Letter to the Chairman from J L Leckey,
HM Coroner for Greater Belfast
I am writing to acknowledge receipt of your
letter of 16 November inviting me to give my views on the use
of the sub judice rule in the proceedings of the House
of Commons.
I must say that in the 20 years I have been
Deputy Coroner and Coroner it is not something that has been an
issue affecting the holding of inquests and, accordingly, it is
not something that has exercised my mind to any great extent.
The internet is a marvellous tool to have and it enabled me to
acquire a report on the Sub Judice Convention by the Members'
Ethics and Parliamentary Privileges Committee of the Legislative
Assembly of Queensland. I am enclosing a copy of it but I would
imagine that this is a document you are aware of and may have
considered.[11]
I would not pretend to have reached a final
view on the sub judice issue and I accept that my views
may change as the debate evolves. However, I was impressed by
the submission of Mr Anthony J H Morris QC to the Committee and
which is dealt with at length commencing on page 7. In particular,
I would refer you to the views he expressed on page 13.
I feel I can add nothing further at this stage
other than to thank you for seeking my views and to assure you
that I will be most interested in learning the outcome of the
deliberations of the Procedure Committee.
November 2004
11 Not printed. Available on www.parliament.qld.gov.au,
under "committees". Back
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