This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-29353608
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland victims 'must be notified of jail release' | Northern Ireland victims 'must be notified of jail release' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| There have been calls for victims of violence in Northern Ireland to be notified automatically when the perpetrator is released from jail. | There have been calls for victims of violence in Northern Ireland to be notified automatically when the perpetrator is released from jail. |
| It follows complaints from a victim's family who did not know his killer had been released from prison until they came across him in the street. | It follows complaints from a victim's family who did not know his killer had been released from prison until they came across him in the street. |
| Jim Heasley's family said they had been "completely ignored" by the system. | Jim Heasley's family said they had been "completely ignored" by the system. |
| In England and Wales, victims are automatically informed, but in Northern Ireland they must fill out a form. | In England and Wales, victims are automatically informed, but in Northern Ireland they must fill out a form. |
| Mr Heasley, a 70-year-old pensioner from Lisburn, County Antrim, died as a result of an assault in his home town four years ago. | |
| He was attacked as he walked home from his local pigeon club on 17 October 2010 and died in hospital from his injuries 10 days later. | He was attacked as he walked home from his local pigeon club on 17 October 2010 and died in hospital from his injuries 10 days later. |
| The man who attacked him later admitted manslaughter and was jailed for three years. | The man who attacked him later admitted manslaughter and was jailed for three years. |
| 'Sick and annoyed' | 'Sick and annoyed' |
| The Heasley family had expected the prisoner to stay in jail until 2015, but were shocked when a nephew of the victim recently saw the perpetrator walking along a street in Belfast. | |
| They had not been notified that he had been granted a form of phased day release from jail. | |
| The victim's brother, David Heasley, told BBC Radio Ulster he felt "sick and annoyed that no-one ever thought of contacting us, to let us know, or to prepare ourselves". | |
| "At no stage in this were the family's feelings ever taken into consideration, absolutely nowhere along the line," he said. | "At no stage in this were the family's feelings ever taken into consideration, absolutely nowhere along the line," he said. |
| 'Re-traumatised' | 'Re-traumatised' |
| If the Heasley family lived in England or Wales they would have been automatically enrolled in a victim contact scheme and kept up to date with developments in the legal process. | If the Heasley family lived in England or Wales they would have been automatically enrolled in a victim contact scheme and kept up to date with developments in the legal process. |
| However, in Northern Ireland victims have to "opt in" to a contact scheme, by filling out a form, asking that they be kept informed. | However, in Northern Ireland victims have to "opt in" to a contact scheme, by filling out a form, asking that they be kept informed. |
| The system that operates in Northern Ireland has been described as unwieldy and littered with delays by the organisation responsible for administering it - the Probation Board. | The system that operates in Northern Ireland has been described as unwieldy and littered with delays by the organisation responsible for administering it - the Probation Board. |
| The board told the assembly's justice committee that it is currently unable to ensure timely and accurate notification to victims, simply because of the nature of the "opt in" system. | The board told the assembly's justice committee that it is currently unable to ensure timely and accurate notification to victims, simply because of the nature of the "opt in" system. |
| The former chair of the justice committee, Paul Givan, said victims were often "re-traumatised" when they found out a perpetrator had been released without their knowledge. | The former chair of the justice committee, Paul Givan, said victims were often "re-traumatised" when they found out a perpetrator had been released without their knowledge. |
| "Obviously, there are lessons that need to be learned by the agencies responsible," Mr Givan told BBC Radio Ulster. | "Obviously, there are lessons that need to be learned by the agencies responsible," Mr Givan told BBC Radio Ulster. |
| "That's why the committee recommended that there needed to be a victims' charter, putting into legislation the types of services that victims should be receiving. | "That's why the committee recommended that there needed to be a victims' charter, putting into legislation the types of services that victims should be receiving. |
| "This also includes being advised when individuals who are in prison are being released on parole, over a Christmas period and indeed, whenever they are ultimately, finally discharged from their custodial sentence. | "This also includes being advised when individuals who are in prison are being released on parole, over a Christmas period and indeed, whenever they are ultimately, finally discharged from their custodial sentence. |
| "The families should be advised of this. Many people would believe that should be common sense, but unfortunately, it hasn't happened." | |
| Police failings | Police failings |
| It is not the first time that the Heasley family has felt let down by the criminal justice system. | |
| In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the police said they believed the pensioner had sustained his injuries as the result of a fall. | In the immediate aftermath of the attack, the police said they believed the pensioner had sustained his injuries as the result of a fall. |
| David Heasley made a complaint to the police ombudsman, who investigated and found there had been a series of failings in the initial police response. | David Heasley made a complaint to the police ombudsman, who investigated and found there had been a series of failings in the initial police response. |
| In May 2012, seven police officers were disciplined over their handling of the manslaughter case. | In May 2012, seven police officers were disciplined over their handling of the manslaughter case. |