The Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has called on the Government to release a new report on conditions in Garda stations by the Council of Europe’s anti-torture watchdog, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT).

The CPT visited Ireland for the fourth time in October 2006. It paid particular attention to the treatment of persons detained by An Garda Síochána, visiting a total of ten Garda stations, in Athlone, Castlerea, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Sligo.  The Committee’s report was sent to the Government in March 2007, but has not been made public.

“In the reports on its previous visits to Ireland, this independent monitoring body criticised conditions in Garda stations, and the use of seven day detention powers.  If the Government is truly confident that Garda stations now provide appropriate conditions for periods of detention of up to seven days, it should publish the CPT’s report, rather than keeping it under wraps” said the ICCL’s Director, Mr Mark Kelly