The Home Secretary has agreed to pay damages of £40,000 to a mentally ill woman detained at Yarl’s Wood IRC under immigration powers for over 19 months between 2 April 2010 to 14 November 2011.
The Claimant, whose identity is protected by an anonymity order, issued judicial review proceedings challenging her detention on 27 May 2011. An application for interim relief resulted in the Claimant being transferred to hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 and thereafter being released. The matter was due to be heard at a full judicial review hearing on 29 October 2013; however settlement terms have now been agreed with the Home Secretary agreeing to pay the Claimant £40,000 damages as well as her legal costs.
Jane Ryan of Bhatt Murphy acted for the Claimant.