Greece to pay damages to failed bomber
The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Greece to pay €1,000 in damages to a convict who was seriously injured when a bomb exploded in his hands while he was preparing an attack.
Savvas Xiros, a 48-year-old Greek national who was jailed for life in 2003 for membership of the November 17 extremist group, turned to the Strasbourg-based court complaining of "torture or inhuman or degrading treatment".
He also complained of a lack of adequate and suitable medical treatment.
Xiros, who is in Athens' Korydallos prison, still suffers from various consequences of the explosion, including an amputated hand and serious problems affecting his sight, hearing and movements, the court heard.
He said that a refusal in 2006 -- four years after the explosion -- to hospitalise him for eye problems was "inhuman".
The court said prison authorities "had demonstrated their willingness to provide Mr Xiros with treatment carried out by specialist medical personnel in a medical setting.
"However, it held, by four votes to three, that there had been a breach of Article 3 on account of the shortcomings in the treatment provided for his eyesight problems."
Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights stipulates that "No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".
The Strasbourg-based court therefore held that the Greek state should pay Xiros 1,000 euros (1,270 dollars) for non-pecuniary damage.
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L. Dimech
Sep 10th 2010, 13:59
Well, once we're down to this ridiculous level, I suppose Greece should put the thousand Euros to this criminal's credit and debit him with the damages he's caused or meant to cause. A real demostration of Justice against Law should take all factors into consideration, in order for it to be credible and that must include all the harm done or planned by such terrorists otherwise it's just a case of what's stupidly called 'positive discrimination' giving lip service to ensure they're politically correct and not labelled anti-this or anti-that.
It's extremely aggravating that people who are law-abiding have to fork out money for such rubbish. This is the same case like the thief who broke into a house, fell and hurt and then sued the owner of the house and actually won damages !!
Have these 'judges' no brains any more .....................
Paul Barrett
Sep 10th 2010, 12:15
A pure demonstration of the difference between the Law and Justice.
Charles Sammut
Sep 10th 2010, 11:33
The decline of a civilisation. The exaltation of criminals. Europe is in the final throes of absolute decadence. It deserves to be over-run by the eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth hordes.
Roderick Theuma
Sep 10th 2010, 09:49
Am I reading right? So this guy tries to do a terrorist attack... a bomb explodes... and he gets paid damages ? --- Un believable... how low can you go?
Mark Vella
Sep 10th 2010, 08:53
Europe should be renamed to Pussy Land!!!
malcolm seychell
Sep 9th 2010, 22:38
Shame on Europe. They are funding terrorists from our taxes. Shame and more shame.