EIRE/IRELAND: GARDA STATIONS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER ROSSITER INQUEST

Rapport publié le 14/12/08 4:02 dans Justice et injustices par Cathal Ó Luain pour Cathal Ó Luain

Cork University Hospital (above) was where Brian Rossiter died.

There have been calls for greater facilities to protect the welfare of young people detained at police stations in Ireland by the inquest jury considering the death of fourteen year old Brian Rossiter who died two days after being found unconscious in a cell at Clonmel Garda Station in 2002.

The inquest returned an open verdict following his death at Cork University Hospital on September 13th 2002 after being transferred there from the Garda Station. The cause of death was an extradural haemorrhage due to blunt force trauma to the head.

The jury said that medical attention should immediately be provided at Garda stations for any individual, particularly young people under 17, if they show any obvious sign of injury or illness and that social services should be available to gardai at all times for dealing with young persons.

Meanwhile, Brian Rossiters father, whilst welcoming the jury's recommendations, said «I would have gone further. I think there should be cameras in all areas of the Garda station around the country - in corridors, entries, as well as exits. I think itâ€™s very important that CCTV should be in all areas of every Garda station in the country».

Given that Ireland is a signatory to Council of Europe (CoE) and United Nations (UN) conventions covering the safety and welfare of those detained in prisons or police stations it is astonishing that an inquest jury is making recommendations of this nature to the State six years after the Brian Rossiter death. Both the CoE - CPT Standards and the UN make it clear that State parties have a duty of care to those held in police or prison cells.

The Celtic League has already expressed concerns to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child that procedures in place at police stations at the time of Brian Rossiters death breached United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice, the so-called Beijing Rules. In the light of the inquest verdict we will reiterate these concerns.

Meanwhile, Solicitors for the Rossiters family have said that their fight for justice will go on. Proceedings in the High Court against the State over Brianâ€™s death are continuing. It is expected the matter will go to hearing early next year.