HC Deb 07 December 1984 vol 69 cc295-6W
Mr. Parry

asked the Attorney-General if the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland received from the coroner, under the Prosecution of Offences (N.I.) Order 1972, a report on the circumstances surrounding the death of Mrs. Norah McCabe on 9 July 1981.

The Solicitor-General

No. The police had already fully reported the facts to the Director who had taken his decision before the inquest was held.

Mr. Parry

asked the Attorney-General if he was consulted by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland about any prosecutions arising out of the death of Mrs. Norah McCabe on 9 July 1981.

The Solicitor-General

No.

Mr. Parry

asked the Attorney-General if he will now state why no prosecution has been commenced by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in respect of the death of Mrs. Norah McCabe on 9 July 1981.

The Solicitor-General

The Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland carefully considered all the evidence available to him in this case, including the full version (as distinct from the edited version shown recently on television in this country) of the film that was taken by the Canadian news cameramen who were present and filming at the time of the incident in question. He concluded that the evidence did not warrant the institution of proceedings against any person in respect of Mrs. McCabe's death.

Mr. Parry

asked the Attorney-General what are the criteria applied by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in making a decision whether or not to bring a prosecution against a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for offences of violence against members of the public; and if these criteria are different in any way from those which are applied in decisions concerning the prosecution of members of the public or of members of a police force in England and Wales.

The Solicitor-General

The criteria applied by the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland in these cases are exactly the same as those applied in comparable cases involving members of the public or members of a police force in England and Wales.

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