HC Deb 19 May 1998 vol 312 cc326-7W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prisoners convicted of terrorist offences who have been transferred from Great Britain to prisons in the Irish Republic indicating the(a) date of transfer, (b) date and length of sentence and the crimes of which they were convicted, (c) organisation to which they claimed allegiance and (d) date of release under the rules governing such release (i) in Great Britain prior to the Belfast Agreement, (ii) in Northern Ireland prior to the Belfast Agreement and (iii) under the terms of the Belfast Agreement. [41663] Ms Quin [holding answer 12 May 1998]: Since the Irish Republic ratified the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons in November 1995, 23 prisoners convicted in England and Wales of terrorist-related offences have been repatriated to the Republic.

It is not normal practice to disclose the personal details of individual prisoners, nor does the Prison Service record centrally information on organisations to which prisoners may have claimed allegiance. However, the table lists for each of the 23 prisoners repatriated to date: their offences; date of sentence; sentence length; date of repatriation; non-parole release date in England and Wales; and, although the prisoners were not subject to the legislation applicable in Northern Ireland, dates of release, had they been so subject, prior to the Belfast Agreement.

The release, under the terms of the Belfast Agreement, of repatriated prisoners is a matter for the Irish Government.

Prisoners convicted of terrorist-related offences and repatriated to the Republic of Ireland
Offence Date of sentence Sentence Date of transfer to the Republic Release under rules applicable in England Release under rules applicable in Northern Ireland prior to the Belfast Agreement
Attempted murder x 2, possession of firearms 30 March 1993 18 years 13 November 1996 3 July 2004 3 July 2001
Conspiracy to cause explosions, placing explosives 14 April 1987 16 years 16 December 1996 6 January 1997 4 September 1991
Possession of explosive substance 19 July 1993 17 years 3 December 1997 27 February 2004 28 April 2001
Cause explosion, place explosives, attempted murder, kidnapping, possession of firearms 10 February 1994 25 years 3 December 1997 24 November 2009 24 September 2005
Cause explosions, place explosives 13 May 1994 30 years 3 December 1997 2 March 2013 1 March 2008
Murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to cause explosions 30 June 1977 Life 18 December 1997 Discretionary Discretionary
Conspiracy to cause explosions 23 June 1986 Life 15 January 1998 Discretionary Discretionary
Conspiracy to cause explosions 2 July 1997 35 years 15 January 1998 19 November 2019 18 January 2014
Conspiracy to cause explosions 2 July 1997 35 years 15 January 1998 19 November 2019 18 January 2014
Conspiracy to cause explosions 2 July 1997 35 years 15 January 1998 19 November 2019 18 January 2014
Conspiracy to cause explosions 2 July 1997 35 years 15 January 1998 19 November 2019 18 January 2014
Conspiracy to cause explosions 2 July 1997 35 years 15 January 1998 19 November 1998 18 January 2014
Conspiracy to cause explosions 6 December 1990 30 years 15 January 1998 18 March 2010 25 December 2004
Murder x 6, conspiracy to cause explosions, conspiracy to discharge firearms, false imprisonment, using a firearm 10 February 1977 Life 5 May 1998 Discretionary Discretionary
Murder x 6, conspiracy to cause explosions, conspiracy to discharge firearms, false imprisonment, using a firearm 10 February 1977 Life 5 May 1998 Discretionary Discretionary
Murder x 6, conspiracy to cause explosions, conspiracy to discharge firearms, false imprisonment, using a firearm 10 February 1977 Life 5 May 1998 Discretionary Discretionary
Murder x 6, conspiracy to cause explosions, conspiracy to discharge firearms, false imprisonment, using a firearm 10 February 1977 Life 5 May 1998 Discretionary Discretionary
Murder, attempted murder 30 March 1994 Life 5 May 1998 Discretionary Discretionary
Murder 16 February 1988 Life 5 May 1998 Discretionary Discretionary

Forward to