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Parole body decision ruled 'unlawful'

A DECISION to deny a human rights watchdog access to a hearing on whether to release Old Bailey bomber Marian Price was unlawful, a High Court judge ruled yesterday. Mr Justice Treacy held that the Northern Ireland Parole Commissioners had misdirected themselves in refusing to let the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ) attend as an observer. "Even in circumstances where there is an exception to the general principle of open justice, there is still a public interest in proceedings being as transparent and accountable as possible," he said. Lawyers for the CAJ pressed ahead with the judicial review challenge even after Price was released from custody. Rejecting claims that the case had been rendered academic, they claimed it formed part of a wider policy of refusing applications to attend Parole Commissioner hearings. Price, a 59-year-old veteran republican, spent two years behind bars before being freed in May last year. She had served a jail sentence along with her late sister Dolours for their part in the IRA car bomb attack on London's Old Bailey courts in 1973 in which one man died and more than 200 people were injured. But her licence was revoked in 2011 by the then secretary of state, Owen Paterson. The CAJ then applied to be present as an observer at a number of hearings held before the Parole Commissioners determined she could be released again. Permitting its attendance would have ensured an additional layer of transparency and accountability, counsel for the watchdog argued. Although information discussed in the hearings is confidential and cannot be disclosed, being able to sit in on them would help form opinions. The CAJ had also been following the impact that detention was having on her health. Refusing access, the Parole Commissioners concluded that this close monitoring was not deemed sufficient reason to permit attendance. But Mr Justice Treacy held that the request to send a representative as an observer was considered by the Parole Commissioners under a different section of the relevant rules. "These are clearly different tests with different considerations to be measured," he said. "For this reason the commissioners misdirected themselves in law and could not have weighed the factors relevant to the rule. The decision is therefore unlawful." ' * JAILED: Old Bailey bomber Marian Price spent two years behind bars after her licence was revoked by the then secretary of state, Owen Patterson