Gerry McKerr wanted to see justice
Gerry McKerr one of the original “hooded men” has died in hospital on Tuesday age 71. Back in December 2014 Amnesty International called for an independent UK investigation into the alleged torture of 14 suspects detained by the British army including Mr McKerr. The abuses occurred during a period of time known as the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland (1968 – 1998) in which over 3,600 people were killed and thousands more were injured, see following link for Amnesty International statement on treatment of the hooded men,
“Amnesty International demands UK inquiry into hooded men case”
http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/dec/05/amnesty-international-uk-inquiry-hooded-men-case-echr
A number of the surviving hooded men in Dublin. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA
The term “hooded men” refers to a group of men aged who were taken from their homes to three holding camps before being transferred to RAF Ballykelly, in Co Derry as part of British Army Operation Demetrius. This involved the mass arrest and internment (imprisonment without trial) of 342 people suspected of being involved with the Irish Republican (IRA), who were campaigning against the state. According to the Independent, the treatment of the men included the following,
“the numbers 1-12 were inked on the back of their hands and soles of their feet before they were stripped naked, weighed and examined, hooded (tightened so the men could barely breathe), forced into prolonged stress positions, beaten with fists, feet and batons, thrown against walls, dragged through a gauntlet of club-wielding guards and deprived of food, water, and sleep.”
The torture methods devised by the British Army and used on detainees came to be known as the “five techniques” which were hooding, prolonged stress positions, white noise, sleep deprivation and deprivation of food and drink.
Some of the treatment was so distressing, victims wanted to die and included allegedly throwing men from a helicopter whilst hooded. The men thought they were being thrown to their deaths (which was a method used in Vietnam on the Vietcong during the war) though in the Irish case the helicopter was around 20 feet from the ground as opposed to hundreds of feet in the air. Details of Gerry’s traumatic experience can be read here,
“The 14 hooded men blogspot”
http://the14hoodedmen.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/gerry-mckerr_20.html
Amal Clooney, international law and human rights specialist is now representing all but one of the men who initially won their case against the UK in 1976 with the European Commission of Human Rights ruling that they were subjected to torture. However an appeal led to the findings being overturned by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) stating that their ordeal did not constitute torture and was defined instead as “inhuman and degrading treatment”.
Those tortured refer to themselves as ‘The Guinea Pigs’ and claim they were used to test out torture techniques which were later exported round the world. Their stories appeared in a book of the same name written by John McGuffin (published in 1974, 1981). Re-opening of the cases could prove a big embarrassment for the British government who have so far largely avoided addressing this issue.
The BBC reported that research carried out by Ulster university on behalf of the Commission for Victims and Survivors found that “almost 30% of the population of Northern Ireland suffer mental health problems and nearly half of those are directly related to the Troubles.” Yesterday, the work of the WAVE centre, which supports those affected was recognized though awarding them the GSK Impact award which includes £30,000 in funding. The organization beat more than 350 charities across the UK in the process.
Statement from Pat Finucane Centre on the death of Gerry McKerr
(March 19th 2015)
Jim McIlmurray
Case Coordinator
The Hooded Men
It is with great regret that I announce the death of Gerry McKerr from Lurgan.
Gerry was one of the original “Hooded Men” and had been active in the Republican movement, since the mid 1960s.
Gerry was arrested and interned on Monday the 9th of August 1971.Early on the morning of 11th August Gerry and the others were hooded and handcuffed, bundled into a truck where they were kicked and beaten, and brought to a helicopter.
After a flight of 30-60 minutes, they were pulled out of the helicopter, beaten and put into another vehicle, which brought them to RAF Ballykelly.
At RAF Ballykelly, Gerry’s hood was tightened and he was beaten badly before being taken into a room with a noise similar to “a constant roar of steam escaping a valve from a steam boiler.”
He was given another physical examination, stripped, and issued a pair of army overalls that were far too small. He was put into the search position against the wall, his feet bare on a slippery floor.
