Tag Archives: justice

Roy to Meet Attorney General on Nichola Dickson Case

Commenting on the early release of the murderer of Ballycarry woman Nichola Dickson, Roy Beggs MLA has criticised the pre-release system- which has seen the prisoner effectively released 6 months prior to the expiry of his 11 year minimum ‘life’ sentence. The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Antrim MLA will meet the Attorney General on Thursday 14th November with Nichola’s mother and brother to discuss this case in the context of guidelines for life sentence tariffs in Northern Ireland. Mr Beggs commented: “It seems no time at all since the controversy around the lenient sentence handed out to the murderer of Nichola Dickson in Ballycarry in my constituency of East Antrim.  That fact in itself shows that the life sentence handed down in this case makes a mockery of the term ‘life sentence’.  The murderer was sentenced in June 2004 with a minimum tariff of 11 years which meant that with time … Continue reading

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Full Speech on Larne Response Policing

Mr Beggs: I thank the Business Committee for affording me the opportunity to discuss a topical and vital issue that affects the people of the borough of Larne and further afield:  response policing in Larne.  The news that emergency response police officers were to be relocated from Larne to Ballymena emerged during the summer.  I say “emerged” because I first became aware of the information through social media.  Reports subsequently appeared in the local press as further discussion of the rumours occurred. As early as August, I sought out and met the PSNI area commander for Larne and Ballymena, Chief Inspector John Magill.  He confirmed that, under an internal rationalisation programme called Service First, the Larne police response unit would be relocated to Ballymena in the autumn.  It was to happen as fast as that.  I expressed concern at the proposal, as well as the planned time frame, which would … Continue reading

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Courthouse Closure a Blow to Larne

Ulster Unionist MLA Roy Beggs Jnr has expressed his disappointment that Larne is one of 4 Courthouses to be closed across Northern Ireland as a cost cutting measure by Justice Minister David Ford. Mr Beggs, the only East Antrim MLA to personally respond to the public consultation document earlier in the year commented; “Confirmation that Larne Courthouse will be closed sadly comes as no surprise. There have been successive plans to close the Courthouse and centralise justice services elsewhere over the years. In the past however, local representatives – led by the former MP had been able to convince the authorities not to go ahead. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo020417/halltext/20417h03.htm This time the consultation did prove to be merely cosmetic, and I believe the decision to close was taken long ago. Nevertheless I and my Ulster Unionist Party colleagues- who attended the public meeting in the Courthouse in the Spring- did at least make … Continue reading

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