FOURTH SECTION
DECISION
Application no. 42782/21
Telmo GOMES DA COSTA against Portugal
and 19 other applications
(see appended table)
The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section), sitting on 6 February 2025 as a Committee composed of:
Anne Louise Bormann, President,
Sebastian Răduleţu,
András Jakab, judges,
and Viktoriya Maradudina, Acting Deputy Section Registrar,
Having regard to the above applications lodged on the various dates indicated in the appended table,
Having regard to the observations submitted by the respondent Government and the observations in reply submitted by the applicants,
Having deliberated, decides as follows:
FACTS AND PROCEDURE
The list of applicants is set out in the appended table.
The applicant’s complaints under Article 3 of the Convention concerning the inadequate conditions of detention were communicated to the Portuguese Government (“the Government”). In some of the applications, complaints based on the same facts were also communicated under other provisions of the Convention.
THE LAW
Joinder of the applicationsHaving regard to the similar subject matter of the applications, the Court finds it appropriate to examine them jointly in a single decision.
Complaints under Article 3 of the Convention (inadequate conditions of detention)In the present applications, having examined all the material before it, the Court considers that for the reasons stated below, the complaints about the conditions of detention are inadmissible.
Conditions of detention concerning the last period of detentionThe applicants were detained in different prison facilities. During their last, most recent and/or entire period of their detention (for further details see appended table) the applicants were detained at Carregueira Prison (application no. 42782/2); Coimbra Prison (applications nos. 25231/22, 40615/22, 40624/22 and 44226/22); Sintra Prison (applications nos. 25578/22, 25580/22, 25585/22 and 46615/22); Pinheiro da Cruz Prison (applications nos. 31799/22 and 4357/22); Caxias Prison (applications nos. 38237/22, 41897/22 and 25583/22); Alcoentre Prison (application no. 38244/22); Izeda Prison (applications nos. 47611/22 and 47638/22); Vale de Judeus Prison (application no. 49466/22) and Elvas Prison (applications nos. 49655/22 and 49681/22).
Having regard to all the available material and the parties’ arguments, the Court finds that it cannot establish that the applicants suffered in these prison facilities from severe overcrowding of the kind that could entail, on its own, a violation of Article 3 (see Muršić v. Croatia [GC], no. 7334/13, 20 October 2016) nor can it be found that the cumulative effect of the other aspects of the detention which the applicants complained about reached the threshold of severity required to characterise the treatment as inhuman or degrading within the meaning of Article 3 (see Bokor v. Portugal, (dec.) no.5227/18, § 34, 10 December 2020).
It follows that the complaints concerning these periods of detention in the facilities indicated above (for further details see the appended table) are manifestly ill-founded and must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 a) and 4 of the Convention.
Conditions of detention before the last prison transfer or placement in adequate conditions of detentionConcerning additional complaints under Article 3 raised by some of the applicants in respect of other periods of their detention, in light of the conclusion above, the Court finds that the applicants’ transfer to a prison or cell with adequate conditions of detention interrupted the “continuing situation” of their conditions of detention. Therefore, the complaints concerning the conditions of detention prior to their last prison transfer are belated (see Ananyev and Others v. Russia, nos. 42525/07 and 60800/08, §§ 75-78, 10 January 2012). Accordingly, these complaints must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 1 and 4 of the Convention.
Remaining complaintsConcerning applications nos. 42782/22, 31799/22, 38237/22, 38244/22, 41897/22, 44226/22, 47611/22, 47638/22, 49655/22, 49681/22, relying on Article 13 of the Convention, the applicants complained of the lack of an effective remedy in respect of their conditions of detention. The Court notes that, according to its established case-law, Article 13 of the Convention applied only where an individual has an “arguable claim” to be victim of a violation of a Convention right (see Boyle and Rice v. the United Kingdom, 27 April 1988, § 52, Series A no. 131; and Narcisio v. Netherlands (dec.), no. 47810/99, 27 January 2005). Having regard to the findings above as to the applicants’ complaints under Article 3 of the Convention about their conditions of detention, the Court concludes that they are not “arguable” and that therefore Article 13 is not applicable.
