Facts: The applicants are parents of the victims who were shot dead by members of the Special Air Service, a regiment of the British Army which was expecting a terrorist attack by the IRA. An investigation began but certain information was not disclosed.
Holding: the ECHR found a violation of article 2 of the European Convention (right to life).
Reasoning: when individuals have been killed by
agents of the State, article 2 imposed that an investigation be made. Even
if shortcomings in the investigation had been found in the present case, the
Court held that they did not hamper the making of a thorough and impartial
examination of the circumstances surrounding the killings. Accordingly,
there had been no breach of Article 2-1. However, the Court found a
violation of article 2 because the killing of the three terrorists did not
constitute a use of force which was" absolutely necessary" as proscribed by
Article 2-2.
