Ahern reaction

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday condemned the hanging of Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar.

In a statement, he said: “The Government is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all cases. This is also the EU position, and it has been communicated very clearly to the Iraqi Government.

“I condemn this morning’s executions. I regret that the Iraqi Government did not listen to the appeals from the UN Secretary General and others for a stay of execution in relation to these death sentences.

“I believe it is in the interests of justice and reconciliation in Iraq that the Iraqi authorities now take the step of ending executions.”