§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Attorney-General if he will make a statement on the application in Northern Ireland of the statement by the Lord Chancellor that rape trials should be heard only by senior judges; and in how many cases since that statement rape cases in Northern Ireland have been heard by judges other than those specified in the statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor gave directions on the distribution of Crown court business in Northern Ireland on 26 April 1983. The directions classify the offences which are to be tried by certain categories of judges. Since 26 April 1983 one plea of guilty to a charge of rape has inadvertantly been heard by a judge not included in the list of judges authorised by the directions to try such cases.
§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Attorney-General how many rape cases in Northern Ireland have been tried before senior judges since 1980.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince 1980 57 cases of rape have been tried before judges of the Northern Ireland Crown court. Until 26 April this year no account was taken of the seniority of judges in allocating cases of rape for trial. Since then directions by the Lord Chancellor specify the judges before whom rape cases may be tried.