§ Mr. Frank Maguireasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the British Army sentenced for crimes committed in Northern Ireland have served their time in a Northern Ireland prison; and how many have been sentenced for assault.
§ Mr. Robert C. BrownWhen a soldier whose home is in Great Britain is convicted in Northern Ireland and sentenced to a prison term, it is customary for him to request to be transferred to a prison nearer his home and for such a request196W to be granted. There are, however, currently 10 individuals serving sentences in Northern Ireland prisons who were members of the British Regular Army at the time of their conviction.
Figures collected annually show that between the end of March 1972 and the end of February 1977 135 members of the British Regular Army were convicted in Northern Ireland of assault.