The men were tortured here at Shackleton Barracks
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL has called on the Irish Government to challenge the European courts over men taken to Ballykelly and tortured in the early 1970s.
Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland, was challenging an article in a Dublin newspaper which questioned whether or not a new case would help heal the past.
“We are convinced the answer is yes,” said Mr O’Gorman.
“In our recent research on dealing with the past in the North, Amnesty canvassed the views of victims of abuses during the three decades of political violence. They came from both ‘sides’ of the conflict. Almost all felt that 16 years after the Good Friday Agreement, they still have not had their rights to truth and justice vindicated. This, they felt – and we agree – is a serious block to the ongoing search for peace and reconciliation in the North.
“Therefore, 43 years after Jack Lynch’s government took the courageous step of bringing the UK to the European Court, we are appealing to the current one to follow this through. It must not shirk its moral duty by suggesting it would be to the benefit of lasting peace to let this case drop.
“The North is haunted by the past because it has not been dealt with honestly. Amnesty’s research in countries emerging from conflict around the world has shown that it is those societies which have fully faced up to past abuses which are most able to move into the future with confidence. There can be no stable and lasting peace without truth and justice.
“Trying to resolve the past around conference room tables without addressing the past traumas still blighting lives cannot work. The harm people suffered needs to be acknowledged if they are to rebuild their lives and their communities.
“The article concludes by observing that “truth, like peace, can come with a heavy price tag”. We strongly believe that not achieving truth and justice in this case will carry a much heavier price. The clock is running down and we seriously hope the Government makes the right call – not only for those 14 brutalised ‘hooded men’ but for generations to come.”
The controversy re-erupted thanks to an RTE investigation which proved the men had been tortured. Europe didn’t go that far in its 1970s ruling.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny has so far refused to take the case on again.
The Derry men who were tortured are back in court in Dublin later today.
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