Murder (Hansard, 8 February 1977)

Mr. Wm Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many murders were committed in each police division in Northern Ireland in 1976; how many are believed to have been committed as a result of the present disturbances; how many are now regarded as solved in each division; how many persons have been charged and found not guilty, or have had the charges withdrawn; how many persons were found guilty; and how many were on remand at 31st December 1976.

§ Mr. Mason
There were 280 murders in Northern Ireland in 1976. Of these 257 are attributable to the present disturbances. 107 persons have so far been charged, of whom nine have been found guilty of murder or manslaughter. Six have been found not guilty or had their charges withdrawn and 92 remain on remand. These figures could not be broken down by police division without unjustifiable effort and expenses.

Mr. Wm Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of 665W the murders committed in each police division in Northern Ireland since 5th October 1968 which were believed to have been committed as a result of the present disturbances were regarded as solved at 31st December 1976; and how many such murders were committed in each division in that period.

§ Mr. Mason
Since 5th October 1968, of the 1,445 murders committed in Northern Ireland, 1,361 were connected with the present disturbances. It is not possible without undue effort and expense either to break these figures down by police divisions or to correlate those crimes which are regarded by the police as cleared with figures for crimes connected with the present disturbances.

Mr. Wm. Ross
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are now believed to be living in foreign States whom the RUC wish to interview in respect of murders committed in Northern Ireland; in what States they are living; how many extradition warrants have been applied for in respect of each State; and whether the persons concerned were sent back to Northern Ireland in the period from 1st January 1971 to 1st February 1977.

§ Mr. Mason
The investigation of criminal offences committed in Northern

Financial Year Compensation paid to the Armed Forces (excluding costs and expenses) Compensation paid to the paid to the Police (excluding costs and expenses) Other Categories^* Total

£ £ £ £

1975–76 1,581,943 641,470 5,714,338 7,937,751

1st April 1976–31st December 1976 549,192 211,990 3,595,172 4,356,354

2,131,135 853,460 9,309,510 12,294,105

^*This column additionally includes costs and expenses in respect of all claims dealt with under the Act in these periods, including costs and expenses in cases involving the Armed Forces and the police.

The total estimated amount of outstanding claims as at 31st December 1976 was £20 million.

Financial Year	Compensation paid to the Armed Forces (excluding costs and expenses)	Compensation paid to the paid to the Police (excluding costs and expenses)	Other Categories^*	Total
	£	£	£	£
1975–76	1,581,943	641,470	5,714,338	7,937,751
1st April 1976–31st December 1976	549,192	211,990	3,595,172	4,356,354
	2,131,135	853,460	9,309,510	12,294,105
^*This column additionally includes costs and expenses in respect of all claims dealt with under the Act in these periods, including costs and expenses in cases involving the Armed Forces and the police.