Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Nov 2003

Vol. 573 No. 3

Written Answers. - Defence Forces Personnel.

Pat Rabbitte

Ceist:

172 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Defence if he has recently received a submission from British Irish Rights Watch regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who was discharged from the Defence Forces in controversial circumstances in 1975; if, in view of the considerable evidence that has emerged since 1975 that this person may have been a victim of a miscarriage of justice, he will consider ordering a full review of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25203/03]

Minister for Defence (Mr. M. Smith)

Representations have recently been received from the British Irish Rights Watch on behalf of the individual in question. My Department is not aware of any significant new evidence in this case. In the event that the individual is now in possession of any significant new evidence which he believes is material to this case, he is free to submit such for the purposes of information. It would be a matter for the individual, however, to bring any such material to the attention of the courts in the light of the recorded judgments of the High Court and Supreme Court, in October 1979 and February 1982 respectively, in this case.