Brutality in Northern Ireland Inquiry

Inquiry into allegations against the security forces of physical brutality in Northern Ireland arising out of the events of 9th August 1971 (involving the arrest of 342 men)

Terms of Reference: 

"To investigate allegations by those arrested on the 9th August under the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Act (Northern Ireland) 1922 of physical brutality while in the custody of the security forces prior to either their subsequent release, the preferring of a criminal charge or their being lodged in a place specified in a detention order."

Chair: 

Sir Edmund Compton

Panel Members:

E. S. Fay, Ronald Gibson

Dates:

Establishment: 31st August 1971
Hearings:
Report: 3rd November 1971

Link to download report:

http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/hmso/compton.htm#2

Summary of reports conclusions:

The Inquiry reported on 5 group and 20 individual allegations and did not conclude that any of the complainants suffered physical brutality as alleged:

Group 1 - Questioning in Depth (11 names)
We consider that the following actions constitute physical ill-treatment; posture on the wall, hooding, noise, deprivation of sleep, diet of bread and water.

Group 2 - Helicopter Incident, Girdwood (6 names)
We criticise the action taken to force the complainants to take part in this deception operation and consider that the physical experience of these men constitutes a measure of ill-treatment.

Group 3 - "Obstacle Course" Girdwood (12 names)
We conclude that the men concerned may have suffered some measure of unintended hardship.

Group 4 - Late Releases on the 10th August, Girdwood (3 names)
Given the conflict of evidence we make no findings, but draw attention to the evidence that men released from Girdwood were not made to leave and that some stayed.

Group 5 - Special Exercises at Ballykinler (5 names)
We consider that these compulsory exercises must have caused some hardship but do not think the exercises were thought of and carried out with a view to hurting or degrading the men who had to do them.

Individual Cases (20 names)

We report 2 cases where we consider there was a measure of ill-treatment: one (Mr. Cummings) suffered from hooding and wrist bonds ordered not a punishment but as a military precaution, the other (Mr. Gilmore) from damage done by accident. We report one case (Mr. Moore) where we think the complainant suffered hardship in that he was accidentally cut by broken glass on arrest and there was avoidable neglect in getting medical attention for him at Girdwood. In the remaining cases, the conflict of evidence has prevented a finding, or we consider that the complaint cannot be sustained.

We draw attention to defects in the administrative arrangements regarding medical cover for the arrest and holding operation generally, and for Girdwood Park Holding Centre in particular.