# Life Sentences (Northern Ireland) Order 2001, Article 7: Power to release life prisoners on compassionate grounds


(1) The Secretary of State may at any time release a life prisoner on licence if he is satisfied that exceptional circumstances exist which justify the prisoner’s release on compassionate grounds.
(2) Before releasing a life prisoner under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall consult the Commissioners, unless the circumstances are such as to render such consultation impracticable.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2001/0110296141/article/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/draft-life-sentences-northern-ireland-order-2001/article-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.