Men who claim they were tortured by the British authorities in Northern Ireland during the 1970s are expecting to find out today if their case is to be revisited.

The so called 'hooded men' are trying to compel the government to apply to the European Court of Human Rights to re-open a 1978 judgment.

The men hope the government will decide at today's Cabinet meeting whether to revisit their torture claim against Britain.

In the 1970s, 14 men were interned and subjected to interrogation techniques including white noise, sensory deprivation and hooding.

The European Court of Human Rights found that while this amounted to inhuman and degrading treatment, it did not constitute torture.

The Irish government has until Thursday to apply to the court to revisit that judgment - the argument being that new evidence has come to light.

The men have the backing of Amnesty International.

If the government remains undecided by this afternoon, the High Court will be asked for an order forcing its hand.