Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said that the system for deporting criminals “isn’t as robust as it should be and certainly isn’t transparent”
An Ulster Unionist MLA has hit out at the system in place to deport foreign criminals who are jailed for serious crimes in Northern Ireland.
This comes as Justice Minister Naomi Long revealed that 145 custodial sentences were handed out to 138 foreign prisoners in Northern Ireland in the last five years.
The figures were revealed after Doug Beattie asked the Minister to detail the number of foreign nationals that have received a custodial sentence of one year or more, in the last five years; the number of those who received a custodial sentence of one year or more and were reported by the Northern Ireland Prison Service to the Home Office Foreign National Offenders Returns Command for deportation, on completion of the custodial element of their sentence; and the number that were unable to complete their licence element of their sentence, as monitored by the Probation Board Northern Ireland, because they were deported.
In her response, Justice Minister Naomi Long said: “The Home Office is responsible for any deportation of foreign nationals. The Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) is responsible for holding those in their custody as directed under the warrant of committal issued by the sentencing court.
“The NIPS is responsible for informing the Home Office of all sentenced foreign national offenders within ten working days of sentencing: thereafter, the Home Office investigate the case and all decisions pertaining to the individual’s immigration and deportation status are a matter for them.”
In recent weeks, the system for deporting criminals has come under greater scrutiny following the case of murdered Ballymena man Victor Hamilton in July 2022. Two foreign nationals, Mario Menezes and Michael Hanrahan were each sentenced for withholding information relating to the murder.
Michael Hanrahan was released back into the community on license only to be returned to prison on breach of his license, and Mario Menezes was not returned to prison following sentencing due to time served.
Ulster Unionist Justice Spokesperson Doug Beattie, MC MLA, commented: “The case surrounding the murder of Victor Hamilton in Ballymena has raised several concerns. This stems from the sentences handed out to two foreign nationals that should, under Home Office rules, have been deported as they were sentenced to one year or more. In one case, the individual was sentenced to six years for the manslaughter of Victor, served three years, then should have been deported. However, this individual was released into the community on license only to be returned to prison on breach of that license. “A second individual involved in the murder of Victor Hamilton was given a two-year sentence, a year to be served in prison. However, due to time served, he was released on sentence by the judge and released back into the community. At no stage was the family of Victor informed of what was happening with either man by anyone within the criminal justice system. “It is clear that the Home Office, through the Foreign National Offender Returns Command, is responsible for deportation orders of foreign nationals. Yet they must be triggered by the Northern Ireland Prison Service, and it seems the system isn’t as robust as it should be and certainly isn’t transparent. These figures provided by the Justice Department should create a realisation that for every case there is a victim, and these victims need to be kept better informed.”
Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives, top stories and must-read content straight away. To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.