Non-jury courts tried 418 in North

LAST year, 418 persons were tried for terrorist type offences in the "Diplock" non courts under the emergency powers in Northern…

LAST year, 418 persons were tried for terrorist type offences in the "Diplock" non courts under the emergency powers in Northern Ireland.

In spite of the IRA and loyalist cease fires during the year, the total was higher than the 399 persons tried in the Diplock Courts in 1994 a consequence of the considerable backlog of arrested and charged persons.

Of the 418 people tried, 360 pleaded guilty, 58 pleaded not guilty, of whom 23 were found not guilty.

Compensation payments last year under the emergency legislation came to £1,356,091. These payments related mainly to the requisition of property and damage caused during security force searches or patrols.