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Spain releases Eta convict after European court ruling | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A convicted Basque militant has been freed after the Spanish authorities upheld a European Court of Human Rights ruling against her continued detention. | |
Ines Del Rio, of the separatist group Eta, had been serving a 30-year sentence for bomb attacks in the 1980s. | |
Spain's High Court had earlier backed the Strasbourg court's ruling against Spanish laws that denied her right to earn remission through prison work. | |
Spain says dozens of Eta prisoners could now be eligible for release. | Spain says dozens of Eta prisoners could now be eligible for release. |
Ines del Rio left the Teixeiro prison in A Coruna in north-west Spain at 16:25 local time (14:25 GMT). | |
Monday's ruling by the European Court of Human Rights "gives us no choice", concluded a prosecutors' report at the High Court requesting Del Rio's immediate release, reported El Pais newspaper. | |
The penal chamber subsequently ordered her immediate release. | |
Groups representing victims of Eta's bloody four-decade campaign for independence for regions of northern Spain and south-west France denounced the Strasbourg ruling in protests on Monday, while supporters of the prisoners held marches in favour. | Groups representing victims of Eta's bloody four-decade campaign for independence for regions of northern Spain and south-west France denounced the Strasbourg ruling in protests on Monday, while supporters of the prisoners held marches in favour. |
Eta declared an end to its armed campaign in 2011. | Eta declared an end to its armed campaign in 2011. |
Parot doctrine | Parot doctrine |
Del Rio was arrested in 1987 for her part in 23 murders and car bombings carried out by Eta. | Del Rio was arrested in 1987 for her part in 23 murders and car bombings carried out by Eta. |
She was later sentenced to more than 3,800 years in jail, but the criminal code in force at the time reduced this to a maximum stay of 30 years. | She was later sentenced to more than 3,800 years in jail, but the criminal code in force at the time reduced this to a maximum stay of 30 years. |
Del Rio earned sentence reductions through prison work, making her eligible for release in July 2008 - but two years earlier the High Court applied what is known as the "Parot doctrine" to extend her detention. | Del Rio earned sentence reductions through prison work, making her eligible for release in July 2008 - but two years earlier the High Court applied what is known as the "Parot doctrine" to extend her detention. |
Under this doctrine, sentence reductions are applied to the sentences for individual crimes - collectively amounting to 3,828 years - rather than the overall 30-year maximum stay. | Under this doctrine, sentence reductions are applied to the sentences for individual crimes - collectively amounting to 3,828 years - rather than the overall 30-year maximum stay. |
It meant Del Rio's release would be postponed until 2017. | It meant Del Rio's release would be postponed until 2017. |
But on Monday the European Court of Human Rights, upholding a July 2012 ruling in favour of Del Rio, condemned Spain for this practice and ordered Spain to ensure her immediate release and to pay her 30,000 euros (£25,400; $41,000) in compensation. | But on Monday the European Court of Human Rights, upholding a July 2012 ruling in favour of Del Rio, condemned Spain for this practice and ordered Spain to ensure her immediate release and to pay her 30,000 euros (£25,400; $41,000) in compensation. |
Although the Strasbourg court's ruling only applies to Del Rio, the Spanish government says dozens of other convicted Eta members could be eligible for release. | Although the Strasbourg court's ruling only applies to Del Rio, the Spanish government says dozens of other convicted Eta members could be eligible for release. |