Judge finds UK unlawfully detained Tamils stranded on Diego Garcia

Government could face a huge bill for damages after keeping more than 60 asylum seekers in ‘hellish’ conditions

Dozens of asylum seekers stranded on one of the most remote islands in the world in conditions described as “hell on earth” were unlawfully detained there by the UK for three years, a judge has found.

The government could now face a bill of millions in damages for unlawfully detaining more than 60 people for such a long period.