§ Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he is taking against the RUC officers responsible for the convictions of Noel Bell, Winston Allen and James Hegan following the appeal judgment.
The Attorney-GeneralI have been asked to reply.
On 29 July 1992 the Court of Appeal directed that its judgment in the appeal of R v. Neil Fraser Latimer, James Irwin Hegan, Noel Richmond Bell and Alfred Winston Allen be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland so that he could consider the bringing of prosecutions against officers who he considered had committed criminal offences in connection with the trial of the appellants.
I am informed that on 5 August 1992 the Director issued an interim direction to the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary requesting that certain reports and information be obtained. When these matters have been received and considered the Director will take decisions as to whether or not to institute proceedings.
834WOnce the Director has taken these decisions, and subject to them, it wil be for the Chief Constable of the RUC to decide whether disciplinary charges should be brought against any police officer.