Amnesty International's report from October 1971, which detailed allegations of torture. Image via Amnesty International.
Merlyn Rees's note to PM in 1977 stating that Tory ministers in 1971 authorised 'methods of torture' in N Ireland — Sean O'Neill (@TimesCrime)December 6, 2014
Frankie McGuigan, one of the Hooded Men, was 23 when he was lifted from his home in north Belfast. He told VICE News:"I was in bed at 3:30 in the morning. The next thing I know there was an unmerciful thump in my stomach. I up in bed and there was a soldier pointing a rifle in my face. There were two others behind him, who grabbed me and told me they were arresting me. I went to get dressed — I was only wearing only my underpants. When I had my trousers on they said that is enough, and they dragged me out of the house."Along with some of his neighbours he was thrown into the back of an army lorry, forced to lie on the floor and taken to an army barracks. Recording testimony of internees back in October 1971, Amnesty International said:'If Britain taught the world anything, it taught it how to torture.'
A British government memo discussing the original case brought by the Irish state acknowledged that "a substantial number of the allegations" were likely to be found to be true. Image via National Archives/ The Pat Finucane Center
Image via National Archives/The Pat Finucane Center
A photograph taken in hospital shows the extent of the injuries suffered by one of the Hooded Men, who did not wish to be identified by name. Image via Jim McIlmurray, spokesperson for the men.
Image via National Archives/The Pat Finucane Center
