20th February 2003

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Sinn Fein seek Cowen meeting over British government breach of European Human Rights Convention

Sinn Fein Human Rights and Equality Spokesperson, West Belfast MLA Bairbre de Brun and Mid Ulster MP Martin McGuinness are seeking an urgent meeting with Irish Foreign Minster Brian Cowen and families affected by the 4th May 2001 European Court of Human Rights ruling.

This call comes in the wake of last week's meeting of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on the British government's package of measures in relation to breaches of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights because of its' failure to out carry out proper investigations into the cases of Jordan, McKerr, Kelly and others and Shanaghan.

Ms de Brún said:

``Martin McGuinness and myself are seeking an urgent meeting with Minister Brian Cowen to discus the position which the Irish government is taking at the Committee of Ministers in relation to these cases.

``The package of measures submitted by the British government in response to the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Jordan, McKerr, Kelly and others and Shanaghan on 4 May 2001 is wholly inadequate'

``The British government must change the law to; allow inquest juries to reach a verdict; allow legal aid for inquests; and compel the DPP to give reasons in cases where they didn't prosecute.

``Martin McGuinness and I have written to Minister Brian Cowen asking him to meet with us and with families affected by the 4th of May 2001 European Court of Human Rights ruling.''

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