ROYAL VICTORIA HOSPITAL, BELFAST (Hansard, 23 May 1978)

§ Mr. Bradford

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the recent deterioration in the already inadequate security at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, due to the presence of Provisional IRA sympathisers on the security staff of that hospital". One notes the disgusting spectacle of a security supervisor, John Devine, assisting three armed terrorists to escape from the hospital by returning their car keys, which he had in his possession long enough to convey to the security forces, and by misinforming the Royal Ulster Constabulary of their escape route.

One also notes that Devine, whose son is in prison for terrorist murder, has been joined in attendance at Provisional IRA funerals, by Peter Macken, Thomas Mallon, Liam McMenemy, Liam Dwyer, James McCann, and his brother, Charles Devine, all of whom are on the security staff of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

This House should have time to probe these incidents, especially the incidents that involve Devine, who has been photographed very recently during a Republican demonstration, which clashed with the RUC in Belfast.

To those incidents I add the very recent and very frightening experience of a leading nursing officer who, after reporting a misdemeanour by a security man, was told by members of the security staff at the hospital that he would be permanently "fixed". There are those who are willing to substantiate the assertions to any Member of the Cabinet, even to the Prime Minister.

In conclusion, I believe that this House should help the medical and nursing staff, who are committed to saving life and easing pain, by debating what steps can be immediately taken to deal with those whose psychopathological pastime is to take life and to intensify pain, and to deal with those who assist them in any way, including those members of the security staff that I have now named.

This House should immediately take the opportunity of coming to some 1358 arrangement whereby the security at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, is placed in the hands of a national organisation, such as Securicor, and certainly to remove these gangsters from the position of authority and influence that they hold.

§ Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member gave me notice before 12 o'clock today that he would seek to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the recent deterioration in the already inadequate security at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, due to the presence of Provisional IRA sympathisers on the security staff of that hospital". I have listened with concern to the hon. Gentleman. As the House knows, I am not required to give my reasons in replying to an application for an Adjournment debate. I cannot grant the hon. Gentleman's submission and I would say to him, as I would say to the hon. Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Price), who sought a debate earlier, that there are other means by which he can pursue this matter within the House.