§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Solicitor General, when the Department of Public Prosecutions in Northern Ireland received papers on the investigation into the death of Robert Hamill and when he expects a decision on prosecution to be made. [77619]
737W
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 30 October 2002]: A police investigation file relating to the death of Robert Hamill was received in the Director's Office on 7 August 1997. Following consideration of that file a direction was issued on 27 January 1998 to prosecute one person, Paul Hobson, for the scheduled offence of murder and affray. On 25 February 1999 at Belfast Crown Court Hobson was found not guilty of murder but guilty of affray and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment.
On 12 June 2001 a second police investigation file dealing with matters arising out of the investigation into the death of Robert Hamill was received in the Director's Office. Following consideration of the second file, on 20 August 2001 a direction was issued to prosecute two persons, Michael McKee and Andrea McKee, for the offence of doing an act with intent to pervert the course of justice. On 7 May 2002 at Craigavon Crown Court the two persons pleaded guilty to the offence. Michael McKee was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment and Andrea McKee was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years.
On 19 December 2001 a third police investigation file dealing further with matters arising from the investigation into the death of Robert Hamill was received in the Director's Office. Following consideration of the third file together with further material which became available in May 2002, a decision as to prosecution of persons reported in that file will issue shortly.