§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners in Northern Ireland are serving life sentences.
§ Mr. ScottThree hundred and sixty eight prisoners in Northern Ireland are currently serving life sentences. Another 65 persons are serving sentences of detention during the Secretary of State's pleasure, the mandatory sentence where a person is convicted of murder committed when he or she was under the age of 18.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prisoners who have served sentences for murder or attempted murder have been released from prison in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years; and how many such prisoners are expected to be released this year.
§ Mr. ScottThe number of persons released from prison who have served sentences for murder or attempted murder is as follows:
1980 1981 1982 1983* Murder 1 2 6 1 Attempted Murder† 11 10 16 16 * To 9 November Two prisoners convicted of murder and sentenced to be detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure are expected to be released on licence before the end of this year, and five more are expected to be released from fixed terms imposed for attempted murder. † Figures for attempted murder relate to those having served fixed term sentences.