The Irish government has been advised that it could be in breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights if it allows arrest warrants to be served and extradition granted from States which have unsound police and prison systems. The move comes following news that an Irish national is being sought by Lithuanian authorities.

Lithuanian police and prison facilities were roundly condemned in a report published in 2006 by the Council of Europe inspection body the CPT.

In a letter (full text below) to Justice Minister, Dermot Ahern, the League say, "concerns relating to detention facilities (both police and prison) indicate that brutality and ill-treatment seem to be systemic" adding that there also "seems to be a culture within the Lithuanian police and prison service that worked to conceal (or cover-up) instances where brutality was reported".

"The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Dermot Ahern TD 94 St. Stephen's Green Dublin 2 Ireland 21st September 2008

Dear Minister,

I understand from new reports that a request for the extradition of an Irish national has been made by the Lithuanian authorities. I do not wish to comment on the specifics of the individual case. However, I would point out that the most recently published report of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) was highly critical of conditions in both Lithuanian police stations and prisons.

The report can be accessed (pdf) at:

(voir le site)

I understand that a further visit to Lithuania has been carried out by the CPT but the findings of this team will not be published for sometime so it is impossible to adduce if the earlier criticisms of the CPT have been acted on by the Lithuanian authorities.

You will see from the CPT report that the concerns relating to detention facilities (both police and prison) indicate that brutality and ill-treatment seem to be systemic. In addition there seems to be a culture within the Lithuanian police and prison service that worked to conceal (or cover-up) instances where brutality was reported.

In the circumstances the Irish government should make it clear that it cannot cooperate with arrest warrants or extradition requests from Lithuania.

Were an Irish national to be returned to a police or prison environment in a country where brutality and ill-treatment is systemic surely this would place Ireland in breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Yours sincerely,

Bernard Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

Cc

An Taoiseach Lithuanian Ambassador to Ireland"

Council of Europe State Reports by the CPT can be found at:

(voir le site)

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League 21/09/08

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