HC Deb 18 February 1987 vol 110 cc733-4W
Mr. McNamara

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the procedure for the review of life sentences for prisoners convicted of offences in Great Britain but serving their sentences in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Scott

[pursuant to his reply, 17 February 1987]: Under section 26(4) of the Criminal Justice Act 1961, a prisoner permanently transferred from Great Britain to serve his sentence in Northern Ireland is treated for the purposes of detention, release, recall and otherwise as if the sentence had been imposed in Northern Ireland. It follows that the review procedures in these cases are the same as those which apply to persons convicted in Northern Ireland, but in cases of murder the trial judge in the jurisdiction in which the sentence was imposed must be consulted before the prisoner is released on licence.