Clause 8 - Trial by Special Tribunal
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
11:23 pm
Peter Robinson (Belfast East, DUP)
I beg to move amendment No. 28, in clause 8, page 6, line 3, at end insert—
‘(6A)Where the Special Tribunal convicts and sentences a person of an offence he must make a public expression of remorse, previously approved by the Special Tribunal, before a licence is granted.’.
We have imposed strictures on ourselves, and this is the test of them. The amendment is fairly self-explanatory; it deals with the issue of an expression of remorse. Let me translate for hon. Members from the rather small logistical issues that we have discussed thus far to the stage after the certification process, the special tribunal and all prosecution issues. Let us say that there has been a conviction in court. Someone has been found guilty by the special tribunal, and sentence is about to be handed down. If they are to benefit from the Bill, and are not to be required to spend even a day in prison, the very least that victims can expect is for them to be prepared, at that stage, to show some remorse and indicate their sorrow and regret.