§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many of the 71 persons arrested and charged in 1976 and stated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary to be Irish Republican Army officers have been tried and sentenced; and what was the average length of the sentence imposed;
(2) how many persons stated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary to be Irish Republican Army officers are at present in custody in Northern Ireland;
706W(3) how many of the 63 persons arrested and charged so far in 1977 and stated by the Royal Ulster Constabulary to be Irish Republican Army officers have been tried and sentenced; and what was the average length of the sentences imposed.
§ Mr. Dunn,pursuant to the reply [Official Report, 23rd June 1977; Vol. 933, c. 573], gave the following informa tion:
Of the 71 persons arrested and charged in 1976, 46 have so far been tried. 41 were convicted and sentenced. Since life imprisonment was imposed in some cases, the average sentence cannot be accurately computed. None of the cases in respect of the 63 persons arrested and charged in 1977 has yet been brought to trial.
I am advised by the Chief Constable that a total of 277 persons believed by the RUC to have held officer status in the Provisional IRA are at present in custody in Northern Ireland.