O'Sullivan v Chief Executive of the Irish Prison Service and Others

• Jurisdiction: Ireland
• Judge: Justice William M. McKechnie
• Judgment Date: 25 May 2010
• Neutral Citation: [2010] IEHC 301
• Court: High Court
• Date: 25 May 2010

[2010] IEHC 301

THE HIGH COURT

Record No.:323 SS/2010

O'Sullivan v Chief Executive of the Irish Prison Service & Ors

IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 40.4.2° BUNREACHT NA HÉIREANN 1937

Between:

STEPHEN O'SULLIVAN

Applicant

-and-

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE IRISH Prison Service, Ireland and the Attorney General

Respondents

CONSTITUTION ART 40.4.2

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16(12)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2009 S12(F)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16

GOODS VEHICLES (LICENSING OF OPERATORS) ACT 1995 S38(2)

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ACT 2009 S12

TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION ART 35(2)

CONSTITUTION ART 34.4.3

CONSTITUTION ART 40.1

CONSTITUTION ART 40.3

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 6(1)

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 13

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 47

TREATY ON EUROPEAN UNION ART 19(1)

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES ART 3 S2(2)

ART 26 OF THE CONSTITUTION & S5 & S10 OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (TRAFFICKING) BILL 1999, IN RE 2000 2 IR 360 2000/11/4122

EX PARTE MCCARDLE 1868 74 US (7 WALL) 506

CONSTITUTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA S73

BLACKSHIELD & WILLIAMS AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW & THEORY: COMMENTARY & MATERIALS 4ED 2006 587-8

IMMIGRATION ACT 2004 S16(6)

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS (TRAFFICKING) ACT 2000 S5

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (MUTUAL ASSISTANCE) ACT 2008 S31

COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACT 1961 S7

TREATY ON THE FUNCTIONING OF THE EUROPEAN UNION PROTOCOL NO 36 ART 10

KENNY v TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN & DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL 2008 2 IR 40 2007/32/6662 2007 IESC 42

ORANGE COMMUNICATIONS LTD v DIRECTOR OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION & METEOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LTD (NO 2) 2000 4 IR 159 2000/15/5538

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 1997 S42(8)

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION (AMDT) ACT 2003 S27

GARDA SIOCHANA (COMPENSATION) ACT 1941 S7(2)(F)

GARDA SIOCHANA (COMPENSATION) ACT 1941 S9

CENTRAL BANK ACT 1989 S86(6)

CENTRAL BANK ACT 1989 S85

NATIONAL ASSET MANAGEMENT AGENCY ACT 2009 S194(1)

PRISONS ACT 2007 S27(5)

WATER SERVICES ACT 2007 S92(10)

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ACT 2000 S50A(3)

FISHERIES (AMDT) ACT 2003 S19(3)

OFFICIAL LANGUAGES ACT 2003 S28(3)

CMSN TO INQUIRE INTO CHILD ABUSE ACT 2000 S26A(4)

KENNY v BORD PLEANALA (NO 2) 2001 1 IR 704 2002 1 ILRM 68 2001/13/3736

ARKLOW HOLIDAYS LTD v BORD PLEANALA & ORS (NO 2) 2007 4 IR 124 2006/3/451 2006 IEHC 280

COURTS OF JUSTICE ACT 1924 S29

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS SEVENTH PROTOCOL ART 2.1

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) ART 14

EUROPEAN UNION COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION 13.6.2002 (EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003) RECITAL 5

