British Government criticised over ‘chaotic’ inquest system

THE British Government came under fire yesterday for failing to ensure the right to life was fully protected through proper investigation of all killings in the North.

The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission said there had been a failure to address inadequacies in an inquest system which was in a "chaotic state". This was despite a European Court ruling two years ago which ordered the government to pay £10,000 to the families of 12 men including 10 members of the IRA shot dead in controversial shooting between 1982 and 1992.

Chief Commissioner Professor Brice Dickson said: "We are concerned about the lack of progress by government in ensuring that the right to life is fully protected through proper investigations into all killings in Northern Ireland. We think there has been a failure to address the inadequacies of the inquest system despite judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in cases as far back as 2001."