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."

The commission said it was "severely disappointed" by the government's response to the judgment.

It said it did not believe enough was being done to ensure that thorough, impartial and effective investigations were being carried out into all killings, especially, but not exclusively, those "allegedly perpetrated by, or with the connivance of, members of the security forces".

The inquest system was in a "chaotic state" because of the failure of the government to take the necessary steps to comply with European standards, said the commission in its fourth annual report. It also said it wanted to see greater attention paid to the need to find a replacement for plastic bullets fired by the security forces.

The British Government made no comment on the criticisms.