereagh Royal Ulster Constabulary centre or by the Castlereagh group of detectives elsewhere.
§ Mr. MasonNo. In their response to the Amnesty International report on 8th June—[Vol. 951, c. 229–34]—the Government made clear their view that the existing law fully protects persons who are accused on the basis of their own statements. The Government are not aware of any case where the courts have taken account of a statement which the courts accepted was improperly obtained.
§ Mr. Frank Maguireasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the interrogation methods used in the Castlereagh Royal Ulster Constabulary centre are in accordance with the pledges given by the Government to the European Commission on Human Rights.
§ Mr. MasonI assume that the hon. Member has in mind the formal undertaking given to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of Her Majesty's Government in February 1977. This undertaking was that the "five techniques" would not in any circumstances be reintroduced as an aid to interrogation. The Government have not departed and will not depart from this undertaking.
Explanations were given to the court of the measures adopted by successive Governments in Northern Ireland with a view to preventing the ill-treatment of prisoners in any form. These measures remain in force.
As was announced on 8th June—[Vol. 951, c. 229–34]—in the Government response to the Amnesty International report, the Government are setting up an independent committee of inquiry to consider present police practice and procedures in Northern Ireland relating to the interrogation of persons suspected of scheduled offences.