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no need for the date, it is given that its up to date and would be changed if/when an inquest was granted
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{{Wikify|March 2007}}
{{Wikify|March 2007}}
'''Pearse Jordan''' (born [[12 December]] [[1969]], died [[November 25]] [[1992]], aged 22) was an [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (IRA) member ([[Volunteer (Irish republican)|Volunteer]]) killed whilst unarmed, by an [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|RUC]] officer.<ref>{{wikiref|id=EUR|text=EUR}} paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 17 and 110. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> In [[2001]], the [[European Court of Human Rights]] ordered the [[United Kingdom|British Government]] to pay fines to the families of several IRA men, including Jordan's, after holding that the men's [[human rights]] were violated by flawed [[inquest]] procedures.<ref>{{wikiref|id=BBC|text=BBC}}, {{wikiref|id=REG|text=REG}}. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> Following this judgment, the [[British law]] regarding inquests was changed.<ref>{{wikiref|id=BBC|text=BBC}}. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> Despite these developments the Jordans have still (January 2007) to be granted an inquest into their son’s killing.<ref>{{wikiref|id=SHO|text=SHO}}. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> The circumstances of his death are recounted in the [[Irish rebel music|Irish rebel/Republican song]] "Pearse Jordan", recorded by [[Éire Óg]] and, separately, by [[Gary Óg]].<ref name=Song>{{wikiref|id=TRI|text=TRI}}. The song is included in the albums "Gary Óg: Live at Glasgow" and "Éire Óg: Live at the Brazen Head".{{wikiref|id=GAR|text=GAR}} Both references accessed March 16 2007.</ref><ref>''Tírghrá'', National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.352</ref>
'''Pearse Jordan''' (born [[12 December]] [[1969]], died [[November 25]] [[1992]], aged 22) was an [[Provisional Irish Republican Army]] (IRA) member ([[Volunteer (Irish republican)|Volunteer]]) killed whilst unarmed, by an [[Royal Ulster Constabulary|RUC]] officer.<ref>{{wikiref|id=EUR|text=EUR}} paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 17 and 110. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> In [[2001]], the [[European Court of Human Rights]] ordered the [[United Kingdom|British Government]] to pay fines to the families of several IRA men, including Jordan's, after holding that the men's [[human rights]] were violated by flawed [[inquest]] procedures.<ref>{{wikiref|id=BBC|text=BBC}}, {{wikiref|id=REG|text=REG}}. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> Following this judgment, the [[British law]] regarding inquests was changed.<ref>{{wikiref|id=BBC|text=BBC}}. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> Despite these developments the Jordans have yet to be granted an inquest into their son’s killing.<ref>{{wikiref|id=SHO|text=SHO}}. Accessed March 14 2007.</ref> The circumstances of his death are recounted in the [[Irish rebel music|Irish rebel/Republican song]] "Pearse Jordan", recorded by [[Éire Óg]] and, separately, by [[Gary Óg]].<ref name=Song>{{wikiref|id=TRI|text=TRI}}. The song is included in the albums "Gary Óg: Live at Glasgow" and "Éire Óg: Live at the Brazen Head".{{wikiref|id=GAR|text=GAR}} Both references accessed March 16 2007.</ref><ref>''Tírghrá'', National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.352</ref>


==Background==
==Background==

Revision as of 10:21, 22 March 2007

Pearse Jordan (born 12 December 1969, died November 25 1992, aged 22) was an Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) member (Volunteer) killed whilst unarmed, by an RUC officer.[1] In 2001, the European Court of Human Rights ordered the British Government to pay fines to the families of several IRA men, including Jordan's, after holding that the men's human rights were violated by flawed inquest procedures.[2] Following this judgment, the British law regarding inquests was changed.[3] Despite these developments the Jordans have yet to be granted an inquest into their son’s killing.[4] The circumstances of his death are recounted in the Irish rebel/Republican song "Pearse Jordan", recorded by Éire Óg and, separately, by Gary Óg.[5][6]

Background

When Jordan was six months old he was almost killed when British Army soldiers fired a number of CS Gas canisters into his families home. A neighbour broke into the house and rushed the now unconscious Jordan to hospital. Jordan would suffers from the side effects of this attack for the remainder of his life.

