Northern Ireland

Gary Haggarty: ‘Taken Into Consideration' term commonly used in justice system

Taken Into Consideration is often used by the criminal justice system to deal with large numbers of offences against a single individual.
Taken Into Consideration is often used by the criminal justice system to deal with large numbers of offences against a single individual. Taken Into Consideration is often used by the criminal justice system to deal with large numbers of offences against a single individual.
By Allison Morris

TAKEN Into Consideration (TIC) is commonly used in the criminal justice system for clearing up large numbers of crimes against a single individual.

It gives judges a more accurate picture of the offending than they would have if dealing only with the substantive charges.

The defendant in this case, former UVF commander Gary Haggarty, has admitted more than 200 TIC charges to "clear the slate" on all past paramilitary offending.

This has proved important in previous 'supergrass' cases when the credibility of the witness has been called into question.

In addition, any victim of a crime dealt with in this way still has an opportunity to claim compensation in respect of an offence admitted by the defendant.

In Haggarty's case this could apply to victims of extortion, paramilitary-style assaults and threats to kill.

For charges to be 'TIC' the defendant must have already admitted the offence in the presence of his solicitor and the investigating officer in the case.