MATTHEWS v. THE UNITED KINGDOM JUDGMENT
1
In the case of Matthews v. the United Kingdom,
The European Court of Human Rights, sitting, in accordance with
Article 27 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms (“the Convention”), as amended by
Protocol No. 111, and the relevant provisions of the Rules of Court2, as a
Grand Chamber composed of the following judges:
Mr L. WILDHABER, President,
Mrs E. PALM,
Mr L. FERRARI BRAVO,
Mr GAUKUR JÖRUNDSSON,
Mr G. RESS,
Mr I. CABRAL BARRETO,
Mr J.-P. COSTA,
Mr W. FUHRMANN,
Mr K. JUNGWIERT,
Mr M. FISCHBACH,
Mrs N. VAJIĆ,
Mr J. HEDIGAN,
Mrs W. THOMASSEN,
Mrs M. TSATSA-NIKOLOVSKA,
Mr T. PANŢÎRU,
Mr K. TRAJA,
Sir John FREELAND, ad hoc judge,
and also of Mrs M. DE BOER-BUQUICCHIO, Deputy Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 19 November 1998 and 20 and
21 January 1999,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the lastmentioned date:
PROCEDURE
1. The case was referred to the Court, as established under former
Article 19 of the Convention3, by the European Commission of Human
Rights (“the Commission”) on 26 January 1998, within the three-month
period laid down by former Articles 32 § 1 and 47 of the Convention. It
originated in an application (no. 24833/94) against the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland lodged with the Commission under
former Article 25 by Ms Denise Matthews on 18 April 1994.
Notes by the Registry
1-2. Protocol No. 11 and the Rules of Court came into force on 1 November 1998.
3. Since the entry into force of Protocol No. 11, which amended Article 19, the Court has
functioned on a permanent basis.