Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act to make provision with respect to the following matters in Northern Ireland, that is to say, proceedings for and the punishment of certain offences, the detention of terrorists, the preservation of the peace, the maintenance of order and the detection of crime and to proscribe and make other provision in connection with certain organisations there, and for connected purposes. |
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| Citation | 1973 c. 53 |
| Introduced by | William Whitelaw |
| Territorial extent | Northern Ireland |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 25 July 1973 |
| Commencement | 8 August 1973 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) (Amendment) Act 1975, Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1978, Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001, Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973. |
| Relates to | Defence of the Realm Act 1914; Restoration of Order in Ireland Act 1920; Emergency Powers Act 1920; Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939; Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965; Civil Contingencies Act 2004 |
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Status: Amended
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| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 was an important law passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This law was created during a difficult time in Northern Ireland, known as The Troubles.
The Act had two main goals. First, it ended the use of the death penalty for murder in Northern Ireland. The death penalty had not been used there since 1961. Second, it set up special courts called Diplock courts. In these courts, serious crimes, often linked to political violence, were judged by a single judge instead of a jury (a group of ordinary citizens).
Contents
What Was the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973?
This law was a special set of rules for Northern Ireland. It was put in place to help deal with the violence and unrest happening at the time. The Act gave the government and police extra powers to try and keep peace and order.
Why Was This Law Needed?
During The Troubles, there was a lot of conflict and danger. Normal court processes were sometimes difficult to use. The government felt that special measures were needed to handle serious crimes and to try and stop the violence.
Key Changes Made by the Act
The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 brought in several big changes. These changes affected how certain crimes were handled and which groups were allowed to exist.
Ending the Death Penalty for Murder
One major part of the Act was to officially stop the death penalty for murder in Northern Ireland. This meant that even for the most serious murder cases, a person could no longer be sentenced to death.
Introducing Diplock Courts
The Act created special courts known as Diplock courts. In a normal court, a jury decides if someone is guilty or innocent. But in Diplock courts, only a judge made this decision. This was done because it was thought that juries might be intimidated or unsafe during The Troubles.
Why No Juries in Diplock Courts?
The idea behind having no juries was to protect people. It was believed that jurors might be threatened or influenced by armed groups. A single judge, who was specially trained, could make decisions without this pressure.
Banned Organizations Under the Act
The Act also made it illegal to be a member of certain groups. These organizations were seen as a threat to peace and order in Northern Ireland.
- Irish Republican Army (IRA)
- Cumann na mBan
- Fianna Éireann
- Saor Éire
- Sinn Féin
- Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF)
If someone was found to be a member of these groups, they could face legal punishment. Later, another law in 1989 made people swear an oath (a serious promise) not to support most of these groups, except for Sinn Féin.
The Act's Legacy and Changes Over Time
The Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1973 was a temporary law. Over the years, many parts of it have been changed or replaced by newer laws. As peace returned to Northern Ireland, the need for such strict emergency powers lessened. Today, most of its anti-terrorism rules have been updated by more modern laws.
See also
- Prevention of Terrorism Acts
- Capital punishment in the United Kingdom
