Darnell v. the United Kingdom

Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.

October 1993

Darnell v. the United Kingdom - 15058/89

Judgment 26.10.1993

Article 6

Civil proceedings

Article 6-1

Reasonable time

Length of civil proceedings: violation

[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]

I.ARTICLE 6 § 1 OF THE CONVENTION

Government conceded that there had been a violation - in the Court's view even if the period started to run only from the date of the initial application to the Industrial Tribunal, the lapse of nine years until the Employment Appeal Tribunal gave judgment cannot be regarded as "reasonable".

Conclusion: violation (unanimously).

II.ARTICLE 50 OF THE CONVENTION

A.Non-pecuniary damage: although a public apology had been made by the Government further just satisfaction was required.

B.Costs and expenses: reimbursed in full less amount paid by way of legal aid.

Conclusion: respondent State to pay specified sum to applicant (unanimously).

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights
This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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