Lawyer quits over terror laws
A leading barrister has reportedly resigned over anti-terror laws.
Ian MacDonald QC described the laws, which allow the indefinite detention of terrorist suspects as “odious” and a “blot on the legal landscape”.
The top lawyer’s decision to resign follows a ruling by the House of Lords that the detention of terror suspects indefinitely is unlawful.
Mr MacDonald was appointed by the Government to defend terrorist suspects and has defended foreign detainees in Belmarsh Prison in South London. He has security clearance as a Special Advocate, representing detainees before the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC).
The lawyer claims he is leaving in protest at the Government’s failure to act on the House of Lords ruling and has written an open letter for the Mail on Sunday.
In the letter he writes: “I now feel that whatever difference I might make as a Special Advocate on the inside is outweighed by the operation of a law that is fundamentally flawed and contrary to our deepest notions of justice.
“Such a law is an odious blot on our legal landscape and for reasons of conscience I feel that I must resign.”
The Government had to opt out of the European Convention rights to a fair trial in order to bring in the Terrorism Act. Any foreign national suspected of links with terrorism can now be detained or can opt to be deported. However, those detained cannot be deported if this would mean persecution in their homeland.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has attacked the decision by Britain’s highest court, insisting that the right to life is the “most important liberty”.
