Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

RTÉ via Press Office

RTÉ documentary reveals evidence about torture methods used in Northern Ireland’s past

It proves that methods used during internment in 1971 were sanctioned by the British state.

A NEW DOCUMENTARY, The Torture Files, reveals damning new evidence from Northern Ireland’s past.

The RTÉ Investigations Unit shows how torture methods used during internment in 1971 were sanctioned by the British state.

The programme highlights the link from 1970s Northern Ireland to the use of torture by the USA and Britain in more recent times, in particular in Iraq where the so-called’ ‘five techniques’ were used.

The five techniques are:

  • hooding
  • wall-standing in stress positions for hours
  • white noise
  • sleep deprivation
  • food and water deprivation

These techniques were banned by the British Prime Minister Edward Heath in 1972 but the programme shows how the techniques were used thirty years later in 2003 by British battle groups stationed in Iraq.

It also reveals how Britain withheld key evidence from the European Commission on Human Rights and European Court of Human Rights about the effects of the torture on 14 Northern Irish men.

Hooded Men

Relying on the official record of several government departments from the British National Archives, the report reveals for the first time significant evidence relating to the so-called ‘Hooded Men’.

The 14 men who were arrested during internment in 1971 and removed for special, so-called ‘in-depth interrogation’ where they were subjected to a “psychological attack” according to an army directive.

In 1971, Ireland took the first inter-state case to come before the European Court on Human Rights, alleging Britain had breached the Convention on Human Rights.

Torture and the allegations of the hooded men were central to the Irish case.

In 1976, the European Commission on Human Rights found the treatment was torture, but in 1978 the European Court of Human Rights found that although the techniques were inhuman and degrading treatment, they did not constitute torture.

The Torture Files reveals how Britain succeeded in persuading the European Court to absolve it of the ’special stigma’ of a finding of torture by not disclosing relevant evidence and by taking a position that was directly contradicted by its own private, internal advice.

The Torture Files will be aired tomorrow night on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.

Read: Torture is a ‘global crisis’ – but more than a third of people think it can be justified>

Read: Argentina want to try a Spanish Fascist-era policeman accused of torture, but Spain won’t extradite him>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
44 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TOP CAT
    Favourite TOP CAT
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:10 PM

    God knows what else they did that we will never know about…..

    455
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Michael
    Favourite John Michael
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:38 PM

    The Brits wrote the book on torture. The CIA only copied them.

    225
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul Mc
    Favourite Paul Mc
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:04 PM

    No surprise there really now if we only knew who where responsible for the Dublin and Monaghan bombings.

    325
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bobby
    Favourite Bobby
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:07 PM

    The U.V.F with assistance from some in the British security forces.

    317
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarraioch
    Favourite Ciarraioch
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:27 PM

    Isn’t it astonishing that it’s taken RTE Forty Years to investigate and acknowledge torture of Political Detainees and Prisoners in The Six Counties ?

    Perhaps , RTE may now get around to investigating the similar torture regime that occurred wholesale in The Twenty Six County section of this Country too , during the same unfortunate period of our history in Ireland ?
    Plus, add on, the level of collusion that went on between the two police forces during those years too !
    I’m aware , because I was a victim of the assaults concerned .

    I’m firmly of the belief that there was collusion between both Governments and both police forces, in regards to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings then too.

    281
    See 9 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal O'Brien
    Favourite Donal O'Brien
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:38 PM

    I’m sure Sinn Fein will persuade its brethren in the Irish Republican Army to open their files on the tortures that they preformed on various individuals during their period of armed struggle.

    119
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
    Favourite Niall o' Sullivan
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:52 PM

    @Ciarrioch

    “I’m aware , because I was a victim of the assaults concerned ”

    Nice to see you describe yourself as a ‘victim’. If only it extended to other ‘victims’.

    51
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Donal O'Brien
    Favourite Donal O'Brien
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:58 PM

    While the hardass fg labour government of cosgrave, with the cuiser as a minister, were less than sound on the national question, I think it is stretching the bounds of credulity that they, and the sworn defenders of our justice system would acquiesce with the mass murder of so many of our citizens in Dublin and Monaghan

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Boganity
    Favourite Boganity
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:04 PM

    There’s a world of difference between acquiescence and incompetence, which one is more criminal ?

    57
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarraioch
    Favourite Ciarraioch
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:18 PM

    Niall – You would consider yourself a Victim too if you were assaulted by police , removed to a police station , beaten up over a period . Then released without charge ! But when we made a subsequent complaint to the then DPP & Attorney General , we were then told that we would be charged with resisting arrest , if we pressed the matter.
    This all happened in 1973 . The three policemen identified , of course , were not convicted .
    It received a considerable amount of publicity and exposure at the time, mainly through the efforts of the marvellous Nell McCafferty and The Irish Times .
    It dragged on through the Civil Courts for a further 8 years – blocked at every juncture , by mysterious “Authorities”

    It was a great lesson learned by us , as young Students , living in Dublin , in those formative years of our lives.

