§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Attorney-General, whether the Bennett committee identified to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland the 15 cases which it found to fall into the category injuries sustained while in police custody which were not self-inflicted; whether, medical evidence which was before the committee in these cases has been brought to his attention; and, if so, what action has been taken by him.
The Attorney-GeneralThe 15 cases in question have been identified to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, and in respect of four of them copies of medical reports were forwarded to the Director by the Bennett committee. All the cases were ones in respect of which the Director had already received files from the RUC and the medical reports had been included in those files. Accordingly no new information or evidence was brought to the attention of the Director.
In nine of these cases the Director had directed "no prosecution" since in his opinion there was not sufficient evidence to warrant a prosecution against any member of the RUC and that is still his opinion. One case is still under consideration by the Director, and in the 295W remaining five cases the Director is awaiting the outcome of criminal proceedings which are still pending.
The Director has reported to me with regard to his consideration of the evidence relating to the nine cases in which he has directed "no prosecution" and I agree with his conclusions. I also agree with his reason for deferring a decision in the five cases still outstanding.