It follows that this part of the applications must be rejected in accordance with Article 35 §§ 3 (a) and 4 of the Convention.
For these reasons, the Court, unanimously,
Decides to join the applications;
Declares the applications inadmissible.
Done in English and notified in writing on 6 March 2025.
Viktoriya Maradudina Anne Louise Bormann
Acting Deputy Registrar President
APPENDIX
List of applications raising complaints under Article 3 of the Convention
(inadequate conditions of detention)
No.
Application no.
Date of introduction
Applicant’s name
Year of birth
Representative’s name and location
Facility
Start and end date
Duration
Sq. m per inmate
Specific grievances
42782/21
02/08/2021
Telmo GOMES DA COSTA
1973
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Lisbon Judicial Prison
16/06/2016 to
02/09/2016
2 months and 18 days
Caxias Prison
02/09/2016 to
28/07/2017
10 months and 27 days
Carregueira Prison
28/07/2017 to
10/08/2021
4 years and 14 days
2 inmates
3.15 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
1 toilet
5 inmates
5.32 m²
1 toilet
mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, overcrowding, lack of requisite medical assistance
overcrowding
lack of toiletries, lack of or insufficient electric light
25231/22
12/05/2022
Luís Miguel CORREIA DE MELO
1986
Mendes Martins Rodrigo
Lisbon
Coimbra Prison
19/11/2019 to
05/12/2019
17 days
Coimbra Prison
05/12/2019 to
24/07/2021
1 year and 7 months and 20 days
Coimbra Prison
24/07/2021 to
16/02/2022
6 months and 24 days
Coimbra Prison
16/02/2022 to
22/09/2023
1 year and 7 months and 7 days
5 inmates
4.32 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
6.19 m²
1 toilet
5 inmate
8.35 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
6.19 m²
1 toilet
sharing cells with inmates infected with contagious disease
idem
idem
idem
25578/22
18/05/2022
Oleg POMPENKO
1959
Gaspar Schwalbach José
Lisbon
Lisbon Judicial Prison
31/01/2019 to
08/01/2020
11 months and 9 days
Caxias Prison
08/01/2020 to
11/05/2021
1 year and 4 months and 4 days
Sintra Prison
11/05/2021 to
06/09/2022
1 year and 3 months and 27 days
2 inmates
3.20 m²
1 toilet
3 inmates
3.66 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
5.18 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food
idem
-
25580/22
18/05/2022
Denys KRAVCHENKO
1978
Gaspar Schwalbach José
Lisbon
Lisbon Judicial Prison
31/01/2019 to
15/02/2019
16 days
Caxias Prison
15/02/2019 to
16/11/2021
2 years and 9 months and 2 days
Sintra Prison
16/11/2021 to
30/08/2022
9 months and 15 days
2 inmates
3.2 m²
1 toilet
4 inmates
4 m²
1 toilet
3 inmates
4.2 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food
idem
-
25583/22
18/05/2022
Ruslan SUTA
1982
Gaspar Schwalbach José
Lisbon
Lisbon Central Prison
31/01/2019 to
20/02/2019
21 days
Caxias Prison
20/02/2019 to
03/02/2021
1 year and 11 months and 15 days
Caxias Prison
03/02/2021 to
11/05/2022
1 year and 3 months and 9 days
Caxias Prison
11/05/2022 to
31/01/2023
8 months and 21 days
2 inmates
3.15 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
5.5 m²
1 toilet
10 inmates
4.10 m²
1 toilet
4 inmates
4 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food
-
-
-
25585/22
18/05/2022
Dmytro OVSIANNIKOV
1986
Gaspar Schwalbach José
Lisbon
Lisbon Judicial Prison
31/01/2019 to
20/02/2019
21 days
Caxias Prison
20/02/2019 to
16/11/2021
2 years and 8 months and 28 days
Sintra Prison
16/11/2021 to
23/08/2022
9 months and 8 days
2 inmates
3.2 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
11 m²
1 toilet
3 inmates
4.2 m²
1 toilet
