The Five Demands

Colin Duffy, l’unico attualmente formalmente accusato dell’attentato alla base militare di Massereene (un totale di 8 capi d’accusa: duplice omicidio, possesso d’armi e cinque tentati omicidi), ha ottenuto l’avvio di un’indagine sull’utilizzo di ‘cimici’ per spiare le conversazioni avvenute in carcere tra lui ed il suo avvocato.
Il legale ha richiesto una revisione giudiziaria sulla base delle incertezze che circondano le conversazioni tra lui ed il suo assistito, dato che qualsiasi forma di controllo posta in essere sarebbe ‘completamente illegale’.
Il ricorso si basa su di una sentenza della High Court del 2007, giunta poi alla House Of Lord, che ha sancito che non c’è alcun sistema che consenta al Prison Service di richiedere una tale autorizzazione.
Colin Duffy tarderà la richiesta di libertà su cauzione fino a quando non avrà certezza che le conversazioni non siano intercettate, fatto che lederebbe il diritto alla libertà del prominente repubblicano di Lurgan.
La questione è stata sollevata il 30 marzo con l’invio di una lettera a richiesta di garanzie.
Barry Macdonald ha dichiarato: “Il Prison Service ha avuto quattro settimane di tempo. In tali circostanze l’imputato non è in grado di consultarsi con i rappresentanti legali allo scopo di procedere alla richiesta di rilascio dietro cauzione”.
L’avvocato ha inoltre sottolineato che la Surveillance Commission ha messo in chiaro che non può fornire supervisione, perché attualmente non ha poteri statutari.
Peter Coll, a nome del Prison Service, ha rivelato che si terrà oggi una riunione per delineare una via da seguire in questo e in altri casi, sottolineando di non essere mai stato informato di un controllo esercitato sulle conversazione di Colin Duffy.
Sulla base delle argomentazioni di entrambo le parti, Brian Kerr (Lord Chief Justice), ha autorizzato la revisione giudiziaria, la cui data verrà stabilita la prossima settimana.
Se fossero confermati i sospetti di Colin Duffy e riuscisse ad ottenere la libertà su cauzione, avrebbe facoltà di richiedere il risarcimento danni per per la perdita della libertà causata dal ritardo.

Duffy to contest ‘surveillance’ (Belfast NewsLetter)
A republican accused of murdering two soldiers has been granted permission to challenge surveillance being used against him.
Colin Duffy, 41, is seeking assurances that the authorities will not bug his legal consultations while in custody charged with the double killing of Sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar.
The soldiers were gunned down at the gates of Massereene Army base in Antrim on March 7 while they collected pizzas from delivery men.
Duffy, a former mainstream republican from Lurgan, Co Armagh, is also charged with five counts of attempted murder and possession of arms and ammunition in connection with the Real IRA shootings.
His lawyers applied for leave to seek a judicial review based on the uncertainty surrounding any conversations he has while being held.
Barry Macdonald QC told a two judge panel headed by Lord Chief Justice Sir Brian Kerr it would be completely unlawful for any monitoring to be carried out.
Mr Macdonald based his argument on a High Court ruling from November 2007 – and subsequently backed in the House of Lords – which held there was no system in place for the Prison Service to seek the necessary authorisation.
With Duffy delaying an application for bail until he receives confirmation that no one is listening in, it was also claimed that his right to liberty was being compromised.
Mr Macdonald said: “This particular issue relating to Mr Duffy was raised on March 30 when a letter was sent seeking an assurance.
“The Prison Service have had over four weeks to consider their response.
“In the circumstances our applicant is not in a position to consult with legal representatives for the purpose of making a bail application.”
The barrister also stressed that the Surveillance Commission has made clear it cannot provide oversight because it currently has no statutory powers.
Should Duffy ultimately win his judicial review case and be granted bail he will be seeking damages for the loss of liberty caused by the delay, his lawyer confirmed.
Peter Coll, appearing for the Prison Service, told the court his client, along with other state authorities, was in the process of deciding their approach to the earlier court rulings.
He revealed that a meeting was to be held later today to map out a way forward in the cases of Duffy and others.
Mr Coll also emphasised that he had no instructions that covert surveillance was being used against Duffy.
After hearing both sides Sir Brian granted leave to apply for a judicial review on the basis that an arguable case had been presented.
A further review to set a date for the full hearing the case will take place later in the week.Should Mr Duffy win his judicial review case and be granted bail he will be seeking damages for the loss of liberty caused by the delay, his lawyer confirmed.