HC Deb 15 June 1978 vol 951 cc1161-4
5. Miss Maynard

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will order an inquiry into the death of Brian Maguire, found hanged in his cell on Wednesday 10th May at Castlereagh Police Station; and if he will make a statement.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. Roy Mason)

A senior police officer from outside the RUC has carried out a full investigation, and in accordance with normal practice his report is being forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions. I understand that the coroner's inquest will take place in public on 26th June. The House will thus understand that it would not be proper for me to say anything further at this stage.

Miss Maynard

In view of what I feel is a disappointing reply, may I ask the Secretary of State whether he will consider a public inquiry into the situation in Castlereagh? I ask for that for a number of reasons. The first is the Amnesty report, which calls for a public inquiry. Amnesty is a reputable body. The second is that Britain has previously been condemned for brutal and harsh treatment of prisoners. The third is that doctors and lawyers are all critical of what is going on in Castlereagh, and the lawyers, in particular, are critical of the emergency powers legislation, feeling from the evidence that they have that this reduces the safeguards against certain police operations.

Does the Secretary of State believe that it is possible to maintain a democratic society with these powers? Does he think that it is possible to maintain a democratic society in this country while we behave as we do in Northern Ireland?

Finally—

Mon. Members

Oh.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I was kind to the hon. Lady in letting her go on for so long. But she shall have her "Finally".

Miss Maynard

Finally, will the Secretary of State agree to an all-party deputation of Members of Parliament going across to Northern Ireland to look at the prisons there—not just to meet the prisoners but to look at the prisons and the conditions there?

Mr. Mason

On the latter point, Members of Parliament are always going to Northern Ireland, whether it is Northern Ireland Labour Party defence groups, Northern Ireland Labour Party groups, or similar groups from the Opposition side of the House, and the prisons have been visited.

Secondly, on this Question I am dealing with the suicide of Brian Maguire and not the general conditions in Castlereagh. My hon. Friend will notice that there is a later Question on that subject on the Order Paper.

My hon. Friend ought to know that the suicide of Brian Maguire is the first suicide that we have had in Northern Ireland's gaols for 10 years.

Mr. Powell

Is the right hon. Member aware—

Miss Maynard

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker

Perhaps the hon. Lady would not mind waiting for a moment, otherwise she will stop anyone else asking a supplementary question.

Mr. Powell

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that my hon. Friends and I support his determination to stick to the proper procedures laid down by law, which apply to the whole of the United Kingdom, for investigating alleged breaches of discipline and alleged criminal offences, and that in this case, as in others, we entirely support his restriction of inquiries into matters of practice and procedure which are appropriate for that treatment?

Mr. Mason

Any death in police custody is a serious matter and is treated as such by any police force, including the Royal Ulster Constabulary. But that is not to say that its mere occurrence is evidence of impropriety. In England and Wales, for example, there were 169 deaths in police custody between January 1970 and the middle of 1977. In each of these cases, where appropriate, a police investigation was carried out and a public inquest subsequently held. In 27 of these cases the coroner's verdict was suicide. We are carrying out the agreed procedures in Northern Ireland precisely as they are carried out in England and Wales.

I repeat that we must keep the matter in proper perspective. This is the first suicide that we have had in the whole of Northern Ireland gaols in 10 years.

Mr. Flannery

Will my right hon. Friend accept from me that there will be a very bitter taste in the mouths of the minority community as a result of the decision to hold only internal police inquiries instead of having a full public inquiry? Will he accept that his statement this afternoon that he will not allow a full party of Members of Parliament to go to Northern Ireland will convey the impression to the minority community that concealment is going on? Will my right hon. Friend further accept from me that every progressive development that emanates from these Labour Benches is always howled at by Opposition Members, who seem to have a lot to conceal in their conduct in Northern Ireland?

Mr. Mason

I am sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but there is a specific Question on the Order Paper regarding Castlereagh, and that will be answered next.

Secondly, I do not deny people the right of going to Northern Ireland gaols, provided that there is valid reason to do so. In many instances prisoners inside gaols make requests for Members of Parliament to go. Most of the hon. Members in the Ulster parties have made visits to the gaols.

Mr. Speaker

Does the hon. Lady wish to raise a point of order?

Miss Maynard

Yes, Mr. Speaker. The point of order that I wanted to raise was that in view of the unsatisfactory reply by the Secretary of State, I reserve the right to pursue the question of an all-party delegation of Members of Parliament to go over to Northern Ireland to see the prisoners and the conditions there.