HC Deb 24 July 1958 vol 592 cc655-7
19. Mr. Armstrong

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on recent Irish Republican Army activities in County Armagh, particularly the murder of a police constable near Fork-hill, the placing of a suitcase filled with explosive at the door of a police station in Armagh and the use of a vault under Armagh Roman Catholic Cathedral as a hide-out.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Her Majesty's Government deplore the fresh series of murderous assaults which took place in Northern Ireland last week, in one of which a police constable was fatally injured. I should like to express Her Majesty's Government's sympathy with the constable's relatives. As there was evidence that these outrages were mounted from the territory of the Irish Republic, Her Majesty's Ambassador in Dublin was instructed to deliver a note of protest to the Republican Minister of External Affairs. This note, which was delivered on 18th July, emphasised the very grave view which Her Majesty's Government take of these latest incidents, and reminded the Government of the Irish Republic that it is their duty to prevent armed incursions from their territory into Northern Ireland. The Republican Government equally deplore these incidents, and are doing all they can to trace the culprits and to prevent further incidents. Already two arrests have been made in the Republic.

Mr. Armstrong

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, and while I accept unreservedly what has been said by the authorities of the cathedral, and sympathise with their distress that it should have been used in the way mentioned in my Question, may I ask him if he is aware that, in the twenty-four hours during which this young policeman was murdered, there were no fewer than nine incidents in the border area? Would he agree that the steps so far taken by the Government of the Irish Republic to control terrorism in Northern Ireland, based across the border—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I think that that is enough for one supplementary question. Mr. Butler.

Mr. Butler

I can only say that I am aware that the Church authorities have issued a statement deploring the use of this passage and room for such a purpose, and have recalled the cardinal's statement condemning the use of violence, and I am sure that we can all accept it. With regard to the second part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question, I think it better not to make any further observations on the Government of another country, but I should like to say that we do note that two arrests have been made in the Republic, and we trust that the authorities there will follow on this course.