§ Mr. Carsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners sentenced for terrorist offences committed in England since 1973 have been transferred to Northern Ireland prisons to serve their sentences; when the transfers were made; what criteria apply to such transfers; and if transferred prisoners enjoy special category status in Northern Ireland prisons and how many are involved.
§ Mr. ConcannonSix prisoners sentenced for offences committed in England since 1st January 1973 were permanently transferred to prisons in Northern Ireland during 1975. In accordance with normal practice each case was considered on its 77W merits having regard to security, compassionate and other considerations. While prison records do not separately identify persons convicted of terrorist offences four of the six prisoners transferred had been convicted of offences involving explosives and they applied for and were granted special category status under the criteria then operating.
§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people convicted of terrorist offences from Lurgan and the surrounding area of County Armagh have been released from
Crime Number of prisoners with addresses in Co. Armagh (including Lurgan Town) Number of prisoners with addresses in Lurgan Manslaughter … … … … … … 3 2 Causing an explosion … … … … … … 5 1 Placing incendiary device … … … … … … 1 1 Doing act with intent to cause explosion … … … … … … 1 1 Possession of firearms and ammunition … … … … … … 12 4 Possession of firearms … … … … … … 13 5 Possession of ammunition … … … … … … 1 1 Possession of explosives … … … … … … 6 3 Making petrol bombs … … … … … … 1 0 Robbery … … … … … … 9 2 Arson … … … … … … 4 0 Assisting offenders to leave country … … … … … … 1 0 Membership of illegal organisation … … … … … … 2 0 Communicating prohibited information … … … … … … 1 1 Intimidation … … … … … … 1 0 Total … … … … … … 61 21