Darragh Mackin

Joe Clarke — one of the 14 men subjected to the controversial “five techniques” in 1971 — received the long-awaited apology via his solicitor Darragh Mackin days before he passed away yesterday, it has emerged.

The apology was given to the other eight surviving Hooded Men at a private meeting with their lawyers and PSNI representatives this morning.

In full, the apology reads:

Mr Mackin of Phoenix Law, who acts for the majority of the Hooded Men, said: “The Hooded Men have fought a 10-year campaign for justice.

“Since their landmark victory before the Supreme Court in December 2021, we have engaged at the very highest level to try and find a resolution for our clients.

“Today, almost 18 months on, the PSNI have today issued our clients with a formal apology that recognises the torturous treatment to which our clients sustained.

“The publication of this apology comes after weeks of intense negotiation in which drew to a close in the days before Mr Joe Clarke tragically passed away.

“In the last days of his life, Mr Clarke was finally delivered closure in the form of an apology, for which he had long since campaigned. This is a seismic development in a seismic case.”

He added: “Most importantly, in times of debate on how the legacy of the past should be addressed, we can and should forever point to the case of the Hooded Men as the pin-up of due process, humanity and resolution coming together under one umbrella.

“This case is an example of why the efforts by the British government to brush the legacy of the past under the carpet will never, and can never, work.”

Mr Mackin also paid tribute to “those at the upper echelons of the PSNI and in particular ACC Todd and head of legacy branch Mr Ian Saunders, who despite the sensitivities engaged in an extensive negotiation, and against all odds, ensured the delivery of an apology before the passing of Mr Clarke”.

“Today, those efforts must be acknowledged and appreciated in what is truly a landmark development,” he said.

Belfast firm KRW LAW, which represents two of the Hooded Men, said in a statement that its clients were not previously aware of “any behind-the-scenes negotiations between any other parties and the PSNI”.

The statement added: “This apology is something which Joe Clarke sought and that is fully respected. Having said that it is surely very insensitive to wait until Joe was on his deathbed before issuing the apology.”

The two men — Liam Shannon and Jim Auld — are currently pursuing a judicial review against the PSNI over delays to its decision on whether or not to launch a criminal investigation into their torture.

In a joint statement, Mr Shannon and Mr Auld said: “We now call upon the PSNI to remove their objection to our judicial review challenge listed in a few weeks’ time.

“The apology was timed to try and influence the case. Any suggestion that we will stop our battle for a proper investigation is premature.

“We also now call upon the state to withdraw its insensitive attempt to stop our rightful claims for proper compensation for the horrendous treatment suffered by us.

“The State are still trying to fight us in this legal battle.”