inadequate temperature, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, poor quality of food, overcrowding
-
-
31799/22
01/08/2022
Luis Filipe FIGUEIREDO SOBREIRA
1966
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Lisbon Central Prison
15/12/2012 to
12/04/2018
5 years and 3 months and 29 days
Pinheiro da Cruz Prison
12/04/2018 to
07/01/2020
1 year and 8 months and 27 days
Pinheiro da Cruz Prison
07/01/2020 to
18/10/2023
3 years and 9 months and 12 days
Pinheiro da Cruz Prison
18/10/2023
pending
More than 4 months and 12 days
2 inmates
3.72 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
5.55 m²
1 toilet
3 inmates
5.47 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
10.48 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, lack of fresh air, inadequate temperature, poor quality of food, mouldy or dirty cell, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance, lack of privacy for toilet
-
-
-
38237/22
01/08/2022
Pedro Miguel ANDRADE ARAÚJO
1985
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Caxias Prison
23/04/2019 to
28/11/2022
3 years and 7 months and 6 days
10 inmates
>3.37 m²
1 toilet
poor quality of food
38244/22
01/08/2022
Ezequiel António DA SILVA CANDEIAS
1982
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Alcoentre Prison
30/07/2021 to
09/02/2022
6 months and 11 days
Alcoentre Prison
09/02/2022 to
04/05/2022
2 months and 26 days
Alcoentre Prison
04/05/2022 to
12/12/2022
7 months and 9 days
Alcoentre Prison
12/12/2022
pending
More than 5 months and 27 days
2 inmates
4 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
5.20 m²
1 toilet
5 inmates
3.90 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
5.20 m²
1 toilet
poor quality of food, lack of fresh air
idem
idem
idem
40615/22
12/08/2022
Danilo MONTEIRO CARDOSO
1980
Mendes Martins Rodrigo
Lisbon
Aveiro Prison
12/06/2015 to
18/04/2016
10 months and 7 days
Coimbra Prison
18/04/2016 to
03/05/2017
1 year and 16 days
Coimbra Prison
03/05/2017 to
22/12/2021
4 years and 7 months and 20 days
Coimbra Prison
22/12/2021 to
28/12/2022
1 year and 7 days
Coimbra Prison
28/12/2022 to
08/04/2023
3 months and 12 days
6 inmates
3.72 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
6.20 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
3.10 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
6.20 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
8.37 m²
1 toilet
bunk beds, inadequate temperature, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of fresh air, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, lack of privacy for toilet, mouldy or dirty cell, no or restricted access to potable water, overcrowding, passive smoking, poor quality of food, lack of requisite medical assistance, no or restricted access to shower
-
No privacy for toilet
-
-
40624/22
12/08/2022
João Filipe CARDOSO PINTO DAMAS
1989
Mendes Martins Rodrigo
Lisbon
Coimbra Prison
16/09/2020 to
30/06/2023
2 years and 9 months and 15 days
Coimbra Prison
30/06/2023 to
17/11/2023
4 months and 19 days
2 inmates
3.10 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
6.20 m²
1 toilet
poor quality of food
-
41897/22
22/08/2022
Rodrigo DE MOURA PEREIRA DO VALLE BRAK-LAMY
1985
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Caxias Prison
01/03/2019 to
04/01/2021
1 year and 10 months and 4 days
Caxias Prison
04/01/2021 to
27/12/2021
11 months and 24 days
Caxias Prison
27/12/2021 to
23/02/2023
1 year and 1 month and 28 days
2 inmates
5.5 m²
1 toilet
10 inmates
4.10 m²
1 toilet
7 inmates
4.34 m²
1 toilet
