Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the European Court of Human Rights rejected the Government's case that 14 internees, the so-called "hooded men", were tortured by the British army and the RUC in the early 1970s. If we are to be fair and if we are to be advocates for human rights, be it in Guantanamo Bay or anywhere, we must be consistent that human rights are fundamental to everybody and justice must prevail and that due course of action must prevail. What was alleged to have happened to those men was nothing short of a disgrace. I want to support the Government. I particularly support the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, in the stand he has taken. I would appeal to the Minister to meet the victims and their legal representatives within days because what happened was wrong and cannot be countenanced regardless of the political sensitivities. In 2014, the Government agreed to have this case re-examined by the European Court of Human Rights but the court yesterday rejected those claims. Speaking for myself, I abhor and hate violence on any side. I advocate justice for all, regardless of their background, tradition, creed or political affiliation. Our thoughts must be with the men who suffered these appalling violations against them as human beings. I simply call for the Minister to meet these men and their legal representatives soon and for the Government to give serious consideration to appealing this decision to the Grand Chamber of the court. This is about human rights. It is about taking a stand, regardless of how long ago it happened, against the methods of torture of people in Northern Ireland. Torture, no matter where and by whom, must stop. I am conscious, as I stated earlier, of Guantanamo Bay, but all over the world, we as parliamentarians must take a stand and defend human rights and justice. I acknowledge the work the Government, and Deputy Coveney, as Minister, has done and I ask that we in this House are kept informed as to progress.