CAJ has today expressed serious concerns at the intended arrest of lawyer Peter Corrigan.

Brian Gormally, CAJ Director, says:

“CAJ is seriously concerned at reports the PSNI intend to arrest leading human rights lawyer Peter Corrigan tomorrow (Thursday 3 November 2011).

In general human rights defenders play an important role in upholding the rule of law and there have been significant concerns in the past regarding intimidation and harassment of defence lawyers in Northern Ireland. It is wrong and dangerous to identify lawyers with their clients or their clients’ causes as a result of discharging their professional duties as legal representatives.

In this instance we are especially concerned about the circumstances of this proposed arrest, which is on an unrelated matter, but is timed just a few days before Mr Corrigan is due to lead the defence of one of the accused at one of the most high profile murder trials of recent times. It is incumbent on the PSNI to demonstrate that they can stand over this drastic course of action being entirely necessary at this particular point in time.”