British Govt considers using ‘control orders’ in North

The British government has revealed that it is considering using controversial anti-terrorism "control orders" in the North.

The orders allow the government to place people under house arrest and restrict their communications without charge or trial.

They were introduced last week after previous British anti-terror legislation that allowed for the internment of terrorism suspects without trial was deemed to be in breach of international human rights law.

In the British House of Lords yesterday, the Conservative Party's Northern Ireland spokesman Lord Glentoran asked if the orders would be used against republican or loyalist paramilitaries in the North.

The Labour government's leader in the house, Baroness Amos, replied that it was under consideration, but said the orders were exceptional and would not be used routinely.