WHAT HAPPENED ON 27th January 1997?

26th January 1997

TRIPLE KILLER REFUSED LEAVE TO APPEAL

Steven Grieveson jailed for life for strangling three teenagers & burning their bodies has been refused leave to appeal against his conviction. Three Court of Appeal judges said they were satisfied his conviction was safe. The 25-year-old homosexual was convicted at Leeds in February 1996. The jury heard how he had sexually assaulted Thomas Kelly 18 and schoolboys David Hanson & David Grieff both 15 before killing them.

27th January 1997

CASE AGAINST HANRATTY PUT UNDER REVIEW

The Home Office has confirmed that the case against James Hanratty hanged for the A6 murder in 1962 is under review. Hanratty 25 was convicted of killing a married man before raping the man's lover & shooting her at close range. A spokeswoman said the Home Secretary may consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal after a police inquiry concluded Hanratty was innocent. The Home Office said it was hoped a decision on the case would be made soon

27th January 1997

DIANE BLOOD GETS GO-AHEAD FROM JUDGES

Widow Diane Blood has won the latest stage in her legal battle to have a child with sperm from her late husband. The Court of Appeal ruled that she could not have the treatment in the UK but could do so in Belgium unless there were public policy reasons against it. The Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority will meet on February 27 to consider any such policy objections. Mrs Blood called the judges' decision a "victory for common sense & justice".

26th January 1997

MP URGES STUDENT VOTE REGISTER REFORM

Students should not be allowed to vote in towns & cities where they study an MP has claimed. Tory Dame Elaine Kellet-Bowman insists they should only register for the vote in their home towns. She urged the Home Office to stop university authorities automatically registering students for the vote in their place of study. The Lancaster MP outlined her case during Home Office questions.

27th January 1997

CASE AGAINST HANRATTY PUT UNDER REVIEW

The Home Office has confirmed that the case against James Hanratty hanged for the A6 murder in 1962 is under review. Hanratty 25 was convicted of killing a married man before raping the man's lover & shooting her at close range. A spokeswoman said the Home Secretary may consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal after a police inquiry concluded Hanratty was innocent. The Home Office said it was hoped a decision on the case would be made soon

27th January 1997

IMMIGRATION BILL "WILL HIT BUSINESSES"

The Asylum Act has come into force making it an offence for companies to employ illegal immigrants. If found guilty firms will face fines of up to £5 000. Labour has claimed the Act places harsh burdens on small businesses who will have to check the immigration status of potential workers. But the Home Office says employers are only being asked to make "reasonable checks" on entitlement to work.

26th January 1997

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK AT WESTMINSTER MONDAY The Government was defeated in the Lords over the Home Secretary's plan to give police powers to counter organised crime by bugging suspects without the prior approval of a judge. TUESDAY The Government comfortably won a crucial Commons vote on the health service after offering last-minute concessions to a possible Tory rebel. Sir John Gorst withdrew his threat to vote against the Government after gaining assurances from ministers.

27th January 1997

CASE AGAINST HANRATTY PUT UNDER REVIEW

The Home Office has confirmed that the case against James Hanratty hanged for the A6 murder in 1962 is under review. Hanratty 25 was convicted of killing a married man before raping the man's lover & shooting her at close range. A spokeswoman said the Home Secretary may consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal after a police inquiry concluded Hanratty was innocent. The Home Office said it was hoped a decision on the case would be made soon

27th January 1997

ADAMS CHALLENGE OVER MAINLAND BAN FAILS

A complaint by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams against the Government's refusal to allow him into mainland Britain in 1993 has been rejected in Strasbourg. The European Commission on Human Rights threw out complaints by Mr Adams & Labour MP Tony Benn. Home Secretary Michael Howard invoked the 1989 Prevention of Terrorism Act to bar the Sinn Fein president. Mr Adams argued that his right of self- expression had been violated.

26th January 1997

ISRAEL CORRUPTION CLAIMS PROBE LAUNCHED

Police in Israel have begun an inquiry into claims of corruption surrounding the man chosen as attorney general by Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party. The justice ministry ordered the probe after a report that Roni Bar-On got the post in a deal to reduce corruption charges facing a Shas party leader. Shas is a partner in the governing coalition of Prime Minister Netanyahu. He denies any involvement in the scandal & has urged a speedy inquiry.

27th January 1997

CASE AGAINST HANRATTY PUT UNDER REVIEW

The Home Office has confirmed that the case against James Hanratty hanged for the A6 murder in 1962 is under review. Hanratty 25 was convicted of killing a married man before raping the man's lover & shooting her at close range. A spokeswoman said the Home Secretary may consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal after a police inquiry concluded Hanratty was innocent. The Home Office said it was hoped a decision on the case would be made soon

27th January 1997

H&C CONFIRMS SHARE DEALING INQUIRY

The DTI has launched an inquiry into dealings in shares in the companies that merged to form the H&C Furnishings group it has been confirmed. The announcement follows reports over the weekend that two fundraisers for the Conservative party had been drawn into the probe. H&C formed when Cantors & Harveys Holdings merged will "give every assistance possible" to the inspectors. The company stressed that the inquiry was into share dealings not the company

26th January 1997

WOMAN'S BODY FOUND IN PICK-UP TRUCK

Police have launched a murder inquiry after a woman's body was found in the back of a pick-up truck. Fifty police officers have been drafted in to investigate after the body was found yesterday morning at a farm in South Molton Devon. A post-mortem examination has been carried out & the cause of death was found to be from head injuries. An incident room has been set up in Barnstaple in North Devon.

27th January 1997

CASE AGAINST HANRATTY PUT UNDER REVIEW

The Home Office has confirmed that the case against James Hanratty hanged for the A6 murder in 1962 is under review. Hanratty 25 was convicted of killing a married man before raping the man's lover & shooting her at close range. A spokeswoman said the Home Secretary may consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal after a police inquiry concluded Hanratty was innocent. The Home Office said it was hoped a decision on the case would be made soon

27th January 1997

CHRISTIE The man accused of murdering the younger brother of former Olympic sprint champion Linford Christie has been further remanded in custody. DEATH An investigation has been launched into the death of a 29-year- old motorist whose car was in collision with an ambulance answering a 999 call in Northampton. IMMOLATION Catterick soldier Mark Armstrong 26 is in a critical condition in hospital after walking into a police station pouring petrol over himself & setting it alight.

26th January 1997

DONALD ANDERSON

(Labour Swansea E) Q Can politicians really make a difference? A Yes Q What books are you reading at the moment? A In The Name of the Working Class by Dr Sandor Kopacsi (head of Budapest police in 1956 who sided with the rebels). ``````````````````````>>>>

27th January 1997

CASE AGAINST HANRATTY PUT UNDER REVIEW

The Home Office has confirmed that the case against James Hanratty hanged for the A6 murder in 1962 is under review. Hanratty 25 was convicted of killing a married man before raping the man's lover & shooting her at close range. A spokeswoman said the Home Secretary may consider referring the case to the Court of Appeal after a police inquiry concluded Hanratty was innocent. The Home Office said it was hoped a decision on the case would be made soon

27th January 1997

MAN ARRESTED OVER SCHOOL RIFLE INCIDENT

Police have arrested a school caretaker who is alleged to have threatened children with an air rifle. A group of 12 to 13-year-olds ran screaming from a school at Kenilworth in Warwickshire on Saturday night. They had gathered at the school's gym before going to see a basketball match when a man armed with an air rifle walked in & shouted at them to leave. It emerged the gun was unloaded. Two air rifles were later recovered nearby.