Charles Moore Charles Moore

The Spectator’s Notes | 12 March 2005

If the public knew what habeas corpus meant it might be easier to retain it

issue 12 March 2005

Right-minded people are fighting to retain habeas corpus. We would have more popular success, I feel, if the public knew what habeas corpus meant. The trouble is that, even translated into English, it is still obscure.

Habeas corpus means, of course, ‘you may have the body’. The IRA seem to have their own interpretation of the phrase. First, their men murder Robert McCartney, splitting his abdomen from his navel to his breastbone, severing his jugular vein and gouging out one of his eyes. Next, they deny involvement. Then, when protests grow too loud, they say that witnesses should come forward, though without talking to the police. Finally, when that won’t do, they have a brilliant idea. They go to Mr McCartney’s family and suggest shooting the men who killed him, more bodies (‘habeas corpora’) being, in their minds, a natural solution. They seem perplexed that this idea does not find favour with the McCartneys and the public.

Charles Moore
Written by
Charles Moore

Charles Moore is The Spectator’s chairman.

He is a former editor of the magazine, as well as the Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Telegraph. He became a non-affiliated peer in July 2020.

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