§ Mr. Farrasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in how many cases prosecutions have been dropped because witnesses have refused to appear or to give evidence in 1975 and 1976 to the nearest available date, respectively; and how many witnesses in other cases refused to appear in court or make statements for the same periods.
§ The Attorney-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
Between 1st January 1975 and 28th June 1976, 16 cases involving 26 accused intended to be tried on indictment were discontinued because of the refusal of 259W 28 witnesses to appear in court or to give evidence.
During the same period findings of "not guilty" were entered in five cases involving 14 accused because of the refusal of 15 witnesses to appear or to give evidence.
No record is available of the number of witnesses who refused to appear in court where such refusals did not materially affect the result of the prosecution.
The number of witnesses who refused to make statements to the police could not be ascertained without disproportionate expenditure of time and money.