§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department by what method inquest juries are selected in Northern Ireland.
Mr. John M. TaylorThe method used to select jurors to serve on coroners' juries in Northern Ireland is the same as that which applies to the summoning of jurors to serve in criminal cases. That is, the selection is based on a system of random computer selection.
In practice, this means that when a coroner requires a jury to be summoned, he arranges to obtain a list of names taken sequentially from the jury list maintained for the county court division within which the inquest is to be held. That list is compiled by random computer selection of electors resident within that division who are eligible to serve as jurors. A sufficient number of jurors will be summoned to allow a jury to be convened; a coroner's jury is required by statute to consist of between not less than seven and not more than 11 persons.
§ Mr. MaginnisTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will re-examine the way in which inquests are conducted in Northern Ireland in the light of the inquest into the death of Seamus McElwaine.
Mr. John M. TaylorI have no reason to believe that the inquest into the death of Seamus McElwaine was conducted other than regularly and in accordance with the established practice at inquests. Accordingly, I do not consider that the proceedings at this inquest necessitate a re-examination of the conduct of inquests in Northern Ireland.