HC Deb 21 July 1976 vol 915 cc1790-2
30. Mr. Fairbairn

asked the Lord Advocate when he expects charges to be brought against any person for the murder of Mrs. Rachel Ross, for which Patrick Connolly Meehan was wrongly convicted; what progress he has made with his inquiries into the circumstances in which he was wrongly convicted; and when he expects any charges to be brought relative thereto.

The Lord Advocate

A thorough investigation is taking place. It has not been completed, but already considerable new evidence has come to light. In these circumstances I regret that I cannot at present answer the Question further.

Mr. Fairbairn

Does the Lord Advocate appreciate that I do not want to rush him into an early prosecution of any person in connection with this case? Nevertheless, there having been an admission that the conviction of a person on the evidence prepared by the police was wrong, and there having been a confession in public by a man who claims to have done it, it is important that this matter should not be allowed to go to sleep.

The Lord Advocate

The hon. and learned Gentleman will understand if I do not go beyond my statement.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Will the Lord Advocate publish the report of the inquiry he has carried out on this matter?

The Lord Advocate

No, Sir. It would not be appropriate for the Lord Advocate, who is also the Public Prosecutor, to publish the report he has received. The question of any further inquiry is a matter that must be resolved after any prosecution may have been dealt with.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman give an indication of the likely time scale of the end of the inquiry? There is a feeling among many of us who are familiar with criminal processes in Scotland that the Crown Office would like to put the matter to sleep. Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman in touch with the Crown Agent, and will he speak to him about the time scale?

The Lord Advocate

I repudiate the suggestion that this matter is being treated in a dilatory manner by the Crown Office. It is being pursued with the utmost vigour. Hon. Members must appreciate that this is a very difficult matter which must be investigated thoroughly.

Mr. Rifkind

Will the Lord Advocate tell us whether the recent death of Mr. Abraham Ross, husband of the murdered woman, will prejudice the inquiry?

The Lord Advocate

I hope that it will not prejudice the inquiry. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the death of this gentleman is an unfortunate circumstance. Every effort was made to obtain a deposition from him before he died. As soon as we knew that Mr. Ross was in danger of dying, the procurator fiscal made arrangements to have the sheriff and the sheriff clerk in attendance at the hospital to take a dying deposition. They went to the hospital on the day Mr. Ross died, but it became clear that he could not make a statement. Arrangements were made for them to return in the evening, but by that time Mr. Ross had died.