§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many complaints have been made against members of the British Army and Ulster Defence Regiment serving in Northern Ireland and with what results, including the number which have been referred to the Attorney-General or the Director of Public Prosecutions; how many have 144W resulted in criminal proceedings and with what results in terms of charges preferred, acquittal and conviction, and sentences given; what were the results of any subsequent appeals; and how many resulted in disciplinary proceedings and with what results.
§ Mr. Robert C. Brown, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th October 1975; Vol. 897, c. 793–794], gave the following information:
From 17th June 1971 to 30th September 1975, 8,585 complaints have been made against members of the Regular Army and UDR serving in Northern Ireland. 1,039 of these complaints were found to be substantiated and 1,499 were partly substantiated. Of the remainder 4,730 were found to be unsubstantiated, and 190 are still under investigation. Records do not exist as to the outcome of the balance of 1,127 complaints. Records of complaints passed to the Attorney-General for investigation are not kept. The details of the cases dealt with by the Director of Public Prosecutions since his office was set up on 30th March 1972 are:
i. Number of cases involving allegations of assault or arising out of shooting incidents referred to DPP 1,689 ii. Cases in which DPP directed no prosecutions 1,524 iii. Cases in which DPP directed a prosecution 150 iv. Cases awaiting direction 15 v. Cases heard by courts 137 vi. Number of Army personnel involved in cases heard by courts 189 vii. Convictions for: (a) assault 100 (b) non-fatal shootings 5 (c) fatal shootings 7 112 viii. Acquittals 61 ix. Charges withdrawn 16 Details of sentences given are not readily available, and it would require disproportionate effort to compile them.
Six soldiers have appealed against their convictions: four soldiers convicted for offences contrary to Section 47 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 and sentenced to six months' imprisonment had this sentence altered to six months' imprisonment suspended for two years; one soldier convicted for an offence contrary to Section 42 of the Offences 145W Against the Person Act 1861 and fined £10 had his appeal upheld and the conviction quashed; one soldier convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to three years' imprisonment had his appeal upheld and the conviction quashed.
Figures of the number of complaints that resulted in disciplinary proceedings are not readily available, and it would require disproportionate effort to compile them.