HC Deb 11 July 1979 vol 970 cc201-2W
Mr. Frank Maguire

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the date of conviction of John R. McKay, Douglas Murphy, Jene A. I. Palmer, Thomas W. Woods, and Ronald Martin at Belfast city commission; what sentence each received; where each served his sentence; on what date each was released from prison; how many days parole each received between conviction and release; and for how many days each was in military custody.

Mr. Alison

The persons referred to were convicted on 4 February 1977. McKay was sentenced to 15 concurrent terms of five years' imprisonment; Murphy received three concurrent sentences of one year's imprisonment; Palmer received nine concurrent sentences of three years' imprisonment; Woods was sentenced to one year's imprisonment and Martin was sentenced to five concurrent terms of two years' imprisonment. Palmer, Woods and Martin, who were serving soldiers when charged, spent the period on remand and awaiting trial in military custody, as is the usual practice. This period amounted to 109 days. McKay and Murphy, who were not serving soldiers when charged, were not held in military custody over that period. All five prisoners were transferred at their own request on conviction to a prison in Scotland. The remaining matters in the question are therefore for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

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