Peter Hain was cleared of robbery at a branch of Barclays Bank. In the House of Commons that afternoon, six MPs led by Liberal David Steel, called for the resignation of Sir Norman Skelhorn, over the Hain case. Retirement Skelhorn retired from the post before the publication of the critical report by Lord Devlin published in 1977 recommended statutory prosecution safeguards, on which the Government took no action. Home Secretary Merlyn Rees appointed Sir Thomas Hetherington Director of Public Prosecutions on the retirement of Sir Norman, with a brief to reduce delays in the criminal legal system. Skelhorn was an active freemason. References Skelhorn, Norman – Public prosecutor: The memoirs of Sir Norman Skelhorn, director of public prosecutions, 1964–1977 Harrap (1981). 1909 births 1988 deaths People educated at Shrewsbury School British barristers Directors of Public Prosecutions (England and Wales) British King's Counsel 20th-century King's Counsel Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Knights Bachelor Lawyers awarded knighthoods Freemasons of the United Grand Lodge of England 20th-century English lawyers