asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in the light of a recent television programme he will urge the British Home Secretary to send the case of the Guildford Four and the case of the Maguire family for review to the Court of Appeal.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Guildford and Woolwich Cases.
6.
I am aware that an ITV "First Tuesday" television programme of 3 March presented the evidence of a witness, Mrs. Yvonne Fox, who had not been called at the original trial of the Guildford Four. The programme also carried statements by Cardinal Hume and by the distinguished British jurist, Lord Devlin. I have personally requested the Home Secretary to refer this case and the related case of the Maguire family to the Court of Appeal, as has happened in the case of the Birmingham Six.
The Home Secretary has informed me that he will consider very carefully the points made in the ITV programme and that he will decide as quickly as he can whether Mrs. Fox's statement affects the decision he announced on 20 January not to refer the Guildford and Woolwich cases to the Court of Appeal.
I am very concerned at the lack of progress in relation to the Guildford Four and the Maguire cases. We achieved something in the case of the Birmingham Six and that case will be put before the Court of Appeal, as we known, on 2 November. Did the Minister say that in the recent past he made representations to Mr. Hurd and if that is so, would he take note of the fact that particularly in the case of the Birmingham Six there was a long period of time when the case seemed to hang fire? I am most anxious that the Minister should continue to make representations to the British Home Secretary to alert him to the reality that these cases have been laying there since 1974. There is a continuing injustice against the Maguire family and their associates and against the Guildford Four. It is my intention within the rules of the House to highlight these cases inside as well as outside this House. I am grateful to the Minister and his predecessor for their concern about these cases but the relevance of our concern can only be indicated by the concern shown to——
We will have to proceed by way of a supplementary question.
I know it was long but it was very important.
I share Deputy Andrews' views in this respect but the testimony of Mrs. Yvonne Fox who was not called as a witness at the original trial of the Guildford Four provides sufficient new evidence to refer the case to the Court of Appeal as was done in the case of the Birmingham Six. The Home Secretary, Douglas Hurd, said on 20 January that, while he was referring the case of the Birmingham Six, no new evidence was available in the case of the Maguires or the Guildford Four. The testimony of Mrs. Yvonne Fox as projected on the television programme of 3 March introduces the new element to which Mr. Hurd referred in the House of Commons. I have written to him on that basis since the television programme and in his reply he indicated that he is considering the point I made very carefully. I can only hope he will come to share the point of view which Deputy Andrews and I share.
I am most grateful to the Minister for writing to Mr. Hurd but, with respect, may I ask him to make a personal presentation to the British Home Secretary the next time he is over in the general area of Westminster?
I will do that.
I do not think the Minister can raise the matter under the Anglo-Irish Agreement but I would appreciate it if the Minister would examine it.
I will gladly do that.