HC Deb 12 December 1956 vol 562 cc436-8
Captain Orr

(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement about last night's attack on Gough Barracks, Armagh and the Territorial Headquarters, Enniskillen.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. John Hare)

Yes, Sir. At about 1.30 this morning a lorry containing armed men drove up to the barracks. They fired a burst from a sten gun and threw four home-made "Molotov cocktails" over the barrack wall. No damage was done. The sentry sounded the alarm, and the raiding party got back into the lorry and disappeared. Following the attack several men were arrested. On a search of the barracks a package of about 80 1b. of explosive was discovered.

At Enniskillen, one wing of the Territorial Centre which is under construction was seriously damaged, but I cannot give more details at this stage. In the usual way, the General Officer Commanding has ordered an immediate court of inquiry on these incidents, and I cannot, therefore, make any further comment until I have seen the findings.

Captain Orr

Is my right hon. Friend aware that during the last few months the Government have been repeatedly warned of the danger of this situation by hon. Members on this side of the House and by the Government of Northern Ireland? Is he further aware that the main cause of the trouble is the scandal that the Eire Government continue to offer sanctuary and succour to the terrorists? Is it not high time, before the Ulster people lose their tempers, that the Government brought the greatest possible pressure to bear upon the Eire Government to cease these attacks against a friendly State?

Mr. Hare

I cannot accept all that my hon. and gallant Friend has said. I have no evidence that the Government of the Irish Republic deplore this incident any less than do Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Could the Minister assure us that Her Majesty's Government are not sending a British expeditionary force to the mouth of the Shannon or to Tipperary, to separate the combatants?

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Mr. Hare

I think that the hon. Gentleman, judging by the applause he has received, requires no answer from me.

Mr. Chichester-Clark

Would my right hon. Friend bear in mind that last night's incidents are probably not unconnected with the drilling and camping which was observed on the Irish Republican side of the border during the summer? Did he send a protest then? If not, will he send the strongest possible protest now and try to instill some political courage into the Irish Republican Government?

Mr. Hare

I think that my hon. Friend will agree with me that what I must do is to study in great detail what comes out of the court of inquiry, to establish guilt, and so on; and I shall certainly do that.

Mr. L. Lever

We are told by the Minister that this matter is sub judice. Is it fair to attack the Eire Government without further facts?

Mr. Hare

I have just replied that I intend to examine with great care the results of the court of inquiry. By then we shall have sufficient information to decide what further action we wish to take.

Sir D. Campbell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is common knowledge that terrorist organisations in Eire have been drilling, have been making home-made bombs and have been planning raids on Northern Ireland for months past? Will he give a definite assurance that Her Majesty's Government will now take resolute and immediate steps to see that these terrorist organisations in Eire are suppressed?

Mr. Hare

I will certainly consider anything that my hon. Friend says, but I repeat that I think we had much better get the full details which will emerge from the court of inquiry before we decide what further action to take.