Prosecutions for bombings during 1970s

Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland did not have the information requested.

Dear Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland,

Could you please confirm:
1. How many prosecutions were attempted (regardless of outcome - prosecution dropped/acquittal/conviction) for sectarian bomb attack incidents in Northern Ireland during the years 1970-1979 (inclusive)?

2. How many of these attempted prosecutions for sectarian bomb attacks were prosecutions of:
a. Suspected loyalists?
b. Suspected republicans?

3. How many of the attempted prosecutions of suspected loyalists resulted in:
a. Conviction?
b. Acquittal?
c. The prosecution being dropped?

4. How many of the attempted prosecutions of suspected republicans resulted in:
a. Conviction?
b. Acquittal?
c. The prosecution being dropped?

Yours faithfully,

Ms Stroud

Info, Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland

Ms Stroud, I acknowledge receipt of your email below. Your request will be dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and a response will issue in due course.

Regards,

PPS
FOI Team

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Info, Public Prosecution Service Northern Ireland

FOI 179/15-16

02 July 2015

Dear Ms Stroud,

I refer to your email dated 22 June 2015 in which you asked for information regarding prosecutions for bombings during the 1970s.

This request has been dealt with under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Freedom of Information Act creates rights of access for any person making a request for information to a public authority. The rights of access are twofold. First, to be informed by the public authority if it holds information of the description specified in the request, and if that is the case, secondly, to be provided with that information. These rights are subject to important limitations, which are designed to achieve a proper balance between the right to know and considerations of law and policy in the broader public interest.

You had asked the following questions;

Please confirm:
1. How many prosecutions were attempted (regardless of outcome - prosecution dropped/acquittal/conviction) for sectarian bomb attack incidents in Northern Ireland during the years 1970-1979 (inclusive)?

2. How many of these attempted prosecutions for sectarian bomb attacks were prosecutions of:
a. Suspected loyalists?
b. Suspected republicans?

3. How many of the attempted prosecutions of suspected loyalists resulted in:
a. Conviction?
b. Acquittal?
c. The prosecution being dropped?

4. How many of the attempted prosecutions of suspected republicans resulted in:
a. Conviction?
b. Acquittal?
c. The prosecution being dropped?

In response I can advise you that the information requested is not available. We are unable to identify prosecution cases which are specifically related to bombing incidents in Northern Ireland - such cases are not flagged (either on paper or electronically) in a way which would make the collation of such statistics possible.

It should be noted that the period in question also pre-dates the PPS’s current Case Management System which was implemented in 2005.

Therefore in terms of section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 the information requested is not held.

If you are dissatisfied in any way with the handling of your request, you have the right to request a review in accordance with our review procedure. In the event that you require a review to be undertaken, you can do so by writing to the Assistant Director (Policy), Public Prosecution Service, Belfast Chambers, 93 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 3JR or alternatively by sending an e-mail to [email address]. You should state clearly the grounds on which you are requesting the review.

Alternatively, you may wish to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF


Yours sincerely,

PPS FOI Section

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