§ 55. Mr. AllenTo ask the Attorney-General when he last met the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland to discuss prosecutions arising from operation Clockwork Orange.
§ The Attorney-General: (Sir Patrick Mayhew)I have had no such discussion with either director.
§ Mr. AllenIf just a fraction of the allegations, accusations and rumours in respect of the Clockwork Orange operation are true, that is of great concern to hon. Members in all parts of the House.
Does the Attorney-General feel that he has some constitutional, political or even moral responsibility to get to the bottom of this?
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo evidence suggesting that criminal activity took place has come to my attention—I would certainly have a constitutional role if that were the case. I notice that this matter was fully dealt with by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence in his oral statement of 1 February when he said that if people did have evidence of conduct that they believed to be criminal, they should
produce it so that the matter can be investigated properly.He went on to contrast the profusion of allegations with what he described as:an amazing unwillingness to produce evidence which can be tested and checked"—[Official Report, 1 February 1990; Vol. 166, c. 454.]