FORMER Labour peer Greville Janner has been ordered to appear in court today over alleged child sexual abuse charges spanning a period from the 1960s through to the 1980s.

Mr Paul Ozin, acting on behalf of Mr Janner, slammed yesterday’s decision by the High Court as “barbaric” and “uncivilised.”

Lawyers for the 87-year-old lost their case that forcing the peer to attend court whilst suffering from severe dementia would be a violation of his human rights.

Judges at the High Court upheld a previous ruling requiring Lord Janner to be present at the trial or risk arrest.

Justice Rafferty said the court had “unhesitatingly concluded” that the balance between the human rights of Lord Janner and “the public interest in public justice” came down in favour of Mr Janner’s attendance in court. 

His lawyers responded to the decision saying that the ruling was “irrational and perverse” and could rob the peer of his dignity. 

Mr Ozin argued that his dementia was now so advanced that appearing in court would provoke a “catastrophic reaction” of extreme stress which would be breaching the peer’s rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. 

Ms Rafferty said that any reactions from Mr Janner would be short lived and quickly forgotten.

The chief magistrate concluded that it would “not be necessary for the claimant to remain in court for the entirety of proceedings which in any event are likely to be brief” and maintained that Janner could leave if he became distressed.

Janner’s lawyers are now considering whether to make an application to a Court of Appeal judge.