lack of toiletries, absence of an alarm system in the cell
idem
idem
43574/22
06/09/2022
Slavko VESELINOVIĆ
1968
Horta Prison
29/05/2015 to
28/07/2015
2 months
Angra do Heroismo Prison
28/07/2015 to
14/09/2021
6 years and 1 month and 18 days
Pinheiro da Cruz Prison
14/09/2021 to
28/11/2022
1 year and 2 months and 15 days
3 inmates
1.66 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
1 toilet
2 inmates
3 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, lack of or insufficient electric light, humidity, mouldy or dirty cell, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of requisite medical assistance
overcrowding, lack of privacy for toilet, no separation between shower and cell, poorly insulated windows, humidity, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air, lack of or restricted access to leisure or educational activities, poor quality of food
-
44226/22
06/09/2022
Manuel António MONTEFERREIRO FIDALGO
1974
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Braga Prison
08/03/2019 to
20/07/2020
1 year and 4 months and 13 days
Coimbra Prison
20/07/2020 to
16/09/2020
1 month and 28 days
Coimbra Prison
16/09/2020
pending
More than 3 years and 2 months and 22 days
2 inmates
4.55 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
15 m²
1 toilet
2 inmates
3.10 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, mouldy or dirty cell, passive smoking, lack of privacy for toilet, inadequate temperature, poor quality of food
-
-
46615/22
26/09/2022
Malik Shabaz SPENCER
1991
Gaspar Schwalbach José
Lisbon
Lisbon Central Prison
10/01/2020 to
25/05/2022
2 years and 7 months and 8 days
Sintra Prison
25/05/2022 to
01/03/2023
9 months and 5 days
2 inmates
2.5 m²
1 toilet
3 inmates
4.20 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, lack of privacy for toilet, lack of fresh air, no or restricted access to warm water, humidity, mouldy or dirty cell, lack or inadequate furniture, infestation of cell with insects/rodents
-
47611/22
03/10/2022
Agustin RODRIGUEZ RODRIGUES
1996
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Porto Prison
11/04/2018 to
06/11/2019
1 year and 6 months and 27 days
Izeda Prison
06/11/2019 to
03/03/2023
3 years and 3 months and 26 days
2 inmates
3 m²
1 toilet
6 inmates
3.05 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, lack of fresh air
-
47638/22
03/10/2022
Sérgio Paulo DOS SANTOS BORGES
1977
Izeda Prison
26/01/2022
pending
More than 1 year and 9 months and 8 days
6 inmates
3.16 m²
1 toilet
-
49466/22
13/10/2022
Fábio Filipe SANTANA NUNES
1987
Mendes Martins Rodrigo
Lisbon
Vale de Judeus Prison
29/03/2022 to
18/09/2023
1 year and 5 months and 21 days
1 inmate
5.7 m²
1 toilet
-
49655/22
17/10/2022
Fábio David DA SILVA AGOSTINHO
1988
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Beja Prison
11/03/2017 to
01/04/2021
4 years and 24 days
Pinheiro da Cruz Prison
01/04/2021 to
01/09/2022
1 year and 5 months and 1 day
Elvas Prison
01/09/2022 to
09/03/2023
6 months and 9 days
7 inmates
3 m²
1 toilet
1 inmate
6 m²
1 toilet
4 inmates
3.87 m²
1 toilet
overcrowding, poor quality of food, lack of or insufficient quantity of food, lack of requisite medical assistance, inadequate temperature, humidity, lack of privacy for toilet, infestation of cell with insects/rodents, lack of or poor quality of bedding and bed linen, lack of or insufficient physical exercise in fresh air
49681/22
17/10/2022
Soulimane BERDADI
1968
Carreto Vítor
Torres Vedras
Elvas Prison
08/08/2022 to
30/09/2022
1 month and 23 days
5 inmates
3.10 m²
1 toilet
-