§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Attorney-General how many people currently imprisoned in Northern Ireland awaiting trial on the evidence of supergrasses have previously faced trial on the evidence of a different supergrass.
§ The Attorney-GeneralStatistics directly relating to these matters are not separately maintained, but an examination of the cases of persons who presently stand charged and in custody awaiting trial for terrorists offences and at whose trial an accomplice will give evidence for the Crown indicates that there are seven such persons who have previously been tried for terrorist offences in cases where another accomplice gave evidence for the Crown and a further three who were previously held in custody having been implicated by other accomplices who did not give evidence.
§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Attorney-General how many people have been granted (a) total and (b) partial immunity from prosecution in return for giving evidence for the Crown in Northern Ireland for each of the last 14 years.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo immunity from prosecution is subject to any condition that the person receiving immunity will give evidence. The decision whether to grant immunity from prosecution to any person is taken by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland personally. The principles and practices followed by the director in this connection were set out in my written answer on 24 October 1983 to the hon. and learned Member for Leicester, South (Mr. Spencer).