RUC again accused of torture
The Crown is accused once again of brutality against political
suspects, particularly in the Royal Ulster Constabulary
interrogation centre in Castlereagh, by Amnesty International.
The organisation's report was presented to the British government
on 26 May and asked for a public inquiry into RUC interrogation
methods.
Amnesty International also decided from its investigations
reports that there was a prima facie case of the use of brutality
against members of the Garda Siochana and urged a public sworn
inquiry, only to be brushed aside by Leinster House Justice
Minister Collins who, in opposition, had demanded such an
inquiry.
It may be significant that Amnesty follows the pattern set by
Strasbourg, which found the Crown guilty of every brutality but
torture. Amnesty avoids calling a spade a spade; torture, a la
Strasbourg model, is reduced to ``brutality'' or ``physical and
mental abuse'' or just ``ill treatment''. It does sound more
civilised, as befitting a Crown.
According to Amnesty its investigators - two doctors, a lawyer
and a researcher - there was institutional brutality during
interrogation in all 78 cases investigated.
The report also found evidence of assault of prisoners in
custody; lack of access of suspects to lawyers; degradation and
humiliation of suspects; and unsatisfactory methods of having RUC
officers investigated.
Phoblacht 10 June 1978
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