asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government has made representations through the Anglo-Irish Conference on the campaign to gain release dates for life sentenced prisoners and those detained at the Secretary of State's pleasure in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Northern Ireland Prisoners Release.
58.
As Co-Chairman of the Anglo-Irish Conference, I have availed of every opportunity to impress on the Northern Ireland Secretary, Mr. King, the priority which the Government attach to a sensitive and compassionate policy in respect of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences in Northern Ireland who were caught up in the violence of the seventies and some of whom were convicted for offences committed when they were at a very young age.
On 25 July last, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced a special review for those indeterminate-sentence prisoners who have served more than eight years and who are being held at what is described as "the Secretary of State's pleasure" (SOSP's). These are prisoners who were convicted for serious offences committed when they were under the age of 18. As a result of that special review, the Judiciary is being consulted about the possibility of fixing provisional release dates for nine of the 17 cases reviewed.
In addition, the special category compounds in the Maze Prison were closed last June and a special review is being held of the sentences of the remaining special category prisoners.
A further positive development was the relatively large number of prisoners in Northern Ireland who were granted special parole last Christmas. Those granted such special parole included 75 life sentence prisoners and nine prisoners being held at the Secretary of State's pleasure.
These encouraging developments have been welcomed by the Government and by a wide range of opinion in Northern Ireland. As Co-Chairman of the Anglo-Irish Conference, I will continue to encourage and support a sensitive and compassionate prisons policy in Northern Ireland.