After a period of time, he was no longer able to hold himself up, fell and passed out. He awoke while being beaten around the kidneys. This pattern continued for days.
Gerry was eventually given a pair of boots and taken back to a helicopter, beaten all the way. He was transported to a place where he was served with internment papers; he felt some sense of relief that although the beatings continued, he was no longer subjected to the wall-standing and other techniques.
At Ballykelly, the torture continued. Gerry found it much more difficult to keep track of time. The interrogations became much more violent, as he was threatened, abused and insulted each time before being taken back to what he began to refer to as the “music room.”
He was told that he would never see his wife and children again if he did not cooperate. I recall Gerry telling me, his thoughts at the time were “Hell dare not be like this,”
After several days, Gerry was finally allowed to sleep, given a meal, and permitted to wash up before being taken to Crumlin Gaol.
At the Gaol, all of the men experienced an air of jubilation that they were still alive and free of the torture. Gerry called it “an absolute high.” In mid-October 1971, the Hooded Men were transferred from Crumlin Road to Long Kesh internment camp, where Gerry served as OC.
Gerrard McKerr was released from Long Kesh in 1975. The last year of his interment he was sick, developing a number of lumps on his neck for which he was given antibiotics.
Upon his release, he was diagnosed with lymphoma.
Two years later, his wife called him to the door; there were some men who were looking for him. Gerry, sensing trouble, grabbed the first man and slammed the door; the second man fired a gun through the door, hitting Gerry in the abdomen and groin area.
He believed the perpetrators were members of the Glenanne gang, to which nearly 90 murders in the Armagh area were attributed, including those of the Miami Showband.
Six weeks later, when he was getting ready to take his children to school, Gerry found a bomb planted beneath his car. Gerry moved his family from their home to a new house in the town.
I was with Gerry the moment we received the news the Irish government would request the European courts reopen the case of the Hooded Men. He was delighted and said “Justice, finally we will get justice”.
I will ensure that Gerry will receive justice. The case will continue in his honour.
Our thoughts are with his wife Eileen and children at this sad time.
Jim McIlmurray
Case Coordinator
The Hooded Men
Twitter reactions to the death of Gerry McKerr
Kartik Raj
Heard sad news today of Gerry McKerr’s death – we remember his unflagging pursuit of truth, justice & accountability for
Lara Whyte
Sad to hear of death of Gerry Kerr, one of the ‘hooded men‘ subjected to appalling treatment – ‘torture’ – by the British army in 1971. RIP.
Danny Morrison
Gerry McKerr from Lurgan, one of the original “Hooded Men” has died. He survived two assassination attempts in ’80s
Rita O’Reilly
Saddened to hear of death of Gerry McKerr, one of the , who was in the programme that led to new ECrtHR application
Willie Quin
Saddened to hear of the passing of Gerry McKerr. From a well known and loved family in the town. RIP.
Thomas Hammarberg, the original Amnesty researcher in the case was quoted recently as saying, “time does not heal all wounds if justice is not done.”
Link
“How Britain’s treatment of the hooded men during the troubles became the benchmark for US torture in the Middle East”
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/how-britains-treatment-of-the-hooded-men-during-the-troubles-became-the-benchmark-for-us-torture-in-the-middle-east-10060242.html
“If Amal Clooney wins the hooded men case the embarrassment for the UK would be huge”
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/if-amal-clooney-wins-the-hooded-man-case-the-embarrassment-for-the-uk-would-be-huge-10044980.html
Carol Anne Grayson is an independent writer/researcher on global health/human rights and is Executive Producer of the Oscar nominated, Incident in New Baghdad . She is a Registered Mental Nurse with a Masters in Gender Culture and Development. Carol was awarded the ESRC, Michael Young Prize for Research 2009, and the COTT ‘Action = Life’ Human Rights Award’ for “upholding truth and justice”. She is also a survivor of US “collateral damage”.
Carol Anne Grayson (Radical Sister) blog 