Application No. 18317/91
by L.A.
against the United Kingdom
The European Commission of Human Rights sitting in private on
11 October 1993, the following members being present:
MM. C.A. NØRGAARD, President
S. TRECHSEL
E. BUSUTTIL
G. JÖRUNDSSON
A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK
J.-C. SOYER
H.G. SCHERMERS
H. DANELIUS
Mrs. G.H. THUNE
MM. F. MARTINEZ
C.L. ROZAKIS
Mrs. J. LIDDY
MM. L. LOUCAIDES
J.-C. GEUS
M.P. PELLONPÄÄ
G.B. REFFI
M.A. NOWICKI
I. CABRAL BARRETO
B. CONFORTI
N. BRATZA
Mr. H.C. KRÜGER, Secretary to the Commission
Having regard to Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection
of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;
Having regard to the application introduced on 28 May 1991 by
L.A. against the United Kingdom and registered on 7 June 1991 under
file No. 18317/91;
Having regard to:
- reports provided for in Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure of the
Commission;
- the Commission's decision of 2 December 1991 to communicate the
case to the respondent Government without requesting observations
and to adjourn it pending the outcome of Applications Nos.
14553/89 and 14554/89, Brannigan and McBride v. the United
Kingdom;
- the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in those
applications on 26 May 1993;
- information provided by the applicant's representatives on
4 August and 5 October 1993;
Having deliberated;
Decides as follows:
THE FACTS
The applicant is a British citizen born in 1965 and resident in
Maghera, Northern Ireland. He is a bricklayer by profession, but
unemployed at present.
He is represented before the Commission by Messrs. J. C. Napier
and Co, solicitors, now incorporated in the firm of Ms. P. Drinan,
solicitor, Belfast.
The facts of the present case, as submitted by the applicant, may
be summarised as follows.
The applicant was arrested under Section 14 of the Prevention of
Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 by members of the Royal
Ulster Constabulary in Maghera in the very early hours of the morning
on 2 December 1990 (exact time of arrest unspecified). He was taken
to Castlereagh Detention Centre where he was detained until 22.00 hours
on 6 December 1990. He was then released without charge. The
applicant states that he was not brought before any judicial authority
and that he was interviewed each day of his detention.
On 23 December 1988, prior to the applicant's arrest, the United
Kingdom had informed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
that they derogated from the requirements of Article 5 of the
Convention in respect of Section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism
(Temporary Provisions) Act 1984. This provision was replaced by Section
14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989,
pursuant to which the applicant was arrested and detained.
COMPLAINTS
The applicant alleged that his arrest and detention were contrary
to Article 5 paras. 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention. He claimed that he
was arrested merely for the purposes of detention and interrogation.
The applicant submitted that, contrary to Article 5 para. 4 of
the Convention, he was precluded from bringing any proceedings to
determine the lawfulness of his detention. The applicant also
contended that, contrary to Article 5 para. 5 and Article 13 of the
Convention, he had no enforceable right to compensation in respect of
the other alleged breaches of Article 5.
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION
The application was introduced on 28 May 1991 and registered on
7 June 1991. The Commission decided on 2 December 1991 to communicate
the case to the respondent Government and to adjourn it pending the
outcome of two similar applications challenging the United Kingdom's
derogation of 23 December 1988: Applications Nos. 14553/89 and
14554/89, Brannigan and McBride v. the United Kingdom (Comm. Report
3.12.91), which were subsequently referred to the European Court of
Human Rights.
The Court gave its judgment in the Brannigan and McBride cases
on 26 May 1993 (to be published in Series A no. 258-B). The applicant
was asked whether he wished to maintain his case before the Commission
and, if so, to submit comments on how his case could be distinguished
from those of Brannigan and McBride. On 4 August 1993 the applicant's
representatives replied that the application was maintained for the
time being while they tried to find facts which might distinguish their
client's case from those of Brannigan and McBride. On 5 October 1993
the applicant's representatives informed the Commission that, having
consulted their client, they had "no instructions to proceed any
further" with the case.
REASONS FOR THE DECISION
The Commission notes that the applicant complained of a denial
of his right to liberty, without redress, on his arrest and detention
under Section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions)
Act 1989. Article 5 of the Convention guarantees the right to liberty,
but the Court has held that detention of the duration experienced by
the applicant is compatible with Article 5 of the Convention, given the
valid derogation made by the United Kingdom on 23 December 1988. In
view of the derogation, it also held that compensation under Article
5 para. 5 of the Convention was not called for, and that detainees in
these circumstances had a remedy at their disposal in the form of an
application for habeas corpus which satisfied the requirements of
Article 5 para. 4 of the Convention in particular, and Article 13 in
general (Eur. Court H.R., Brannigan and McBride judgment of 26 May
1993, to be published in Series A no. 258-B). The Commission also
notes that in view of this case-law the applicant does not propose to
proceed with the application any further.
In these circumstances, the Commission finds that the applicant
does not intend to pursue the petition, within the meaning of Article
30 para. 1 (a) of the Convention, and that there are no reasons of a
general character concerning respect for Human Rights, within the
meaning of the last sentence of Article 30 para. 1, which require the
retention of the application.
For these reasons, the Commission, by a majority,
DECIDES TO STRIKE THE APPLICATION OFF ITS LIST OF CASES.
Secretary to the Commission President of the Commission
(H.C. KRÜGER) (C.A. NØRGAARD)
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy