Northern Ireland (Sentences) Act 1998

15 Information for victims

(1) The Secretary of State shall provide a statement under this section about a person if he receives a written request to do so and he believes—

(a) that the person about whom the statement is sought is serving a sentence of imprisonment in Northern Ireland for a fixed term of at least five years or for life,

(b) that the sentence was passed in Northern Ireland for a qualifying offence, and

(c) that the person requesting the statement, or a member of his family, was a victim of the offence for which the sentence was passed.

(2) But the Secretary of State shall not provide a statement if he believes that to do so would create a danger to the safety of any person.

(3) A statement under this section about a person shall state—

(a) whether he has made an application under section 3;

(b) if he has made an application, whether it has been granted;

(c) if his application has been granted, whether he has been released and the date on which he has a right to be released, or on which he was released, under section 4 or 6;

(d) if he has been released on licence, whether his licence has been suspended under section 9(2) and, if so, whether it has been confirmed or revoked under section 9(4);

(e) if he has been released on licence under section 4, the date on which the licence will expire.

(4) If the Secretary of State has issued a statement under this section and becomes aware that any of the information in it has ceased to be accurate, he shall send a revised statement to the person who made the original request at his last known address.