U.K. AND ULSTER Commission to hear charges

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33037, 3 October 1972, Page 15

U.K. AND ULSTER Commission to hear charges

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright)

STRASBOURG, October 2.

The European Human Rights Commission is expected to spend many weeks considering charges by Ireland that Britain used torture, degrading punishment and discrimination in Northern Ireland.

The commission of 12 which decided on Saturday to consider the charges will establish the facts of the case and try to reach a settlement between the British and Irish Governments.

The commissioners will draw up conclusions for the council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers, saying if there has been a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Both sides are expected to submit written observations on the charges, and the Commission may decide to send one or more observers on fact-finding missions. If no compromise between the two countries is reached.

In the past condemnation of a guilty party has led to a fine. A communique issued by the commission made clear its decision related only to the admissibility of certain charges for consideration, with no judgment being made now on whether there were violations of the Human Rights Convention. Bombings, gun battles, and murder have been almost daily features of life in the British province for more than three years because of sectarian strife. In London the British Foreign Office declined to make any immediate comment on the commission’s decision.

The Strasbourg-based Commission was set up in 1954 to investigate alleged breaches of the European Convention on Human Rights.