§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what decisions have been taken by the parole board in relation to Irish prisoners who completed 20-year sentences last July; and if he will make a statement. [22417]
§ Miss Widdecombe[holding answer 22 March 1996]: Discretionary lifer panels of the parole board heard the cases of Sean Kinsella, Stephen Nordone, Noel Gibson, Paul Norney and Brendan Dowd on 12, 13 and 14 December 1995.
Noel Gibson, Sean Kinsella and Stephen Nordone were directed to be released. Such a direction is binding on the Secretary of State and they were released on 26 January. The discretionary lifer panels did not direct the release of Paul Norney and Brendan Dowd.