Pauline Mellon Held Hostage by the MP for Chipping Barnet. In 1998 the Good Friday agreement promised the people in the North of Ireland a new beginning, an era in which justice would be done and be seen to be done and measures compatible with a normal and peaceful society. The Irish parliamentarian Edmund Burke once famously said Hypocrisy can afford to be magnificent in its promises, for never intending to go beyond promise, it costs nothing. Sadly the magnificent promises of a new beginning, an era in which justice would be done and be seen to be done and measures compatible with a normal and peaceful society are as tangible as Marleys phantoms. Despite those promises a 63 year old man has spent the last three years of his life in Maghaberry Prison with neither charge, trial or conviction. Martin Corey was recalled to prison on the order of the British Secretary of State who revoked his release licence on the basis of Closed Material evidence otherwise known as secret evidence. This secret evidence is made available only to those appointed by the state including a special advocate, as such this special advocate cannot be considered impartial after all he who pays the piper selects the tune. The special advocate cannot discuss the evidence with Martin Corey and can only provide his legal team with a gist of the evidence. In an article published in the Guardian on October 15th 2012, Amnesty International raised concerns about the use of special advocate procedures stating that this type of practice “ allows the government to play the national security card when it wants to keep things a secret.” You would expect in any case the accused would be given full disclosure of the case against them in order to build a strong legal defence. How do you challenge what you cannot see? The British Secretary of State Theresa Villiers was elected in England to represent the people of Chipping Barnet, she has no mandate in the North of Ireland. However this politician can recall ex-prisoners released on licence in the interests of national security on the advice of the Northern Ireland Parole Commission. The parole commission is a group of political appointees appointed by the Northern Ireland minister for Justice David Ford. The process of licence revocation falls within the remit of the executive arm of the state and not the judicial. In the interest of justice there should be clear distinction between the judiciary and the British state unfortunately this is not the case as the system employed here in the North of Ireland is inherently unjust and clearly loaded in favour of the British state. It must also be noted that the Tory MP for Chipping Barnet can overrule the parole commissioners if she decides to do so. The legality of Martin Coreys detention was challenged on July 9th 2012 when a judge ruled that the parole commissioners had breached his human rights in refusing to release him, the judge granted Martin unconditional bail. However this decision was overturned when the British Secretary of State launched an appeal, which meant Martin Corey who at that point was ready to go home had to return to his prison cell. We need to question the ongoing erosion of civil liberties and blatant abuse of human rights. We should further question the lacklustre response from our politicians in relation to the internment of Martin Corey. The treatment of Martin Corey is in breach of the Human Rights Act, the European Convention on Human Rights and the core principals of Common Law. I voted for the Good Friday Agreement and the promises it made, and I would say to those who sit in Stormont, the Internment of Martin Corey on secret evidence is happening on your watch and in my name, this is not the just, normal and peaceful society I voted for. Free Martin Corey!!!
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 20:44:36 +0000
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