Terrorism (Hansard, 18 February 1993)

§ 5. Mr. Gallie
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people were convicted of terrorist offences in Northern Ireland in 1992.

§ Mr. Mates
Last year, 404 people were charged with serious terrorist-related offences, including 34 with murder, and 63 with attempted murder; 354 people were convicted, including seven of murder and seven of attempted murder.

§ Mr. Gallie
I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. How does the number of charges made compare with the number of incidents reported? Is he satisfied with the level of cross-border co-operation that he receives from the Irish Republic?

§ Mr. Mates
I am not sure that we have the statistics in the form for which my hon. Friend asks, but I will certainly look into that and, if we do, I shall write to him about them.
Cross-border co-operation is much better and continues to improve. The Anglo-Irish Agreement has been the major instrument in improving that co-operation. We are not satisfied, however, and we shall continue to do what we can to ensure that it gets even better.

§ Dr. Hendron
With regard to the brutal murders in 1988 of corporals Derek Howe and Derek Wood in Penny lane, Andersonstown, and the gross inconsistencies of the court decisions on those charged in connection with those murders, and bearing in mind that Patrick Kane, Sean Kelly and Michael Timmons were not present in Penny lane when the soldiers were shot, will the Secretary of State refer those cases and other associated ones to the Court of Appeal? The Secretary of State will be aware that relevant medical evidence relating to Patrick Kane was not used at the trial. I am aware that the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) has already raised this matter.

§ Mr. Mates
As the hon. Gentleman knows, representations have been made to my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State about the cases relating to the murder of those corporals. My right hon. and learned Friend is considering all of them and will then take whatever action he considers appropriate.

§ Mr. Bill Walker
When my hon. Friend discusses with his colleagues in government the conviction of terrorists, will he bring to their attention how essential the helicopter assets of the Royal Air Force and the Army are in catching the terrorists before they are convicted? We cannot trade off those helicopters for regiments of infantry; we need to have both.

§ Mr. Mates
My hon. Friend finds ever more ingenious ways of making his point. This is, of course, a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and not for me. However, the contribution made by Army and RAF helicopters in Northern Ireland is of inestimable value in the fight against terrorism.

§ Mr. Trimble
Will the Minister also confirm that the helicopters took the film that enabled the courts to identify and convict the persons involved in the murder of the two army corporals, including Messrs. Kane, Kelly and Timmons, are a particularly valuable asset to the security forces? Will the Minister recommend to the Secretary of State that when he replies to the erroneous and misleading letter that he received from the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, North (Mr. McNamara), he should explain carefully the distinctions, in law and in fact, which the courts drew carefully and accurately in that case?

§ Mr. Mates
I confirm that all the helicopter assets are of value; the way in which one can observe and take pictures of incidents is also particularly valuable in bringing convictions. The answer to the hon. Gentleman's final point is that my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State will have heard what he said and will no doubt take it into account.