The European Court of Human Rights (Echr) concluded that the hate cleric’s eleventh hour appeal bid against deportation was submitted within time but ruled there were no grounds to hear it. However, the decision could clear the way for the hate cleric to now sue the Home Office over the blunder.

Mrs May was accused of taking an “unacceptable risk” and faced calls to apologise for “a potentially catastrophic error of judgment”. Despite the ruling, Qatada will remain in the country for at least another year because of a separate, ongoing legal challenge against deportation to Jordan, where he faces trial for alleged terror offences. His lawyers also launched a fresh bid to have him re-released on bail while the court battles continue.

It means yet another legal merry-go-round in a ten year saga that has already cost the taxpayer up to £3 million. Qatada, once dubbed Osama bin Laden’s right hand man in Europe, was rearrested and detained on April 17 after the Home Secretary resumed deportation proceedings against him. The move came hours after what the Home Office claimed was the cut off time for any appeals to be submitted to Europe. Qatada’s lawyers argued the deadline was 24 hours later and stunned the Home Secretary by submitting an appeal later that same day.

Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, said Mrs May was “very lucky” adding: “It is very welcome that Abu Qatada’s application has been rejected.

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