§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Attorney-General how many decisions have been taken in each year since 1985 not to prosecute people against whom there was otherwise sufficient evidence to justify prosecution, on the grounds of public interest or the interests of national security.
§ The Attorney-GeneralIn every case where the evidence is in law sufficient for criminal proceedings it is necessary to consider whether the public interest requires a prosecution. There are no records of how many decisions not to prosecute have been taken on the ground that the public interest did not require a prosecution.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Attorney-General in how many instances court proceedings have been instituted in each year since 1985, despite the evidence being otherwise regarded as insufficient to justify a prosecution, on the grounds of public interest or to protect national security.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNo prosecution should in any circumstances be instituted if the evidence is regarded as insufficient to justify a prosecution, and none has been so instituted within my knowledge by any prosecuting authority.
§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Attorney-General on how many occasions in each year since 1985(a) the Director of Public Prosecutions or (b) the Director of Public Prosecutions (NI) has concluded that, despite advice from the law officers that a prosecution would not be in the public interest, such a prosecution should be instituted.
§ The Attorney-GeneralNone.