    For many many years , we never spoke about our awful experience , by virtue of the fact that we expected a repeat of our awful ordeal to be repeated on us , by locally based friends of the Heavy Gang concerned !
    Now that I’m in my sixties , I finally don’t fear them any more .
    I still have the complete file – mind you !

    160
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
    Favourite Niall o' Sullivan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 1:10 AM

    You know what, Ciarraioch – I don’t doubt you. Honestly, I don’t doubt what you’re saying at all. Was it a miscarriage of justice? Absolutely.

    I don’t think you or I are on opposite sides of the fence, despite the fact we routinely go head to head on these boards. I think we’d have far more in common that not overall in truth.

    I simply object to your political affiliations (SF) as I do equally to any other party from FF, FG and Lab too.

    I try not to attack the man 9though I get that wrong too). I simply have equal contempt for all parties – but you seem to choose not se that.

    Mind you – on the basis of your above post – apolitical cop brutality is not a new phenomenon either.

    But I do see your point.

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
    Favourite Niall o' Sullivan
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 1:12 AM

    Edit

    Apolitical/or wholly political.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mr.Phil.Officer
    Favourite Mr.Phil.Officer
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 1:41 AM

    British intelligence had infiltrated the Gardai during the troubles and I’m sure they did the same in the army and government also. Europe obviously did care much and these revelations should bring the European Court into disrepute.

    43
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bruce
    Favourite Bruce
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 6:39 AM

    @Donal I have to agree with you. I really doubt that Cosgrave or his govt would have gone along with Dublin monaghan bombings. What had they to gain from it?

    Also concur with your sentiment about revealing the torture carried out by all the paramilitaries on all sides. Doubt it will ever see the light of day.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute why?
    Favourite why?
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:21 PM

    Sanctioned by?? They were experts, and even exported their skills to Brazil.

    http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27625540

    They didn’t rule the world by trade, crumpets and cricket alone.

    190
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute seamus mcdermott
    Favourite seamus mcdermott
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:11 PM

    “Blah blah blah blah blah Gerry Adams, blah blah blah blah bank robbers, blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah still around blah blah blah blah SF/IRA, blah blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah disappeared blah blah blah blah. Blah blah blah murderers blah blah blah Omagh, blah blah blah poll-bearer at a funeral blah blah blah.”

    There you have it, the boilerplate loyalist response.

    171
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin f
    Favourite Kevin f
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:17 PM

    And that’s a shinnerbots idea of intelligent debate is it?? Blah blah blah….. Still I suppose there is a little evolving….. A couple of years ago I’d be attacked by balaclava clad thugs with nail fastooned baseball bats….
    O Snodaighs pals…!!

    63
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mullen
    Favourite John Mullen
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:48 PM

    You can add the 26 cty unionists of FG FF and Labour to the loyalists

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ben Redline
    Favourite Ben Redline
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:06 PM

    Call that torture ! Try being married for 12 years.

    144
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Kelly
    Favourite Philip Kelly
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:32 PM

    there is another story here and that is the real response of the lynch/cosgrove governments in the eventual cover up and the interment of one of the solicitors who gathered the information while interned for the first time august 1971 and re interned in march 1972 to shut him up and refused help from irish governments spent 4 yrs interned as a result and was on the hogg list of solicitors which led to murder of pat finunican

    143
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ciarraioch
    Favourite Ciarraioch
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:39 PM

    Spot on Philip – This was the real Dirty War period with Huge Collusion on Both sides of Government !
    It must be investigated .

    143
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Séamus Ó Mórdha
    Favourite Séamus Ó Mórdha
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 1:52 AM

    in fairness the 26 county state took a case against the british government to european court of human rights over this issue. What is news is that in that court case is the british state lied as shown by these documents. http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/sites/eng/pages/search.aspx#{%22appno%22:[%225310/71%22],%22itemid%22:[%22001-57506%22]}

    FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT

    I. ON ARTICLE 3 (art. 3)

    1. holds unanimously that, although certain violations of Article 3 (art. 3) were not contested, a ruling should nevertheless be given thereon;

    2. holds unanimously that it has jurisdiction to take cognisance of the cases of alleged violation of Article 3 (art. 3) to the extent that the applicant Government put them forward as establishing the existence of a practice;

    3. holds by sixteen votes to one that the use of the five techniques in August and October 1971 constituted a practice of inhuman and degrading treatment, which practice was in breach of Article 3 (art. 3);

    4. holds by thirteen votes to four that the said use of the five techniques did not constitute a practice of torture within the meaning of Article 3 (art. 3);

    5. holds by sixteen votes to one that no other practice of ill-treatment is established for the unidentified interrogation centres;

    6. holds unanimously that there existed at Palace Barracks in the autumn of 1971 a practice of inhuman treatment, which practice was in breach of Article 3 (art. 3);

