Men Unlawfully Detained for Decades Awarded Nearly $3M
The High Court of Saint Lucia has ordered the government to pay $2.97 million in damages to two men who were unlawfully detained in prison for decades after being found unfit to plead. Justice Alvin Shiva Pariagsingh described the case as one of the most serious constitutional violations in the country’s history.
Background
The two men, Anthony Henry and Francis Noel, were detained for approximately 24 and over 32 years, respectively, under a regime that failed to comply with the statutory and constitutional framework governing persons found unfit to plead. Rather than being placed in an appropriate mental health facility with structured treatment and periodic reviews, they remained in prison conditions for decades.
Legal Findings
Justice Pariagsingh stated that the breach was not a mere technicality but a “prolonged and systemic failure” by the State. He noted that the claimants were effectively forgotten within the criminal justice system for decades, adding that the case fell within the most serious category of constitutional violations.
The court heard evidence that although both men received some psychiatric care and medication from around 2003 onwards, the treatment fell well short of what the law required. There was no dedicated psychiatric facility, no structured therapeutic program, and no meaningful system of periodic review while the men were detained. They were also housed alongside the general prison population for significant periods.
Compensation
Anthony Henry was awarded $1.25 million in compensatory damages and $100,000 in vindicatory damages, while Francis Noel received $1.5 million in compensatory damages and $120,000 in vindicatory damages. The Attorney General was also ordered to pay costs, with statutory interest of six percent per annum to apply to the remaining sums until payment is made.
Implications
This ruling underscores the necessity for the State to adhere to constitutional and statutory requirements in the treatment of individuals found unfit to plead. It also highlights the importance of establishing appropriate facilities and review mechanisms to prevent similar violations in the future.
