Report by UN Special Rapporteur regarding Northern Ireland at United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
Department of Foreign Affairs Press Release
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Report by UN Special Rapporteur regarding Northern Ireland
at United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. David Andrews T.D., commented on the publication today of a report by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers on the situation in Northern Ireland at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
The Minister said that the work of the Special Rapporteurs is important in focussing international concern on human rights issues and issues of due legal process wherever they occur.
The Minister said that this is an important and substantive report which deserves full and careful examination. He said that his officials would closely study its contents.
Minister Andrews commented that the Government would be raising all the issues in question with the British Government, and in particular the case for a full re-examination of the circumstances of the killing of lawyer, Pat Finucane.
The report takes up a number of issues which have already been the subject of sustained contacts with the British Government within the framework of the Anglo-Irish Agreement. These include deep concern about the circumstances of the killing of Pat Finucane and about allegations of intimidation and harassment of defence lawyers. The report also addresses other aspects of the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland, including emergency legislation, procedures in detention centres and the Courts.
In conclusion, the Minister reiterated the critical importance that all sections of the community in Northern Ireland have full confidence in the fairness and impartiality of the security forces and in the administration of justice.
