HC Deb 12 May 1983 vol 42 cc907-8
8. Mr. Farr

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on cross-border security co-operation in Northern Ireland.

Mr. Prior

Co-operation between the RUC and the Garda continues to play a vital role in countering terrorist activities in border areas and in bringing to justice those who have committed crimes in either jurisdiction.

Mr. Farr

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply, but has he detected any change in the emphasis of cross-border co-operation in the Republic since the general election there and does he feel that co-operation from the South could be improved or specially emphasised?

Mr. Prior

I have no doubt that co-operation can always be improved, but the Chief Constable reports to me that co-operation is very good, and we can detect no change between one Government and another in the South following the general election.

Mr. McCusker

Is it not a sad commentary on the much vaunted co-operation that the mass murderer Dominic McGlinchy still manages to evade arrest on each side of the frontier? As he was the subject of the first extradition order to be granted from the Republic, what special measures are being taken to apprehend him?

Mr. Prior

We are doing all that we can to apprehend him and we understand that the same is true in the South. As the hon. Gentleman knows, it is not always easy to find people in the island of Ireland. On a lighter note—I do not mean to devalue the hon. Gentleman's question—we cannot even find a racehorse.

Rev. Ian Paisley

Have not the police warned hon. Members from Northern Ireland that this man is in Northern Ireland and asked our escorts not to take us through certain areas, especially Toomebridge? Instead of the police station at Portglenone being run down, there should be an increase in the number of security forces in the area so that they can get their hands on this murderer.

Mr. Prior

If the hon. Gentleman has any evidence that would help us to capture this man, we should like to have it.