HC Deb 13 February 1985 vol 73 cc179-80W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons accused of scheduled offences on the basis of accomplice witnesses' testimony are currently awaiting trial in Northern Ireland; how many persons have been convicted; how many persons have been acquitted of such crimes after having been charged either wholly or partially on the basis of accomplice witnesses' testimony; and how many persons have been released following the retraction of testimony by accomplice witnesses in each year since 1980.

Mr. Scott

On 28 January 1985, 112 persons were on remand or had been returned for trial for scheduled offences in cases in which it was intended that an alleged accomplice would give evidence for the Crown.

The other information is not available in the form requested, but during the period from 1 January 1980 to 28 January 1985, 143 people were convicted in trials where accomplice evidence was tendered, 78 people were acquitted in such trials, and 123 people were released following the retraction of accomplice evidence.