HC Deb 22 October 1979 vol 972 cc48-50
Rev. Ian Paisley

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 spate of terrorist killings in Northern Ireland. Since the House adjourned, there has been a grim catalogue of desperate and bloody deeds done in the name of terrorism in Northern Ireland. On 2 August, two members of the British Army were murdered by a land mine in South Armagh and on the same day a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary was shot dead in the Falls area of Belfast.

On 10 August a civilian was shot at Garvagh. The excuse given by the IRA was that three of the dead man's brothers served with the Ulster Defence Regiment. On 27 August, there was the Warren-point massacre, when 18 members of the British Army were done to death. On 28 August, a civilian was shot at his home in the city of Belfast.

On 1 September a civilian was shot at his greengrocery establishment in Belfast. On 3 September, another civilian was shot at his home in Belfast. On 14 September a prison officer was shot dead near the Crumlin Road. On 19 September, the assistant prison governor of the Crumlin Road prison was shot at the same spot.

On 3 October—this month—a civilian was shot at her home in Belfast. On 5 October a member of the UDR was shot at Bessbrook. On 5 October another civilian was shot in South Armagh. On 8 October a member of the British Army was shot in Belfast. On 12 October a solicitor was shot in West Belfast. On 15 October another UDR man was shot at Rosslea school. On 19 October, another member of the UDR was shot at Fintona.

There have been 34 deaths since the House rose for the Summer Recess. Of those, 29 were claimed to have been committed by the Irish Republican Army, 22 of which occurred in the border area.

Of the other five deaths the UFF—Ulster Freedom Fighters—claims at least two, and it is thought that it was responsible for all five.

If these deaths had occurred in Great Britain in the same ratio, this House would have had 1,200 deaths on its hands. There have been 87 deaths so far this year in Northern Ireland, and that would be equivalent to 3,100 in the rest of Great Britain. As a result of the troubles in Ulster, there have been 1,968 deaths in Ulster to date, which is equivalent to 71,000 in Great Britain terms.

This is a most serious matter. I have not included in the figures the tragedy that occurred in the Irish Republic when Lord Mountbatten and his friends were so diabolically done to death as that was outside the jurisdiction of this House.

I say to you, Sir, that the people of Northern Ireland expect this House to have an immediate debate upon this matter so that they might know that this House understands the terrible dark shadow that lies across the Province, and in order that the Government will take effective steps to deal with terrorism in the Province.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) gave me notice before 12 midday 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 believes should have urgent consideration, namely, the spate of terrorist killings in Northern Ireland. The House will have listened with deep concern to what the hon. Gentleman said. In order that the House and the people of Northern Ireland should know that I do not decide whether this matter is to be debated, but whether the order of business shall be changed tonight or tomorrow, I remind the House that, under Standing Order No. 9, I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the order but to give no reasons for my decision.

I listened with anxious concern to the representations of the hon. Gentleman, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order. Therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House. My powers are limited to deciding whether the debate should be tonight or tomorrow.