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.