HC Deb 21 November 1983 vol 49 cc23-8 3.36 pm
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (Mr. James Prior)

I shall, with permission Mr. Speaker, make a statement about the shootings at Darkley in county Armagh yesterday evening.

At approximately 6.15 pm yesterday, at least three men armed with automatic weapons entered the Mountain Lodge Pentecostal gospel hall near the village of Darkley in county Armagh. They opened fire in the entrance hall, killing two church elders and fatally wounding a third, whom they then followed into the gospel hall itself. There the gunmen opened fire on the congregation of between 60 and 70 people, including about 20 children. Seven members of the congregation were injured, two seriously. The gunmen then ran outside, fired another 25 shots at the congregation through the outer walls of the hall, and then fled. None of the congregation had any connection with the security forces. Responsibility for this appalling attack has been claimed by a body calling itself the Catholic Reaction Force. One of the weapons used has previously been used in incidents for which the Irish National Liberation Army has claimed responsibility.

The whole House will join me in extending our sympathy to the families of those killed and injured. It will also share my horror and disgust at this outrage. Though in the course of the 14 years campaign of terrorism endured by the people of Northern Ireland there have been other incidents involving greater loss of life, none before has involved the cold-blooded murder of people at worship. The shootings show the true nature of terrorism, and the true nature therefore not only of those who perpetrate it but of all those who advocate and support it.

The universal condemnation they have received from all sides of the community, and from all parts of the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, shows in full measure the revulsion that this hideous act has aroused.

The Government of the Republic have given the strongest possible assurances of their full co-operation in pursuing those responsible. The RUC, assisted by the Army, is determined to arrest the murderers.

Mr. Peter Archer (Warley, West)

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that the Opposition share fully his feelings of outrage at this heartless and mindless act of wickedness? We strongly associate ourselves with the right hon. Gentleman's expressions of sympathy for the victims and their families.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that if the Protestant community reacts by seeking some form of retaliation or by withdrawing from the search for a solution, not only would that be to blame the Catholic community for an act that it has overwhelmingly condemned but it would bring about the objective that the murderers set out to achieve, and it might encourage such murders by those who wish to widen the divisions?

Will he further agree that while he will, understandably, receive calls to take further action against terrorists, any action relating to the processes of the criminal courts, taken in advance of the report by Sir George Baker, is unlikely to reduce terrorism or to increase protection of the public, as terrorism is not discouraged by increasing the risk of convicting the wrong people?

Mr. Prior

I am grateful for what the right hon. and learned Gentleman has said and I agree with all of it. I urge the people affected by this horrific situation, about which they feel extremely deeply, to leave security to the security forces. However hard or desperate people may feel, they must not take the law into their own hands. Under no circumstances will the Government permit that to happen.

Rev. Ian Paisley (Antrim, North)

I am sure that the right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the feelings on both sides of the House of those who represent Northern Ireland constituencies. I associate myself with the Secretary of State's expressions of sympathy.

When gunmen appear in a congregation of worshippers on a sabbath evening, slay three of the church elders and spray the congregation with bullets in an attempt to murder them as well, I assume that the right hon. Gentleman is aware that this is a new departure in republican terrorist strategy.

As the RUC had intelligence to the effect that there there would be an attack on a place of worship yesterday, why was there no security for that very isolated Protestant building? After the incident, why were orders given to the RUC that it should appear in strength in Protestant areas in case of a severe backlash, with the result that men were unable to go into the areas to which those who had committed the outrage had, perhaps, fled? Why was it that although the police visited Protestant ministers and congregations in the same area and warned them that similar atrocities might take place, they could not assure them that there would be a continual presence during church services because of manpower shortages and difficulties resulting from a cut in overtime?

Will the Secretary of State give the House an assurance that isolated congregations will be protected so that they will not have to defend themselves? Will the Secretary of State accept that a person has a duty to defend himself if there is no possibility of him being legally defended by the security forces? Does not the Secretary of State agree that in those circumstances people are entitled to defend themselves against murderous thugs?

Mr. Prior

Of course, I understand the strong feelings that exist throughout the House and, not least, among Northern Ireland Members.

It is true that the police had some information that led them to believe that there might be an attack on a policeman, or policemen, at worship somewhere in the Province. That is a very wide indication. Of course, it would be quite impossible for the police to guard every congregation. However, after the attack, every effort was made to tell congregations near the scene of the attack what had happened. I should have thought that that was a wise precaution. The hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) mentioned the concern about a backlash in Protestant areas, which had led to a shortage in the numbers of police available to round up the murderers. I cannot comment on that without further notice, other than to say that there would have been no question of any curtailment of overtime on operational duties. I can assure the House about that. The Chief Constable knows that he has any amount of overtime available, when requested.

