Vol. 472 No. 7
65 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress, if any, of the independent inquiry into the procedures and case work of the Forensic Explosives Laboratory at Fort Holstead, Kent and the possibility that convictions of a number of IRA prisoners on explosives charges in Britain since 1989 may be dubious; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24035/96]
As the Deputy will be aware, the British Home Secretary announced on 14 May 1996 that evidence of contamination had been discovered at the Forensics Explosives Laboratory, at Fort Halstead, Kent. This discovery raises the possibility that the convictions of a number of IRA prisoners on explosives charges in Britain since 1989 may be affected. The Home Secretary requested Professor Brian Caddy of Strathclyde University to conduct an inquiry into the casework and procedures of the Forensics Explosives Laboratory in Fort Halstead, Kent.
The Government's concern about the possibility that any person might have been convicted on the basis of doubtful evidence was expressed at the meeting of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 22 May, 1996. On my instructions, officials in my Department and in the Irish Embassy in London have been monitoring this matter closely since then.
The British authorities have recently indicated to us that they expect to publish the report of the independent inquiry by Professor Caddy together with a British Government statement in the matter in the very near future.
We will continue to follow developments in this matter closely in the period ahead. In particular, we will urge the British authorities to ensure that referral to the Court of Appeal proceeds in an expeditious manner, should the Caddy inquiry cast doubt on any conviction.
