THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS, MEETING IN STRASBOURG, FRANCE, JULY 1, REJECTED A CLAIM BY AN IRISH LORRY DRIVER, GERARD LAWLESS, FOR DAMAGED AGAINST THE EIRE GOVERNMENT - IT WAS THE FIRST JUDGMENT BY AN INTERNATIONAL COURT IN A DISPUTE BETWEEN A STATE AND ONE OF ITS CITIZENS.

THE COURT RULED THAT THE EIRE GOVERNMENT DID NOT VIOLATE THE EUROPEAN HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTION WHEN LAWLESS WAS ARRESTED IN 1957 - ON SUSPICION OF BEING A MEMBER OF THE IRISH REPUBLIC ARMY - AND HELD FOR SIX MONTHS WITHOUT TRIAL.

FROM THE IRISH GOVERNMENT'S MANY PLEAS TIME COURT ACCEPTED ONE THAT SAID THE ARREST WAS JUSTIFIED BY THE DANGEROUS SITUATION IN IRELAND IN 1957.