    7. holds by fourteen votes to three that the last-mentioned practice was not one of torture within the meaning of Article 3 (art. 3);

    8. holds unanimously that it is not established that the practice in question continued beyond the autumn of 1971;

    9. holds by fifteen votes to two that no practice in breach of Article 3 (art. 3) is established as regards other places;

    10. holds unanimously that it cannot direct the respondent State to institute criminal or disciplinary proceedings against those members of the security forces who have committed the breaches of Article 3 (art. 3) found by the Court and against those who condoned or tolerated such breaches;

    26
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Philip Kelly
    Favourite Philip Kelly
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 9:44 AM

    there was no fairness on behalf of the Irish government, they were forced into action after Oliver Kelly solicitor was released from interment in December 1971 and went before the US foreign relations committee in Washington in I think Feb 1972 and presented the information there, as the Irish government ignored the requests from the Association of Legal Justice in Belfast to pursue the British. When Oliver Kelly came back from the US his office in Belfast was broken into by, we believe British intelligence, who attempted to take possession of all documents. Fortunately these documents were at another safe place. It was only then that the Irish government got involved but conveniently for them Oliver Kelly was re arrested in march 1972 and re-interned, where he was held until interment ended and no attempt was made by the Irish governments to have him released and to my knowledge was never interviewed by any member of the Irish government of the day even though he was the lead person to gather the information from within the walls of Long Kesh and Crumlin Road Jail and we believe that the British cover up was facilitated by the attitude of the Cosgrave government I would also point out that he remained a thorn in the side of both the British and Irish governments until the day he died

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jeebus xrist
    Favourite Jeebus xrist
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:41 PM

    Thanks RTE, all those books I’ve read make sense now.
    Thanks for your brave stand against Section 31!!
    I look forward to more of your unbiased reporting when I’m forced to fund you via the UBC in the upcoming budget.

    76
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
    Favourite Niall o' Sullivan
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:49 PM

    I’d rather pay water charges than pay for the state mouthpiece any day of the week.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sean South
    Favourite Sean South
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:26 PM

    kevin i think we are all wasting our time asking gerry if he was in the ira…we should aim higher and ask him if he started the troubles

    68
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dearbhla Russell
    Favourite Dearbhla Russell
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 1:29 AM

    Well sure never mind. Cant we invite the Queen to the 1916 festivities? Itll be like it never happened….

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Shane Walsh
    Favourite Shane Walsh
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:32 PM

    Can we just leave this in the past, both sides did horrific things during the troubles. We need to move on from this.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute why?
    Favourite why?
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:42 PM

    Agreed, but I think we should still shout about it – the UK (and others) are still doing the very same things across the world.
    Probably worse, if that’s possible. 40 years is a long time to refine technique.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jean Martin
    Favourite Jean Martin
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 2:39 PM

    shane i think all the red thumbs are from people who are either FG/FF or have never suffered the kind of things that happened in the north……they never lifted a finger to help the people of the north……now their auld consciences are bothering them…..if they ever had one!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
    Favourite Niall o' Sullivan
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 10:35 PM

    Sleep deprivation affects different people in entirely different ways. Some people could stay awake for 48 or even 72 hours no prob, others are cranky and irritable after 20 max.

    Food and water likewise – some can last a lot longer than others. (Though it too is cruel)

    For me, the white noise element would be the toughest. – that would be mind numbing rather than physical alone.

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute why?
    Favourite why?
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:41 PM

    it’s all torture Niall, let’s not get distracted by the menu.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SinAssist
    Favourite SinAssist
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 12:16 AM

    Why bother when it would only prove to be as pointless and barren as the blinkered bile of a backed-up BlueBot!!

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jean Martin
    Favourite Jean Martin
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 2:30 PM

    i’ll be watching for see if they mention the helicopter push…….they would take blind folded individual prisoners up a foot or so off the ground and tell the prisoner to give them the information they wanted or they would be thrown out of the helicopter……i know one fella personally who had this done to him……he wouldn’t tell and was, as far as he was concerned he was high in the air, pushed out……that fella to this day has never been the same. his life has been destroyed……he was an internee at the time…….GITMO british style.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noel Mc D
    Favourite Noel Mc D
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 9:30 AM

    Torture is torture break the will and they will tell you anything you want to here

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kieran Cahill Denise Cuddihy
    Favourite Kieran Cahill Denise Cuddihy
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 12:03 PM

    Sc@@bags

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mullen
    Favourite John Mullen
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:57 PM

    Well said richard mccarthy. Kindly provide links to your source as I totally agree with you on this but just can’t find the figures anywhere to match up to my options.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mullen
    Favourite John Mullen
    Report
    Jun 3rd 2014, 11:58 PM

    Opinions

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Mullen
    Favourite John Mullen
    Report
    Jun 4th 2014, 12:21 AM

    Richardmccarthy, any chance of a link to the source of your information, I’m trying to agree with you on this but I need the facts to back op my opinions. My figures just don’t add up.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds