CEDH · CASELAW;DECISIONS;DECCOMMISSION;ENG — 11 octobre 1993

.sDD6737AE { font-size:11pt } .s211D6B00 { margin-top:0pt; margin-bottom:0pt; line-height:normal; widows:0; orphans:0; font-size:8.5pt } .sBB9EE52A { font-family:Arial }                          Application No. 18318/91                       by F.M.                       against the United Kingdom           The European Commission of Human Rights sitting in private on 11 October 1993, the following members being present:         MM.   C.A. NØRGAARD, President            S. TRECHSEL            E. BUSUTTIL            G. JÖRUNDSSON            A.S. GÖZÜBÜYÜK            J.-C. SOYER            H.G. SCHERMERS            H. DANELIUS       Mrs. G.H. THUNE       MM.   F. MARTINEZ            C.L. ROZAKIS       Mrs. J. LIDDY       MM.   L. LOUCAIDES            J.-C. GEUS            M.P. PELLONPÄÄ            G.B. REFFI            M.A. NOWICKI            I. CABRAL BARRETO            B. CONFORTI            N. BRATZA         Mr.   H.C. KRÜGER, Secretary to the Commission           Having regard to Article 25 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms;         Having regard to the application introduced on 28 May 1991 by F.M. against the United Kingdom and registered on 7 June 1991 under file No. 18318/91;           Having regard to:   -      reports provided for in Rule 47 of the Rules of Procedure of the       Commission;   -      the Commission's decision of 2 December 1991 to communicate the       case to the respondent Government without requesting observations       and to adjourn it pending the outcome of Applications Nos.       14553/89 and 14554/89, Brannigan and McBride v. the United       Kingdom;   -      the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in those       applications on 26 May 1993;   -      information provided by the applicant's representatives on       4 August and 5 October 1993;         Having deliberated;         Decides as follows:   THE FACTS         The applicant is a British citizen born in 1957 and resident in Maghera, Northern Ireland.   He is a labourer by profession, but unemployed at present.         He is represented before the Commission by Messrs. J. C. Napier and Co, solicitors, now incorporated in the firm of Ms. P. Drinan, solicitor, Belfast.         The facts of the present case, as submitted by the applicant, may be summarised as follows.         The applicant was arrested under Section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Maghera in the very early hours of the morning on 2 December 1990 (exact time of arrest unspecified).   He was taken to Castlereagh Detention Centre where he was detained until 22.00 hours on 6 December 1990.   He was then released without charge.   The applicant states that he was not brought before any judicial authority and that he was interviewed each day of his detention.         On 23 December 1988, prior to the applicant's arrest, the United Kingdom had informed the Secretary General of the Council of Europe that they derogated from the requirements of Article 5 of the Convention in respect of Section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1984. This provision was replaced by Section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, pursuant to which the applicant was arrested and detained.     COMPLAINTS         The applicant alleges that his arrest and detention were contrary to Article 5 paras. 1, 2 and 3 of the Convention.   He claims that he was arrested merely for the purposes of detention and interrogation.         The applicant submits that, contrary to Article 5 para. 4 of the Convention, he was precluded from bringing any proceedings to determine the lawfulness of his detention.   The applicant also contends that, contrary to Article 5 para. 5 and Article 13 of the Convention, he has no enforceable right to compensation in respect of the other alleged breaches of Article 5.     PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION         The application was introduced on 28 May 1991 and registered on 7 June 1991. The Commission decided on 2 December 1991 to communicate the case to the respondent Government and to adjourn it pending the outcome of two similar applications challenging the United Kingdom's derogation of 23 December 1988: Applications Nos. 14553/89 and 14554/89, Brannigan and McBride v. the United Kingdom (Comm. Report 3.12.91), which were subsequently referred to the European Court of Human Rights.          The Court gave its judgment in the Brannigan and McBride cases on 26 May 1993 (to be published in Series A no. 258-B).   The applicant was asked whether he wished to maintain his case before the Commission and, if so, to submit comments on how his case could be distinguished from those of Brannigan and McBride.   On 4 August 1993 the applicant's   representatives replied that the application was maintained for the time being while they tried to find facts which might distinguish their client's case from those of Brannigan and McBride.   On 5 October 1993 the applicant's representatives informed the Commission that, having consulted their client, they had "no instructions to proceed any further" with the case.     REASONS FOR THE DECISION         The Commission notes that the applicant complained of a denial of his right to liberty, without redress, on his arrest and detention under Section 14 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989.   Article 5 of the Convention guarantees the right to liberty, but the Court has held that detention of the duration experienced by the applicant is compatible with Article 5 of the Convention, given the valid derogation made by the United Kingdom on 23 December 1988.   In view of the derogation, it also held that compensation under Article 5 para. 5 of the Convention was not called for, and that detainees in these circumstances had a remedy at their disposal in the form of an application for habeas corpus which satisfied the requirements of Article 5 para. 4 of the Convention in particular, and Article 13 in general (Eur. Court H.R., Brannigan and McBride judgment of 26 May 1993, to be published in Series A no. 258-B).   The Commission also notes that in view of this case-law the applicant does not propose to proceed with the application any further.         In these circumstances, the Commission finds that the applicant does not intend to pursue the petition, within the meaning of Article 30 para. 1 (a) of the Convention, and that there are no reasons of a general character concerning respect for Human Rights, within the meaning of the last sentence of Article 30 para. 1, which require the retention of the application.         For these reasons, the Commission, by a majority,         DECIDES TO STRIKE THE APPLICATION OFF ITS LIST OF CASES.     Secretary to the Commission                 President of the Commission         (H.C. KRÜGER)                                (C.A. NØRGAARD)