§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Attorney-General if he will give information for the years 1982 and 1983 in Northern Ireland for how many people have been convicted on the evidence of converted terrorist witnesses; in how many cases this evidence was corroborated by other evidence either of (i) another converted terrorist or (ii) other evidence; in how many cases the evidence of the converted terrorist constituted the sole evidence of the crime being associated with the accused or of the crime itself; how many persons have been charged on the basis of a converted terrorist's evidence; and in how many cases this is the only evidence upon which persons at present stand accused.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe term "converted terrorist" has no precise meaning, but in so far as the question relates to the evidence of the accomplices in trials for scheduled offences, four persons in 1982 and 69 persons in 1983 were either convicted or pleaded guilty in consequence of evidence given by such accomplices. In no case was any other accomplice called on behalf of the Crown to corroborate the evidence of an accomplice called as a witness. There is no comprehensive record of, and it is not now feasible to identify without disproportionate cost, the matters which may have been before the court for the purpose of individual charges or whether they were capable of constituting corroboration.
I am unable to answer the question so far as it relates to the number of persons charged since in very many cases charges will have been brought by the Royal Ulster Constabulary without reference to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Since cases in which persons at present stand accused are, by definition, sub judice, I cannot comment upon the evidence that has been or may yet be put before the court in those cases.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Attorney-General how many people in Northern Ireland at present await trial on the evidence of converted terrorists; what numbers of those persons have been refused bail; and what is the average period of remand for which persons detained without bail have been held to date after being charged on the evidence of a converted terrorist irrespective of whether that person has been brought to trial.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe bringing of charges is in general the responsibility of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the Director of Public Prosecutions is not necessarily involved. However, I am informed that the position in relation to the matters raised by this question is as follows. The term "converted terrorist" has no precise meaning, but in so far as the question relates to the evidence of accomplices against persons charged with scheduled offences, there were on 3 January 1984 202 persons who were on remand or had been returned for trial for scheduled offences in cases in which it is intended that an accomplice will give evidence for the Crown. Eighty-six of these were then in custody, of whom 76 had made applications for bail which were refused. As at 3 January 1984, the average time spent in custody by persons awaiting trial for scheduled offences in cases in which it230W is intended that an accomplice will give evidence for the Crown or in cases which have already come to trial and in which an accomplice was a witness for the Crown was 45 weeks.