Transfer of detainees - US claims must be questioned

BLIND Government acceptance of US assurances that Irish airports were not used for “extraordinary rendition” - a euphemism for the illegal transfer of US detainees for interrogation - has implicitly been criticised by the Council of Europe.

Its support for the Irish Human Rights Commission’s call for America to allow inspection of its aircraft represents an embarrassing twist in the controversy.

As the council put it, states have a responsibility to ensure their territories are not used for illicit purposes. America’s “repeated clear and explicit assurance” that no prisoners had been transported through Ireland for any purpose must be questioned.