HC Deb 08 June 1972 vol 838 cc677-9
2. Mr. Pounder

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the latest figure of persons who have been released from internment who have, since their release, engaged in terrorist activity necessitating their their rearrest or redetention.

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. William Whitelaw)

One person released from internment has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery.

Mr. Pounder

Has my right hon. Friend seen the recent reports in some of the national newspapers suggesting that between one-quarter and one-third of released internees have in one way or another returned to their former haunts and, perhaps, in some cases to their former habits? Is he aware of the acute anxiety and, indeed, anger which the policy of rapid disinternment is causing among the security forces and the majority in Northern Ireland?

Mr. Whitelaw

I am naturally aware of the anxieties to which my hon. Friend refers. I have no evidence to support these allegations. If there is evidence of this kind and if the national newspapers concerned have evidence of it, I hope that they will give me personally the facts and figures, with the names of the people concerned. It is only fair to me that if these allegations are made they should be substantiated, from wherever they come, with actual facts about the people concerned.

Mr. McManus

May I ask the Secretary of State, in view of the fact that there is at least some sort of provision in the Special Powers Act—awful legislation that it is—for compensation, what plans he has or what arrangements he has made to compensate the wives—

Mr. Speaker

Order. That does not arise out of the Question.

Mr. Kilfedder

My right hon. Friend has said that he would welcome any information and evidence, but is he aware that it has been reported in the Press that many internees, when released, have said that they will return to terrorist activities, and is there not enough evidence in the number of soldiers, police and civilians who have been killed since 24th March?

Mr. Whitelaw

I do not think that can be right. As much as anyone else, and perhaps more than most, I deeply regret any killings and any violence that continues. But I cannot for a moment accept that these have been due to people who have been released from internment unless I am given the evidence of the facts. I think I am entitled to say that, because I may have rather more information than some of those who make these allegations. I have no evidence of these particular allegations that are being made. If they can be supported with facts, I shall be very ready to receive those facts.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

Is it not the case that many of the people interned did not engage in terrorist activities in the first instance?

Mr. Whitelaw

I cannot prove that either. But as I am asking for facts, I must stick to it. All I can say is that I have personally examined the facts of every single case I have released before coming to my decision. I may have been wrong. I may be proved to be wrong. If I am, I shall be properly held to have been wrong, and I understand that. But, at the same time, if I examine the cases and believe that it is right on security grounds to release these people, that is the decision I have taken. At this time I have no reason to doubt that I have been correct.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Have any of the prominent politicians who have made these accusations in Northern Ireland about detainees and internees returning to subversive activities—including the ex-Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, who made a long statement today about the matter—ever brought concrete evidence or asked the Secretary of State to investigate particular cases?

Mr. Whitelaw

No, Sir, they have not.