In The News

Guidelines are similar to those in England and Wales

Guidelines are similar to those in England and Wales

Prosecutors in Northern Ireland have received new guidance in dealing with cases involving people suspected of assisting a suicide.

The guidelines have been been released by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) and are similar to the ones issued in England and Wales earlier this week.

However the PPS has made it clear that assisting a suicide will remain illegal with offenders facing a jail sentence of up to 14 years.

According to Jim Scholes, the acting director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, the new guidance places increased focus on the motivation of the suspect.

Mr. Scholes said the guidance “clarifies the distinction between offences of encouraging or assisting suicide and offences of murder or manslaughter”.

Under the new guidelines prosecutors can consider such factors as:

• Did the suspect try to discourage the person from committing suicide.

• Was the person acting for compassionate reasons.

• Did they co-opeate with the police.

• Had the person wanting to die the mental capacity to make a voluntary and informed decision.

Mr. Scholes stressed the guidelines restated ‘the broad presumption’ that the public interest requires prosecution where there has been a breach of the criminal law.

 

View previous In the News items: Murdered Derry man was to get married , Funeral takes place of top businessman and engineer or Funeral is held 8 years after death

 

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