ABSTRACT
Derived from post-war colonial experience with insurgencies, “interrogation in depth” was a system of ill-treatment, almost certainly meeting the definition of torture. Special premises, equipment and trained staff were given approval at ministerial level and paid for within official budgets. Only a small number were subjected to the techniques, but the episode threw a long shadow, further embittering relations with the Catholic community and damaging ties with the Republic of Ireland. The international reputation of the United Kingdom was lastingly tarnished, with a case being brought before the European Court of Human Rights. A government-appointed committee of inquiry brought further discredit, pushing beyond the boundaries of credibility to explain and sanitise the techniques. It was left to a minority report to denounce them as illegal. The intelligence (if any) collected from those subjected to the measures is unknown, but the damage to government was considerable and long-lasting.
