The Police Service of Northern Ireland have apologised to a group of men, known as the Hooded Men, who were interred in 1971 saying that the treatment they endured while in custody would be characterised today as torture.
The 14 men, along with hundreds of other people, almost all from Catholic and nationalist backgrounds, were imprisoned without trial as internment was used by the Stormont unionist government to quell unrest.
Many arrested had no involvement with the republican movement, and the “house raids were accompanied by considerable brutality and wanton destruction of homes.”
Those who became known as the Hooded Men were taken to Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly, where they were subjected to “five techniques” of torture – prolonged standing against walls, white noise, hooding, sleep deprivation, and denial of food and water.
They were also badly beaten. The hair of one man, Seán McKenna, turned from black to pure white during the week of torture. He died of a heart attack four years later.
As Dr Matt Treacy wrote:
The brutality was highlighted by John McGuffin in The Guinea Pigs, and by Fathers Raymond Murray and Denis Faul in The Hooded Men. Like other victims of torture, they have suffered prolonged symptoms of depression, anxiety, social isolation and health problems. Five of the 14 are now dead. PJ McClean of Beragh, County Tyrone passed away in August. The fact that he was a teacher and a civil rights activist illustrates for many that internment and torture were targeted at the heart of the northern Catholic community. It had nothing to do with tackling “terrorism.” Indeed as McGuffin’s 1974 book implies, it was a part of a broader British army intelligence programme to finesse its torture techniques.
In December 2021, the United Kingdom Supreme Court ruled that the Police Service of Northern Ireland had been wrong to decide in 2014 not to investigate the treatment of the hooded men.
In a statement today, the PSNI apologised for the treatment and for “the actions and omissions of police officers at that time”.
“The Police Service of Northern Ireland acknowledges the finding of the United Kingdom Supreme Court that it is likely that the treatment to which you and the other Hooded Men were subjected to at the hands of the security forces, including some police officers, would be characterised today as torture.
“We wish to acknowledge that the treatment you received was not acceptable at that time and is not acceptable by modern standards of policing.
We would like to convey an apology to you for the actions and omissions of police officers at that time.”
“The Police Service recognise the significant step taken today in issuing this apology. It is our view that this was the right thing to do to help give the ‘Hooded Men’ and their families recognition about how they were treated,” PSNI Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Saunders said.
The men and their families have been campaigning for an apology for years. Today, they also called on the
Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law, who act for the majority of the Hooded Men, said that they had fought a 10-year campaign for justice.
“Since their landmark victory before the Supreme Court in December 2021, we have engaged at the very highest level to try and find a resolution for our clients.
“Today, almost 18 months on, the PSNI have today issued our clients with a formal apology that recognises the torturous treatment to which our clients sustained.
“This is a seismic development in a seismic case.”
“Most importantly, in times of debate on how the legacy of the past should be addressed, we can and should forever point to the case of the Hooded Men as the pin-up of due process, humanity and resolution coming together under one umbrella.
“This case is an example of why the efforts by the British government to brush the legacy of the past under the carpet will never, and can never, work.”
Mr Mackin also paid tribute to “those at the upper echelons of the PSNI and in particular ACC Todd and head of legacy branch Mr Ian Saunders, who despite the sensitivities engaged in an extensive negotiation, and against all odds, ensured the delivery of an apology before the passing of Mr Clarke”.
A group of internees who became known as the 'Hooded Men' have been issued an apology by the PSNI Chief Constable for their treatment during interrogation more than 50 years ago, @TVconormac reports | https://t.co/IOH2kZGrYN pic.twitter.com/4MkHiSB55n
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) June 13, 2023
One of the men who was tortured, Joe Clarke, sadly passed away yesterday, and it was learned that the apology had been hand delivered to his death bed.
“The publication of this apology comes after weeks of intense negotiation in which drew to a close in the days before Mr Joe Clarke tragically passed away.
“In the last days of his life, Mr Clarke was finally delivered closure in the form of an apology, for which he had long since campaigned,” Darragh Mackin said.
Joe Clarke, one of the hooded men, died today. He told me of the torture inflicted upon him in 1971. He was referred to by a number not his name. Every time he fell from the search position, he was beaten until he got up. He was forced to urinate & defecate in a boiler suit (1/3) pic.twitter.com/wv89zSdejb
— Suzanne Breen (@SuzyJourno) June 12, 2023