§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Attorney-General (1) when the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions sent to him the papers on the case of Mr. John Boyle who was shot in the back and killed by the Army on 11 July 1978; and if he will make a statement about the matter;
(2) when the Northern Ireland Director of Public Prosecutions sent to him the papers on the case of Mr. Jim Taylor who was shot by the Army near Corgh, Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
The Attorney-GeneralThere is no legal requirement on the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland to send to me papers in connection with possible prosecutions. He discharges his functions of directing whether or not a prosecution should take place independently. He is, however, required to discharge all his functions under my superintendence and subject to any directions which I may give and he is responsible to me for the due performance of his functions.
29WOn 19 October 1978, the Director informed me of the then known facts of the case relating to the death of John Boyle, considering it to be one of importance and sensitivity which justified his consulting me. We agreed that further inquiries were desirable and these were completed by the end of 1978. On 9 January 1979, the Director and counsel attended me in London for further discussions. Following those discussions the Director issued a direction in this case, directing that certain soldiers be prosecuted.
The papers in the case relating to the death of Jim Taylor were received by the Director on 15 January 1979, but further investigations are proceeding. No papers have been received by me.