Human rights expert slams Govt attitude to CIA flights

The head of a leading British human rights group has slammed the Irish Government's failure to investigate CIA flights passing through Shannon Airport.

Scores of CIA flights involved in the controversial "extraordinary rendition programme" have passed through Shannon in recent years.

Under the scheme, the US intelligence agency kidnaps suspected Islamic militants in countries across the world and illegally transfers them to secret interrogation centres, where many have been tortured.

The Irish Government has refused to carry out inspections of the flights passing through Shannon, saying it accepts US assurances that no prisoners are on board the planes.

However, Shami Chakrabarti, the director of British group Liberty, said today that Ireland had a duty to carry out a proper investigation under its international obligations on preventing torture.

She was speaking ahead of an address at Dublin's Law Library this evening on the theme of rights, freedom and terror.

"Governments have an obligation not just to refrain from torturing people themselves, but also to protect people from torture," she said.