LETTERS: Human rights, British politicians and the European Court

From Mr Simon Creighton

Sir: The High Court ruling that Michael Howard acted unlawfully in setting the parole review of five IRA prisoners will come as no surprise to prisoners or their lawyers. Earlier this year the European Commission on Human Rights had already decided that a similar complaint by another discretionary lifer over delays of more than a year in his first parole hearing was admissible for consideration.

This judgment must be seen in the context of the Government's refusal to accept the European Court ruling on the Gibraltar killings. The European Court forced the Government to adopt its present procedures for the release of discretionary lifers some years ago, and the half-hearted manner in which this has been done highlights the reluctance to comply with these judgments. It is particularly worrying that the present government seems to find the provision of basic human rights either undesirable or unaffordable.

Mr Howard has found his policies and decisions declared unlawful on an unprecedented number of occasions. The irony of prisoners having to seek the protection of the courts from the unlawful actions of the Home Secretary is overshadowed by the serious abuses of basic rights that are revealed in such cases.

Yours faithfully,

Simon Creighton

Prisoners' Advice Service

London, NW1

29 September