Amnesty International is intervening in the PSNI’s court bid not to investigate alleged criminal acts committed during the interrogation of the Hooded Men in 1971.

The Court of Appeal in Belfast will this week hear an appeal brought by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland after the PSNI was ordered by the High Court last October to investigate the unlawful treatment of the men.

The case also involves the Northern Ireland Secretary and the Department of Justice, and is likely to set an important precedent for the investigation of serious human rights violations in Northern Ireland.

It marks Amnesty’s first-ever intervention in a legacy court case, after backing the Hooded Men’s campaign for justice for decades.

Grainne Teggart, Amnesty’s Northern Ireland campaigns manager (pictured), said: “It is shameful that these torture victims have been denied justice for nearly half a century.

“The torture of these men was authorised at the highest levels of government. In line with the UK’s international human rights obligations, those responsible for sanctioning and carrying out torture, at all levels, must be held accountable and, where possible, prosecuted.

“It’s wholly unacceptable that, in 47 years, no-one - not those who carried out the abuse nor those who authorised it - has ever been held accountable before the law. These men have been denied justice for too long. An independent, effective and human-rights-compliant investigation into the torture of these men must be carried out without further delay.

“This case underscores the need for a comprehensive means of dealing with historic human rights violations and abuses in Northern Ireland. The UK government must stop the delay and denial of mechanisms capable of dealing with the past and delivering truth and justice for victims.”

Francis McGuigan, one of the Hooded Men, said: “We intend to robustly defend this appeal. As the High Court rightly said, there should be an investigation to identify and hold to account those Ministers, MOD and RUC Officers who were responsible for authorising and carrying out torture on us. That investigation must be independent and must get underway without any further delay.

“Our pursuit of justice is not solely for us but for all victims of torture here and across the world. It is concerning that the PSNI are challenging a decision that states they should investigate our torture when such clear evidence exists.”

Jim McIlmurray, case coordinator for the Hooded Men, added: “Torture is barbaric, it leaves permanent physical and psychological scars. Those responsible for upholding the law have a legal obligation to investigate illegal acts. We should not have had to fight through the courts for these rights to be upheld, sadly this is the case.”