British Police Harass Observer Paul Hill and witnesses on route from Colombia - to Dublin

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday April 14, 2003 15:59 by as do many other British Police

April 14, 2003

Paul Hill and 4 of the witnesses (Catherine Murphy, Michelle Devlin, Ros
O'Sullivan and Laurence McKeown) for the Colombia Three trial were
travelling from Bogota to Dublin, via Madrid, and London.

When they arrived in Heathrow Airport the British Police took their
passports from them. They also took the passport of another unidentified
Irishman who they thought were part of the group. Paul Hill told them that
he was not part of the group and the policeman shrugged and said 'wrong
place, wrong time' and took the passport anyway. The Aer Lingus flight was
due to leave but the Captain waited 25 minutes and this ensured that the
delegation did not miss their flight.

Caitriona Ruane of the Bring Them Home Campaign said 'I have written a
letter to Brian Cowen, the Minister for Foreign Affairs informing him of
this harassment. We are calling on him to make a formal complaint to the
British Government to ensure that this does not happen again.'

Paul Hill one of the Observers at the trial in Colombia said 'This was
disgraceful behaviour by the British Police. We would like to thank the Aer
Lingus Captain and the stewardesses for their kindness and support'