267 / 330
GAZETTE
sepTemBER
1986
Footnotes
1. See 'A Limitations.Conundrum' in the
Gazette,
Vol. No. 80 at
pp.21
et seq.
2. (1985) 3 I.L.T. ns 47.
3. Among the authorities referred to by counsel were Lightfoot on
Limitations,
Harrison on
Ejectment,
Hales (3rd ed.) and Brady
and Kerr on
The Limitation of Actions in the Republic of Ireland.
4. Unreported Supreme Court judgment delivered on 5 July, 1986.
5. (1985) 3 l.L.T. ns 47.
6. (1838) 2 Jur. 892.
7. At p.9 of O'Dalaigh C.J.'s unreported judgment.
8.
ibid,
at p.6.
9. See s.28 of the Statute of Limitations, 1957.
10. See generally Brady and Kerr at pp.58
et seq.
11. See e.g.
Stagg
-v-
Wyatt
(1838) 2 Jur. 892.
12. [1918] 1 I.R. 140.
13. Unreported Supreme court judgment delivered 7 July, 1986, (1985
No. 301).
14. (1838) 2 Jur. 892.
15. 3 & 4 Will. 4, c.27.
16. Unreported Supreme Court judgment at p.5.
17. See s.28 of the 1975 Act.
18. The tenant by engaging in negotiations for the purchase of the
landlord's interest clearly acknowledged the latter's title.
Amnesty International
Lawyers' Group
Amnesty International, in little more than 25 years, has
spread throughout the world. It is a movement concerned
with asserting and vindicating the human rights of a
particularly vulnerable group of people — prisoners.
Prisoners of Conscience:
the immediate release of
such prisoners is sought
and worked for
Political prisoners:
a fair and early trial is
sought
All prisoners:
the use of torture and other
cruel and degrading
punishment is opposed by
all appropriate means and
the abolition of the death
penalty is urged.
How does Amnesty International set about achieving
these aims?
Amnesty International has always been concerned with
the fate of individual prisoners and its method of
operation reflects this;
the "Adoption" Scheme: each group adopts a
prisoner in another country and works for his/her
release;
the "Urgent Action" Scheme: individual members
and sympathisers send letters and telephone and
telex messages to authorities abroad on behalf of
a named prisoner who is known to be undergoing
torture or is gravely ill;
Publicity: where appropriate, major publicity
campaigns are undertaken to highlight systematic
repression in particular countries;
Research: a sustained level of research is conducted
into human rights violations in respect of the
punishment of prisoners.
What contribution can lawyers in Ireland make?
It is hardly surprising, given the nature of Amnesty's
work, that lawyers have played and continue to play an
important role in Amnesty International (a distinguished
Irish lawyer, Sean McBride S.C., was a founder of the
movement). Because of their training and experience,
lawyers are in a position to draft letters and submissions
to foreign authorities on behalf of prisoners, to help with
research into legal aspects of Amnesty's work, or to plead
the cause of a refugee seeking asylum in Ireland.
The Lawyers' Group of the Irish section of Amnesty
International has re-grouped recently and meets twice a
month in Dublin. The group distributes the latest Urgent
Action Appeals and considers what other action it can
take to further the aims of the movement.
It has to be said that the number of solicitors who are
members is rather few. Any solicitor who would like to
lend a hand but cannot possibly attend meetings can do
valuable work by writing letters and telephoning as part
of the Urgent Action Scheme. But better still, a solicitor
who felt he or she could attend an evening meeting even
once a month, would be most welcome to join the
Lawyers' Group. Please see insert in this issue of the
Gazette
for more detailed information and for the address
and telephone number of the Irish Section of Amnesty
International.
["AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL,
I Irish Section,
j 8, Shaw Street (off Pearse Street),
Dublin 2. (Tel. 01-776361).
J I WOULD LIKE TO JOIN AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
| I enclose my subscription (please tick box).
j
Individual: £10 •
Unwaged: £3.50 •
Couple:£15
•
| I wish to pay by banker's order - please send me a form.
| I commend your work -1 enclose a donation of £
• Please send me more information about Amnesty International
j
and its Irish Section.
• I am particularly interested in
• Name
Phone
| Address
J
Occupation
What is Amnesty International?
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement which is independent
of any government, political grouping, ideology, economic interest or
religious creed. It plays a specific role within the overall spectrum of
human rights work. The activities of the organization focus strictly on
prisoners.
• It seeks the release of men and women detained anywhere for
their beliefs, colour, sex, ethnic origin, language or religion, provided
they have not used or advocated violence. These people are termed
"prisoners of conscience".
• It advocates fair and early trials for all political prisoners and
works on behalf of such persons detained without charge or trial.
• It opposes the death penalty and torture, or other cruel, in-
human or degrading treatment or punishment, of all prisoners without
reservation.
257