§ 7. Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on his policy toward the paying of witnesses in criminal trials. [35386]
§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Sir John Wheeler)It is not Government policy to pay witnesses to give evidence in criminal trials.
§ Mr. MullinWere any of the witnesses at the trial of Mr. Colin Duffy in the pay of the Royal Ulster Constabulary? The Minister will recall that Mr. Duffy was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment on the basis of some extremely dubious identification evidence, and that one of the anonymous witnesses who gave evidence against him was a Mr. Lindsay Robb, in whom the judge expressed total confidence as to his uprightness and integrity, and who turned out to be an Ulster Volunteer Force gun runner. When does the Minister think that Mr. Duffy's conviction will be referred back to the Court of Appeal so that it can be quashed?
§ Sir John WheelerNo one is in the pay of the RUC. No one is paid to be a witness before the courts. I cannot comment on individual cases, particularly the case of Duffy, which I understand is in the process of appeal.