SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE 5Release of prisoners on licence
Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001
5
In Article 7 (power to release life prisoners on compassionate grounds)—
a
in paragraph (1)—
i
for “Secretary of State” substitute “Department of Justice”;
ii
for “he” substitute “the Department of Justice”;
b
in paragraph (2) for “Secretary of State” substitute “Department of Justice”;
c
after paragraph (2) insert—
3
The Secretary of State may notify the Department of Justice that a life prisoner is not to be released under this Article without the Secretary of State’s agreement; and, if the Secretary of State gives such a notification in relation to a prisoner, the Department of Justice may not release the prisoner under this Article without the Secretary of State’s agreement.
4
But the Secretary of State may—
a
give a notification, or
b
refuse his agreement to a release,
only if his decision to do so is arrived at (wholly or partly) on the basis of protected information.