asked the Minister for Justice the number of persons at present imprisoned under the Offences Against the State Acts, 1939 and 1940, the number of times each of these persons has been imprisoned or interned under those Acts, and the number of these persons who are natives of Northern Ireland.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Offences Against the State Acts: Persons Imprisoned or Interned.
14.
Seventeen persons are at present serving sentences of imprisonment for offences under the Offences Against the State Act, 1939.
One of them was also committed to prison under sentence in 1941 and in 1946 and was interned from July, 1942 to September, 1944. Apart from him, the following are the details of previous imprisonments under the 1939 Act, and of internments under the 1940 Act, all of which relate to the period since 1st January, 1957:
One was committed to prison under sentence in 1957, in 1958 and in 1960 and was also interned for a period in 1958.
Three were committed to prison under sentence in 1957 and 1960 and each was interned for a period in 1957.
Two were committed to prison under sentence in 1959.
One was committed to prison under sentence in 1960.
Four others were interned in 1958 and were released in 1959.
Thus, of the 17 persons now in prison, 12 were previously imprisoned or interned. Of these, eight who were imprisoned include five who were interned. Four others were interned but not imprisoned.
Three of the 17 were born in the Six Counties.