CONTROLLER OF PATENTS DESIGNS & TRADEMARKS & FITZPATRICK v IRELAND & ORS 2001 4 IR 229

CONSTITUTION ART 40.4.3

EAST DONEGAL CO-OPERATIVE LIVESTOCK MART LTD & ORS v AG 1970 IR 317

ART 26 OF CONSTITUTION & ADOPTION (NO 2) BILL 1987, IN RE 1989 IR 656 1989 ILRM 266 1988/4/826

ADEBAYO & ORS v CMSR OF AN GARDA SIOCHANA 2006 2 IR 298 2006/1/163 2006 IESC 8

HORGAN v AN TAOISEACH & ORS 2003 2 IR 468 2003 2 ILRM 357 2003/26/6139

CRILLY v T & J FARRINGTON LTD & O'CONNOR 2001 3 IR 251

HOWARD v CMRS OF PUBLIC WORKS 1994 1 IR 101

BOURKE v AG & WYMES 1972 IR 36

VIENNA CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF TREATIES

TRIBE AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW 3ED 2000

BATOR HART & WECHSLERS THE FEDERAL COURTS & THE FEDERAL SYSTEM 3ED 1988

BUCKLEY & ORS (SINN FEIN) v AG & POWER 1950 IR 67

COCKLE v ISAKSEN 1957 HCA 85 1957-8 99 CLR 155

SMITH KLINE & FRENCH LABORATORIES (AUSTRALIA) LTD v COMMONWEALTH 1991 HCA 43 1991-2 173 CLR 194

CONCILIATION & ARBITRATION ACT 1904 S113(3) (AUSTRALIA)

CONCILIATION & ARBITRATION ACT 1904 S113(1) (AUSTRALIA)

JUDICIARY ACT 1903 S35(2) (AUST)

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA ACT 1976 S33(3)

ARKLOW HOLIDAYS LTD v BORD PLEANALA & ORS 2007 4 IR 112 2007 1 ILRM 129 2006/3/463 2006 IEHC 102

ARKLOW HOLIDAYS LTD v BORD PLEANALA & ORS UNREP CLARKE 11.1.2008 2008/2/340 2008 IEHC 2

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S10

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S37

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S15

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S15(6)

EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT ACT 2003 S16(6)

CONSTITUTION ART 34.4.4

ART 26 OF THE CONSTITUTION & EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY BILL 1996, IN RE 1997 2 IR 321 1998/18/6758

MIN FOR JUSTICE v ALTARAVICIUS 2006 3 IR 148 2006/39/8296 2006 IESC 23

BLEKXTOON & VAN BALLEGOOIJ HANDBOOK ON THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT 2005 CHAP 2

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL FRAMEWORK DECISION ON THE EUROPEAN ARREST WARRANT & THE SURRENDER PROCEDURES BETWEEN THE MEMBER STATES 25.9.2001 2001 522 COM 26

MIN FOR JUSTICE v STAPLETON 2008 1 IR 669 2008 1 ILRM 267 2007/41/8499 2007 IESC 30

R v SUSSEX JUSTICES, EX PARTE MCCARTHY 1924 1 KB 256

DUBLIN WELLWOMAN CENTRE LTD & ORS v IRELAND & ORS 1995 1 ILRM 408 1994/9/2704

O'NEILL v BEAUMONT HOSPITAL BOARD 1990 ILRM 419

O'REILLY v JUDGE CASSIDY & ORS (NO 2) 1995 1 ILRM 311 1995/4/1437

BANE & ORS v GARDA REPRESENTATIVE ASSOCIATION & ORS 1997 2 IR 449 1998/1/265

RADIO LIMERICK ONE LTD v INDEPENDENT RADIO & TELEVISION CMSN 1997 2 IR 291 1997 2 ILRM 1 1997/6/2117

ORANGE COMMUNICATIONS v DIRECTOR OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION & METEOR MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LTD 2000 4 IR 159 2000/15/5538

BULA LTD & ORS v TARA MINES LTD & ORS (NO 6) 2000 4 IR 412 2000/3/925

ROONEY v MIN FOR AGRICULTURE & ORS 2001 2 ILRM 37 2000/16/6128

D (D) v JUDGE GIBBONS 2006 3 IR 17 2006/14/2845 2006 IEHC 33

KENNY v TRINITY COLLEGE DUBLIN & DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL 2008 2 IR 40 2007/32/6662 2007 IESC 42

