§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what, for life sentence prisoners released in the past 25 years, was the average time served in prison for(a) Republican, (b) Loyalist and (c) other prisoners. [27393]
§ Mr. IngramThe average time served in prison for life sentence prisoners released in the past 25 years could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, information is available for such releases since 1985, ie those recommended for release by the Life Sentence Review Board.
Average period served by indeterminate sentence prisoners1 released on licence since 1985 Loyalist Republican Others 14 years 4 months 14 years 11 months 12 years 3 months 1 Includes life sentence and Secretary of State's Pleasure prisoners. Note:
The classification into Republican and Loyalist is the perceived affiliation at the time that the offence was committed.
499W
§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Republican, Loyalist and other life sentence prisoners have been released on licence in each year since 1970; and how many in each category have subsequently(a) been arrested (b) had their licence revoked or (c) been reconvicted for a similar offence. [27392]
§ Mr. IngramThe information requested, where available, is set out below. The figures relate to life sentence and Secretary of State's pleasure prisoners.
Indeterminate sentence prisoners released on licence since 1985 Year Republican Loyalist Other Total 1985 4 6 0 10 1986 7 6 2 15 1987 14 12 2 28 1988 7 19 2 28 1989 12 25 1 38 1990 37 35 3 75 1991 14 11 1 26 1992 21 27 0 48 1993 18 33 3 54 1994 32 15 2 49 1995 8 11 4 23 1996 9 7 3 19 1997 5 11 0 16 1998 2 3 4 9 Note:
These figures include prisoners detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure. They exclude prisoners released on medical grounds or who provided significant assistance to the authorities.
(a) This information is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
(b) This information is readily available only for the period commencing 1985. The total number of licences revoked is 18: three Republican, 10 Loyalist and five Other. (c) Of the 18 prisoners whose licences have been revoked two have been reconvicted of further serious terrorist type offences: one Republican and one Loyalist.