Of course, there is a right to use a weapon, but only in self-defence, when an attack has been made. Some people are issued with weapons for that purpose. Concern about a backlash, sectarian killings and the Protestant Action Force—which has since made a statement—would seem to suggest that everyone in Northern Ireland has a duty to ensure that the police are given every possible support.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell (Down, South)

I should like to ask the Secretary of State two questions. First, the Government say that they are determined to arrest the murderers. How can they do that if the murderers are in another jurisdiction; or have the Government received an assurance from the Irish Republic that those wanted for the murders will be extradited? Secondly, bearing in mind that no area can be saturated indefinitely by the security forces, will the right hon. Gentleman do his best to ensure that where—as in the case of county Armagh—there is an indication that a definite set is being made upon a sector of the frontier, that part of it is so saturated by the security forces that terrorist movements become virtually impossible?

Mr. Prior

With regard to the right hon. Gentleman's second point. I am, of course, in close touch with the General Officer Commanding and the Chief Constable. Obviously, we shall have to see what else can be done in that area of county Armagh, and in the Dundalk corridor, which is now causing us so much trouble. I had a long talk with the GOC and the Chief Constable on such matters only yesterday. I cannot answer for the Government in the South, but the North will do all that it can to catch the murderers. If they are caught in the South, we very much hope that they will be extradited. Indeed, there are grounds for thinking that the Government of the Republic take the same view on this issue.

Sir Humphrey Atkins (Spelthorne)

Will my right hon. Friend do everything that he can to persuade the Official Unionist party to reconsider the decision that it is reported to have made to withdraw from the assembly? Does my right hon. Friend agree that that is precisely what the terrorists want? Does he further agree that if terrorists can get what they want by violence, it will only make them increase the level of violence?

Mr. Prior

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for those views. It is much easier to destroy than to find a solution in Northern Ireland. I would very much regret any decision by the Official Unionist party that helped, even in a small way, to make Northern Ireland's institutions more difficult to run and less effective. I greatly hope that in its understandable anger and concern about what has happened, it will recognise that it is only by building democratic institutions slowly and methodically that we shall overcome the problems.

Mr. Merlyn Rees (Morley and Leeds, South)

Does not the Secretary of State agree that these latest murders by the so-called Catholic Reaction Force, like the actions recently taken by the Protestant Action Force—as I think it calls itself—clearly illustrate to all those who want to see that the murders in Northern Ireland are pure criminal murders, and that those who invoke politics—whatever organisation or side they may come from—are deceiving the world about the sort of pure criminal murders that occurred last night? Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that in Armagh and on either side of the border there are no more than 20 or 25 such men who move from one organisation to another? Does not he accept that to swamp the area with soldiers would be to fail to understand that a small number of guns move around within the group? Will the Secretary of State take up the response in the South? Perhaps he or one of his Ministers could meet a Minister from Southern Ireland on the border. We all know the names of those whom the police want. Someone knows where those men are. That is what the police need to know. We do not want any talk about soldiers swamping the area as if a John Wayne sort of battle was involved.

Mr. Prior

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for his points, and I shall certainly consider his suggestion. I think that we know who the people responsible are, and we want them to be caught. There is a good deal of concern because they have not yet been caught. Anything that we can do by better co-operation with the Republic, along the lines suggested by the right hon. Gentleman would be much appreciated.

Mr. Peter Robinson (Belfast, East)

Will the Secretary of State take it from me that this act of genocide will not weaken the resolve of the Protestant community in Northern Ireland to resist Republican terrorism from whatever organisation? Will he also accept from me that the Protestant Community, in particular, in Northern Ireland will study his words today to see what comfort they can get from him? Is he prepared to tell the House that there have been failures under his present security policy? Gallant men in our security forces are sitting ducks for the terrorists. Will he change that security policy to one of resolute initiative against the IRA and its kinsmen?

Mr. Prior

I suspect that there are always some failures in security policy. I should be deluding myself and the House if sometimes we did not admit to getting things wrong. I believe that the security forces have done a fantastic job in the past year or two in the frustration of many attacks that could have been devastating. They never receive any credit for frustrating these attacks.

I am in close touch with the security forces. Yesterday, I addressed 200 officers of the Ulster Defence Regiment and gave them a number of assurances about the importance which the Government and the country attach to their role. I am doing all that I can to help Northern Ireland proceed towards peace and the defeat of terrorism. That will require enormous effort by all the people of Northern Ireland if we are to be successful.

