§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Attorney-General why a Mr. Alexander Hamilton was not charged along with two other men who were seen carrying out an 440W assault on a man whom Mr. Joseph Rainey of Ballymena was sentenced for killing; why Mr. Hamilton was made the main police witness in the case against Mr. Rainey; why he was permitted to leave the jurisdiction when a warrant was out for his arrest on another charge; what was the nature of this warrant; when the warrant was first issued; and how long it was until it was executed.
§ The Solicitor-GeneralIn the course of investigations into the death of Mr. George Mitchell police interviewed a number of witnesses, including Mr. Alexander Hamilton, from whom a statement of evidence was taken. As a result of the police investigations Mr. Joseph Rainey was charged in respect of the death of Mr. George Mitchell and upon both committal proceedings held before a magistrate and the subsequent trial of Mr. Rainey before a judge and jury Mr. Hamilton was a Crown witness because it appeared from his statement that he could give relevant evidence. There was no evidence of the commission of any criminal offence by Mr. Hamilton in relation to the death of Mr. Mitchell.