He was educated at primary level at St. Aidan's Primary School and at secondary level at St. Thomas' Secondary School. After leaving school Jordan joined his family in the catering trade.[7]

Circumstances of death

Unless otherwise stated, all citations in this section refer to Template:Wikiref. All references mentioned in this section were accessed March 15 2007.

The circumstances surrounding Jordan's death are disputed.[8]

It is undisputed,[9] that in the afternoon of November 25 1992, sometime between 3 and 6 PM, Jordan, a PIRA member,[10] was driving a car in Belfast. On Falls Road his car was forcefully brought to a halt by an unmarked RUC car. There wasn't a blue flashing light on the car and none of the occupants were wearing their police caps.[11] Jordan abandoned his car, and was subsequently shot three times from behind by Sergeant A, a member of an RUC HMSU unit ("Headquarters Mobile Support Unit", the members of which were specially trained in counter-terrorism),[12] fatally wounding him a short distance from where his car had been abandoned.[13] The post-mortem report noted a bruise on Jordan's face and shin.[14] No guns, ammunition, explosives, masks or gloves were found in the car, and Jordan had been unarmed.[15] The shooting was witnessed by four civilians and several RUC officers.[16]

Sergeant A claims,[17] that the officers believed Jordan was carrying weapons for a re-supply of the Provisional IRA terrorist organization. His team signaled Jordan several times to pull over, but Jordan accelerated instead, reaching 60-70 mph. They pursued him and nudged his car to a halt. Their siren was on throughout the chase. Jordan had left his car and was running away. In the meantime a second crew arrived on the scene. Sergeant A gave Jordan a warning shout, ordering him to stop. The other police officers were shouting as well. Jordan turned towards the sergeant in an aggressive manner. His arms were down and his hands out of sight; the sergeant's vision was obscured either by his own car or the other crew's. He feared Jordan was armed and posing a threat to the sergeant's life. He was certain there were no viable alternative, and fired at Jordan, who fell over. According to the members of the other crew,[18] as they arrived on the scene and were stopping their car, Jordan either ran into them or their car struck him, bumping him in the right thigh.

The four civilian witnesses claim,[19] that after Jordan's car had been rammed to a still, he emerged from it, shaken, and staggered across the road towards them, followed by police officers. An officer about 12 feet away fired a number of shots, striking Jordan. No warning was issued by any of the officers. There had been nothing threatening in Jordan's actions. When the officers caught up with him, they verbally abused him, and pushed his face into the ground, where he was kicked and searched. The civilians had an unobstructed view of the scene from across the road. Jordan's family, as well as an Amnesty International report, suggest that the incident might have been a pre-planned operation to kill, rather than to arrest, Jordan.[20]

Inquest

An inquest was started regarding Jordan's death. One year after the incident, despite inconsistent statements from the policemen involved, the Director of Public Prosecutions deemed the case inadmissible on the basis of insufficient evidence.

Pearse Jordan's inquest is currently adjourned pending full disclosure of relevant material from the state.

The European Court of Human Rights

Subsequently, Pearse Jordan's case was brought before the European Court of Human Rights along with three similar cases.[21] In May 2001, the Court agreed that Jordan's death was in violation of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights, a section of which reads: "Everyone's right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which this penalty is provided by law."

At the High Court, counsel for the Jordan family argued that the Secretary of State was in continued breach of Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights -- the right to life -- by failing to properly investigate Jordan's killing. He stated that the British government is still in breach of European law and he called upon the Court of Appeal to issue a declaration that such a breach exists, along with an 'order of mandamus' to instruct immediate corrective action from the Secretary of State.

Counsel for the Secretary of State argued that the inquest system is the way in which Article 2 is complied with by the state.

