European judges rule UK breached human rights of IRA men’s relatives

The State breached the human rights of relatives of two IRA men by failing to promptly investigate their deaths at the hands of the SAS, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled.

It found UK authorities also failed the family of a west Belfast man who suffered fatal injuries when he was beaten by riot police.

Judges criticised the lengthy delays in holding inquests into the 1990 shootings of IRA members Martin McCaughey and Desmond Grew in Loughgall, County Armagh, and into the death of John Hemsworth in 1998, six months after he was beaten by police in Belfast.

The state was ordered to pay 20,000 euros (£17,388) in damages for loss and suffering (non-pecuniary) to Mr Hemsworth’s family along with 11,000 euros for costs and expenses, and 14,000 euros to the families of Mr Grew and Mr McCaughey for costs and expenses.