HC Deb 01 July 1981 vol 7 cc377-8W
Miss Richardson

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the 49 persons charged under section 11 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act between 29 November 1974 and 31 December 1980 were subsequently convicted; and what sentences they received.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

During the period in question, 50 persons were charged under section 11 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976. In the case of two of them, the charge was withdrawn at the trial stage, four still await trial, six were acquitted and 13 convicted.

In the other 25 cases the original charge was not proceeded with, but in 11 of those cases charges under section 10(2) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1976 or section 5(1) of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 were substituted. Three of those resulted in acquittal and eight in conviction.

The 21 persons convicted received sentences as follows:

Imprisonment 3
Imprisonment (suspended) 10
Bound over 3
Conditional discharge 4
Absolute discharge 1

The terms of imprisonment, suspended or not, ranged from three months to five years.