Never mind 1998, how about 978?
"At his coronation, King Ethelred II promised that he would "prohibit all manner of rapine and injustice to men of every condition". This commitment to human rights dates from the year 978.
Yet now the Home Secretary wishes to set this country against our ancient tradition of respect for the individual by withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights. That document has done more good for this country than any short-sighted anxiety over adverse court rulings could ever overcome.
Jeremy Goldsmith
Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire "
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/9910763/Theresa-May-was-right-to-criticise-judges-for-failing-to-deport-criminals.html