HC Deb 15 November 1985 vol 86 c291W
Mr. Alton

asked the Attorney-General whether action is to be taken to institute proceedings against anyone involved in the riot at the Heysel football stadium.

The Solicitor-General

Any offence of murder or manslaughter committed by a British subject abroad is triable in this country under English law. The English courts would not have jurisdiction to try any other criminal offences arising out of the events at the Heysel stadium on 29 May 1985. It is however open to the Belgian authorities to request the extradition to Belgium of British subjects for offences of murder, manslaughter or other offences of violence committed on their territory. There has, as yet, been no request by the Belgian authorities for the extradition of any British subjects. The Director of Public Prosecutions has considered evidence obtained by the Merseyside police in relation to 34 British subjects who were present at the Heysel stadium. Five of those persons have been informed that they they will not be prosecuted in this country for murder or manslaughter, but it remains open to the Belgian authorities to decide whether to make a request for their extradition. The Director of Public Prosecutions is still considering the position of the other 29 British subjects interviewed by the Merseyside police and is taking the advice of leading counsel.

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