rule of law Archives

Dec

UK Supreme Court quashes ‘irrational’ PSNI decision not to further investigate allegations UK Ministers authorised the use of torture in the ‘Hooded Men’ cases

15/12/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

The UK Supreme Court has found that the decision of the PSNI not to investigate an allegation that senior UK government ministers authorised the use of torture in the ‘Hooded Men’ cases was “irrational and falls to be quashed”. The judgment follows a judicial review challenge taken by CAJ on behalf of Mary McKenna, the...

Jun

‘Hooded Men’ appeal to be heard in the UK Supreme Court

14/06/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

From 14 to 16 June 2021, the UK Supreme Court will hear an appeal from Northern Ireland in relation to the treatment of the ‘Hooded Men’. The case is being taken by Mary McKenna, daughter of one of the Hooded Men, Sean McKenna. Mr McKenna, after release from internment, spent the rest of his life...

Mar

CAJ responds to review of the Human Rights Act

04/03/2021Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has responded to the Independent Human Rights Act Review. The review was set up by the UK government to ‘consider how the Human Rights Act (HRA) is working in practice and whether any change is needed’. We believe is important to see this review in the context of a long list of attempts by...

Dec

CAJ responds to Secretary of State smokescreen and refusal to discharge commitment to order a Public Inquiry into the killing of human rights lawyer Pat Finucane

01/12/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticeNews, Press releases

The case of Pat Finucane is one of profound importance for society in Northern Ireland and for those who believe in the rule of law. CAJ condemns the refusal of the UK government to hold a proper independent inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. The statement by Secretary of State Brandon Lewis alluding to...

Oct

CAJ response to the Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL)

27/10/2020Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Submissions

CAJ has responded to the UK’s government’s Independent Review of Administrative Law (IRAL). This was set up following a commitment in the Conservative Party 2019 Manifesto “to consider options for reform to the process of Judicial Review”. In our submission, we assert that it is not necessary or appropriate to seek to restrict judicial review,...

Nov

Policing the Police: A Report on the Policing of Events During the Summer of 1997 in Northern Ireland, 1997

01/11/1997Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Reports

No.-36-Policing-the-Police-November-1997 In 1996, CAJ sent observers to marches and protests in different parts of Northern Ireland. As a result of this first-hand experience, and drawing upon a number of detailed witness statements, the organisation published a major study entitled The Misrule of Law. The report focused on the policing of contentious parades and demonstrations and...

Oct

The Misrule of Law: A report on the policing of events during the Summer of 1996 in Northern Ireland, 1996

01/10/1996Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Reports

No.-32-The-Misrule-of-Law-October-1996 The Report is based largely on detailed reports from a team of impartial and independent observers who represented the CAJ at over twenty contentious parades and demonstrations between late June and early September 1996. It raises concerns about several of the more serious incidents of the summer: The death of Dermot McShane A disturbance...

Apr

Emergency Laws in Northern Ireland: a conference report, 1982

24/04/1982Committee on the Administration of JusticePublications, Reports

No.-2-Emergency-laws-in-NI-conference-report-1982 Emergency law in Northern Ireland was one of the principal themes of a conference organised by the Committee on the Administration of Justice at the Student’s Union, Queen’s University, Belfast, on April 24, 1982. About 80 people took part in the conference, coming from all parts of the Northern Ireland community, and including lawyers,...