§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much has been paid out in ex gratia payments to relatives of persons killed by the security forces;
(2) how much has been paid out in compensation to relatives of persons killed by the security forces;
(3) how much public money has been paid out in ex gratia payments and compensation, respectively, to persons injured by the security forces.
§ Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 21st May 1976; Vol. 911, c. 743], gave the following information:
No ex gratia payments have been made to persons injured or the relatives of persons killed by the Security Forces in Northern Ireland.
The payment of criminal injuries compensation is dependent, under Section 1(3) of the Criminal Injuries to Persons (Compensation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1968, on whether a criminal act has been committed; and it is for the court to so determine. To establish whether there have been any such cases of compensation to persons injured, or to the relatives of persons killed, by the security forces in Northern Ireland would entail an examination of 17,042 files relating to cases settled since the commencement of the Act on 1st March 1969. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, he will no doubt write to me.