International terror suspects are being held in inhuman and degrading conditions in Northern Ireland, the North's Human Rights Commission claimed today.
Prisoners have been processed through facilities in Co Antrim to deportation centres in Britain.
The commission accused the authorities of infringing the human rights of suspects, who it said were deprived of outdoor facilities for periods of up to 28 days.
Commissioner Ann Hope said: "For us in the commission holding individuals for such lengthy periods without a trial is an infringement of their human rights in the first place but to hold them in such confined cells without access to an outside space for up to four weeks constitutes inhuman and degrading treatment."
She added that others accused of less serious offences had also been imprisoned at Antrim after being taken there from Paddington Police Station in London.
"We believe that its cells are not an appropriate place for 28 days' detention, never mind the proposed 90-day period before charges are formally laid," she added.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: "Whilst in the care of police, the detainees are afforded all the same conditions and access to approved persons as any other detained person."
Ms Hope was speaking during a conference in Templepatrick, Co Antrim, entitled "The Challenges of Transition", to mark the UN's international day of peace.
PA