§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how much of the compensation paid for alleged ill-treatment in Castlereagh holding centre since June 1989 to clients represented by solicitors Madden and Finucane, was made by way of out-of-court settlements; how many of these complaints were substantiated by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints; and if he will make a statement;
(2) how much compensation has been paid for alleged ill-treatment in Castlereagh holding centre since June 1989 to individuals other than clients represented by solicitors Madden and Finucane; what proportion was made by way of out-of-court settlements; how many of these complaints were substantiated by the Independent Commission for Police Complaints; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. MawhinneyInformation about compensation payments is not available in the form requested. Compensation claims against the Chief Constable and complaints against individual members of the RUC are handled separately. Persons claiming compensation do not necessarily allege misconduct by individual officers and records held by the RUC and the police authority do not show whether these persons have also made complaints; nor do their records, or those of the Independent Commission for Police Complaints, show whether complainants are also seeking compensation. The commission, however, in its annual reports, provides information on complaints made by persons arrested under the emergency legislation. From the period 1 January 1989 to 30 September 1991, it dealt with 1,065 such cases of complaint. In 788 cases, the complainant failed to co-operate with the investigating officer, 31 cases were withdrawn and 245 were regarded as unsubstantiated because of insufficient evidence. The commission considered one case to have been substantiated, and the officer concerned was subsequently found not guilty of a disciplinary offence.