Vol. 476 No. 1
51 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the representations, if any, he has made to the British Home Secretary, urging him to refer the case of a person (details supplied) to the Court of Appeal as a matter of urgency, in view of the growing body of evidence suggesting that this person's conviction is unsafe. [6349/97]
My Department has monitored the case of the individual referred to by the Deputy for some years as I indicated in my reply to Deputy Gregory on 4 February 1997. Arising out of concerns which have been expressed regarding his detention in a special secure unit, we have made representations to the British authorities on humanitarian grounds through the framework of the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, including at the most recent meeting of the conference held in Belfast on 20 November 1996, as well as through the Irish Embassy in London. The prisoner in question was visited in a consular capacity by an embassy official on 19 November 1996.
The Government is aware of the concerns that have been expressed about the possibility of wrongful conviction in this case. A previous appeal against his conviction failed in January 1991.
On my instructions, the Irish Embassy in London has again sought information from the British authorities in recent days regarding the question of referring this case to the Court of Appeal. They have been informed by the British authorities that representations seeking a referral of this individual's case to the Court of Appeal were received in September 1994. The British authorities further state that additional information has very recently been received from his solicitors which was essential for their consideration of the case. They say that this consideration is now continuing.
The Deputy will appreciate that it is for the prisoner's legal representatives to pursue the matter at this stage. The Irish Embassy have contact with these representatives and I can assure the Deputy that we will continue to monitor this case closely and raise any concerns as appropriate with the British authorities.