Song

The circumstances of Jordan's death are recounted in the Irish rebel/Republican song "Pearse Jordan" (lyrics: Maire McNally), recorded by Éire Óg and, separately, by Gary Óg.[5] The recurring phrase "Slán go fóill mo chara" - the song is otherwise in English - has been translated as "Farewell, dear friend, it's not finished yet".[22]

Notes

  1. ^ Template:Wikiref paragraphs 12, 13, 14, 17 and 110. Accessed March 14 2007.
  2. ^ Template:Wikiref, Template:Wikiref. Accessed March 14 2007.
  3. ^ Template:Wikiref. Accessed March 14 2007.
  4. ^ Template:Wikiref. Accessed March 14 2007.
  5. ^ a b Template:Wikiref. The song is included in the albums "Gary Óg: Live at Glasgow" and "Éire Óg: Live at the Brazen Head".Template:Wikiref Both references accessed March 16 2007.
  6. ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.352
  7. ^ Tírghrá, National Commemoration Centre, 2002. PB) ISBN 0-9542946-0-2 p.352
  8. ^ §15
  9. ^ Unless indicated otherwise, the claims of this paragraph are corroborated by both §16 (the four civilians) and §19 (Sergeant A). See §110 as well.
  10. ^ §17; Template:Wikiref
  11. ^ §19
  12. ^ §19
  13. ^ §12, §13 & §14
  14. ^ §14
  15. ^ §13
  16. ^ §15 & §21
  17. ^ §19 & §20
  18. ^ §21
  19. ^ §16
  20. ^ §17; Template:Wikiref, "Investigative Procedures: practice and standards", pp. 8-12
  21. ^ Template:Wikiref. Accessed March 14 2007.
  22. ^ Template:Wikiref. Accessed March 15 2007.

References

  • (ANN) Amnesty International. "United Kingdom: Political Killings in Northern Ireland". AI Index: EUR 45/01/94. [1]
  • (BBC) BBC News. March 8 2002. "Policeman given inquest summons". [2]
  • (EUR) European Court of Human Rights. May 4 2001. "Case of Hugh Jordan v. the United Kingdom". Judgment. [3]
  • (GAR) GaryOg.com. Lyrics. [4].
  • (PHO) An Phoblacht. November 25 2004. "Notices". [5]
  • (REG) Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights. "Press release issued by the Registrar: Judgments in the Cases of Hugh Jordan v. the United Kingdom, McKerr v. the United Kingdom, Kelly and Others v. the United Kingdom and Shanaghan v. the United Kingdom". [6]
  • (SHO) Short, Evan. January 25 2007. "Weighing up the scales". Andersonstown News. [7]
  • (TRI) Triskelle. "Pearse Jordan". [8].
  • Amnesty International. May 4 2001. "United Kingdom: Landmark judgment on killings in Northern Ireland". Public Statement. Amnesty International Online>Home>Library>Europe and Central Asia>Western Europe>UK. [9]. Accessed March 14 2007.
Amnesty International declares the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in the cases of Jordan et al "landmark judgments".
  • BBC News. July 9 2002. "IRA family sue top judge". [10]. Accessed March 14 2007.
In 2002 the Jordan family sued the Lord Chief Justice for breach of the Human Rights Act. It was the first case in which judicial officials were personally sued under this act.
  • Friel, Laura. September 7 2006. "Insult to Injury". An Phoblacht. [11]. Accessed March 14 2007.
Pearse Jordan.
  • MacDabhaid, Pádraig. October 14, 1999. "Who killed our loved ones?". An Phoblacht. [12]. Accessed March 14 2007.
Pearse Jordan's parents, Hugh and Teresa Jordan.
  • McNally, Maire. "Pearse Jordan" (song). GaryOg.com. [13]. Accessed March 15 2007.
The lyrics of the Irish rebel song "Pearse Jordan", by Maire McNally, recounting the circumstances of Jordan's death.
  • YouTube. October 15 2006. "Eire Og 3 - Pearse Jordan". Provided by wilhelm747. [14]. Accessed March 16 2007.
  • YouTube. February 18 2007. "Gary Og Pearse Jordan". Provided by darrin42. [15]. Accessed March 16 2007.
The two recordings of the song mentioned in the article.
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