§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Attorney-General why fraud squad investigations into the case of Freddie Andrews were reopened in 1987; and on whose instruction there has been further investigation.
§ The Attorney-Generalinvestigations into this matter were not reopened in 1987. An investigation by an officer of the fraud squad of the Royal Ulster Constabulary commenced in August 1981. A preliminary report was submitted by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland on 26 February 1982. Since that date, thorough and complex police investigations have continued and a number of further reports have been received in the office of the Director from the Chief Constable. On 10 June 1987 a direction to prosecute an individual for an offence contrary to section 15 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 was issued to the Chief Constable.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Attorney-General if he will publish details of all properties inherited by Freddie Andrews(a) on the death of his father and (b) still in his ownership when the Official Solicitor assumed responsibility for his affairs (No. 516 1978); if he will publish dates of transfer of each property transaction and the value of each transaction; and if he will provide a copy of each audited annual account for the affairs of Freddie Andrews 256W since his affairs became the responsibility of the Office of Care and Protection, with details of the use to which moneys raised were put.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIt is not appropriate to publish details of the affairs of any patient without leave of the court, as such matters must be treated in the same confidence as that enjoyed by any other person. An application may be made to the court by any person concerned about a particular case for disclosure of any information in respect of which the applicant can demonstrate a legitimate interest.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Attorney-General why the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland originally directed no prosecution in respect of all matters raised by the late Detective Constable Patterson which included information on Freddie Andrews' case; and why investigation papers in the Andrews case were subsequently submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (Northern Ireland).
§ The Attorney-GeneralA direction to prosecute an individual for an offence contrary to section 15 of the Theft Act (Northern Ireland) 1969 was issued on 10 June 1987. An investigation by an officer of the fraud squad of the Royal Ulster Constabulary commenced in August 1981. A preliminary report was submitted by the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland on 26 February 1982. Since that date thorough and complex police investigations have continued and a number of further reports have been received in the office of the Director from the Chief Constable. The direction of 10 June 1987 was issued having regard to the various reports made by police, the last of which was submitted on 13 May 1987.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Attorney-General what discussions there have been between the relatives of Freddie Andrews and the office of the Official Solicitor on the handling of his affairs, since he was placed under the Office of Care and Protection at his relatives' request.
§ The Attorney-GeneralFollowing the appointment of the Official Solicitor on 11 January 1979 to assume responsibility for the affairs of Mr. Frederick Andrews there were numerous meetings between him and the individual members of the patient's family and their legal representatives. In the course of a review directed by the court in September 1983 the newly appointed Official Solicitor and counsel engaged by her had further discussions with the legal representatives of members of Mr. Andrews' family. At the conclusion of the review the judge directed that the Official Solicitor should discontinue investigations unless new or additional evidence was forthcoming.