European Court rules IRA killings unlawful

Title

European Court rules IRA killings unlawful

Genre

News report; Interview

TX Date

27 Sep 1995

Year of production

1995

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Duration

00:05:24

Description

The controversy over the killing of three IRA terrorists by the SAS in Gibraltar seven years ago has been revitalised in an unexpected ruling today. The European Court of Human Rights said the shootings were unnecessary and in breach of international conventions. The verdict triggered off a torrent of protest from the Government, and from Ulster Unionists, but received a warm welcome from the families of the three victims and from Sinn Fein by the narrowest of margins, ten votes to nine. The court refused to order the Government to pay compensation to the families of Daniel McCann, Sean Savage and Mairead Farrell, but told it to pay the costs of the case instead. The verdict overturns the findings of the official inquest in Gibraltar, which declared the killings lawful. Paul Maurice looks back at the events of 06/03/88.

Contributors

Geoffrey Howe; Paul Maurice; Kevin Murphy; Carmen Proetta; Mary Savage; George Stiles(?); Niall Farrell

Keywords

Government; Crime; Law; UK; IRA; Homicide; Television programmes; Gibraltar; SAS; European Court of Justice; Human rights abuses; Death on the Rock

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