§ Dr. HendronTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what factors underlie his Department's delay in responding to the Thornton report concerning the Casement Three, sent to his office on 11 June 1996; [13297]
(2) when he plans to respond to the Thornton report, concerning the Casement Three; [13298]
(3) what assessment he has made of the implications of the submission from Peter Thornton QC relating to the Casement Three; and if he will make a statement. [13299]
§ Sir John WheelerIn June 1996, my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State received representations from the Committee on the Administration of Justice arguing that the cases of Patrick Kane, Michael Timmons and Sean Kelly should be referred back to the Court of Appeal. The submission took the form of a lengthy legal opinion from Mr. Peter Thornton QC. Having obtained detailed advice on the complex legal issues raised, he is now considering the representations in depth and hopes to be able to make his conclusions known to the committee within the next few weeks.