I (EP) & ORS v MIN FOR JUSTICE 2009 2 IR 254 2008/29/6430 2008 IEHC 432

CAMPUS OIL LTD & ORS v MIN FOR INDUSTRY & ORS (NO 2) 1983 IR 88 1984 ILRM 85

EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS & FUNDAMENTAL FREEDOMS ART 14

CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION ART 47

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Statute

Validity - Liberty - Habeas corpus - Onus of proof - Presumption of constitutionality - Right to appeal - Access to courts - Right to effective remedy - Exceptions and restrictions - Restrictions on appeal - Point of law of exceptional public importance - Requirement of leave of court and certification of point of law - Whether restriction constitutional or conventional - Whether threshold insurmountable - Whether high threshold unconstitutional interference with right to appeal - Whether threshold of exceptional public importance too high in case of personal liberty - In re the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Bill 1999 [2000] 2 IR 360, Smith Kline & French Laboratories (Aust) Ltd v Commonwealth [1991] HCA 43, 173 CLR 194, Arklow Holidays Ltd v An Bord Pleanála [2008] IEHC 2, (Unrep, Clarke J, 11/1/2008), Minister for Justice v Altaravicius [2006] IESC 23, [2006] 3 IR 148, Minister for Justice v Stapleton [2007] IESC 30, [2008] 1 IR 669, In re the Employment Equality Bill 1996 [1997] 2 IR 321, Horgan v An Taoiseach [2003] 2 I.R. 468, Kenny v Trinity College [2007] IESC 42, [2008] 2 IR 40, EPI v Minister for Justice [2008] IEHC 432, [2009] 2 IR 254, Crilly v T & J Farrington Ltd [2001] 3 IR 251, Howard v Commissioner of Public Works [1994] 1 IR 101, Controller of Patents, Designs & Trademarks v Ireland [2001] 4 IR 229, Ex-parte McCardle 74 US (7 Wall.) 506 (1868), Cockle v Isaksen [1957] HCA 85, (1957) 99 CLR 155 considered - European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 (No 45), s 16(12) - Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 (No 28), s 12(f) - Council Framework Decision (2002/584/JHA) - Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000 (No. 29) Constitution of Ireland 1937, Articles 34.4.3 , 40.1 and 40.3 - European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms 1950, articles 6(1), 13 and 14 - European Union Charter on Fundamental Rights, article 47 - Treaty on European Union, articles 19.1 and 35(2) - Claim dismissed (2010/323SS - McKechnie J - 25/5/2010) [2010] IEHC 301

O'Sullivan v Irish Prison Service

Facts: In habeas corpus proceedings, the applicant challenged the lawfulness of an amendment to s. 16(12) European Arrest Warrant Act 2003 by s. 12(f) Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, which permitted an appeal to the Supreme Court only if the High Court so certified a point of law of exceptional public importance. The applicant alleged that the restriction was unconstitutional and in breach of the ECHR and EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. The applicant had been convicted of offences as to inter alia conspiracy to defraud at common law and was sentenced to 6 ½ years imprisonment. The applicant also alleged that the failure of the State to make a Declaration pursuant to ex. Article 35 EU allowing a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice amounted to a denial of access to justice. The applicant contended that the amendment made to s. 16 rendered the threshold so high in a case concerning personal liberty as to be insurmountable. The applicant took issue with inter alia the lack of a specific saver in the section for challenges to the constitutionality of legislation and alleged that it breached Articles 34 and 40 of the Constitution.

Held by McKechnie J. that the provisions of the Convention and Charter required a fair and public hearing, an independent tribunal and an effective remedy. Neither the ECHR nor CFR had been breached in this regard. There was no question of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court being ousted as Article 34.4.4 had to be "read into" all legislation. If the constitutionality of the Act arose legitimately, no certificate would be needed to appeal. The impugned section did not discriminate nor give rise to any apprehension of bias. The Court was satisfied that s. 16(12) was constitutional and in...