Mr. Stephen Ross (Isle of Wight)

I assure the Secretary of State that we share his revulsion of that terrible deed, which has hit an all-time low in depravity. We admire greatly the courage shown by many people recently, particularly the former chairman of Armagh council—I think it was—who not only had his council stand in memory of a shot Catholic but who was blown to smithereens within minutes himself. His action showed great courage.

Will the Secretary of State resist any demands for the resignation of the Chief Constable who, I believe, is held in high regard in most circles in Northern Ireland? Certainly all who have met him think a great deal of him. Will the Secretary of State resist any demands for his resignation and impress upon local residents, north and south of the border, that the greatest thing they can do is to expose these people who are, as the right hon. Member for Morley and Leeds, South (Mr. Rees) has said, generally known to the police, so that they can be brought to justice as rapidly as possible?

Mr. Prior

I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman said, particularly about the Chief Constable. I cannot imagine that there is a more difficult job than that of Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in Northern Ireland. He deserves all possible support from everyone in the House and the country. He is a man of great integrity, working under enormous pressure, and carrying out his tasks in the highest tradition of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. I am grateful to him and to the hon. Gentleman.

Sir Hugh Rossi (Hornsey and Wood Green)

Will my right hon. Friend accept that the feelings of revulsion expressed in the House today are fully shared by all Catholics throughout the United Kingdom? Does he agree that these acts of horror are perpetrated by evil men—whatever label they may give themselves—who are more intent upon destabilising society in Northern Ireland to further the aims of revolution and more interested in an atheistic philosophy than any aspect of Christianity?

Mr. Prior

These are just cold-blooded murderers out to cause all the trouble that they can, and to destabilise the Province. I accept that the whole Catholic population feels as much revulsion about these murders as anyone else.

Mr. Martin Flannery (Sheffield, Hillsborough)

Is it not a fact that no matter how horrified we are about these murderous events, our task is to help the legitimate security forces to handle this problem and not to usurp their function by intensifying an already inflammatory position by making speeches calling on new forces to enter this dreadful arena? Must we not try to make it clear that our aim is to lower the tension and to show that sectarian killings invariably result in a mirror image in the other community? We must try to gentle that down and to help the security forces to do the job without further inflaming the position.

Mr. Prior

We need the security forces to catch murderers, to prevent terrorism, and to give confidence to the local population. I have to bear those points in mind at the same time as I bear in mind the other point raised by the hon. Gentleman—the need, the whole time, to try to lower tension and to allow people to lead normal lives. It is a difficult balance to keep and the security forces have a difficult job.

Rev. William McCrea (Mid-Ulster)

I join the Secretary of State in saluting the gallantry of the Ulster Defence Regiment and all members of Ulster's security forces. Does the Secretary of State agree that Roman Catholic terrorist thugs have plumbed the depths of depravity with this latest atrocity? Has the Secretary of State any information or evidence that a well-known mass murderer from my locality, Dominic McGlinchey, has been involved in this devilish deed, or that any of those who escaped from Long Kesh have been involved? Does the Secretary of State agree that the time has come for this insane, devilish brat McGlinchey to be destroyed for good?

Mr. Prior

I condemn violence and murder from whatever source, whether Catholic or Protestant. I have to be careful about the second question asked by the hon. Gentleman. There is no evidence to suggest that the man mentioned was involved in this offence, but it resembles a number of offences that have been committed in recent months, and the man mentioned by the hon. Gentleman is very much on our wanted list. He is certainly one who is due for extradition from the Republic.

Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)

As this foul and evil deed was plainly carried out to stir up sectarian warfare, should not anyone with influence in Northern Ireland exercise restraint so as not to play into the hands of the murderers? May I make the suggestion that I have made previously after such atrocities. Would it not be useful for such crimes to be well publicised in the United States so that people over there understand that this is not political warfare? These are crimes against humanity.

Mr. Prior

It does not happen very often that I say thank you to the hon. Gentleman for what he has said, but I thank him very much. Yes, I agree with the hon. Member.

Mr. Anthony Beaumont-Dark (Birmingham, Selly Oak)

Does my right hon. Friend agree that in circumstances like these, in fighting a guerilla war where people can hide in the jungle or the mountains, people who harbour these criminals—that is all they are—should be treated as though they had taken part in the offence? All these people cannot flee across the border. If we are to solve this matter, surely the time has come when people, even families, who shelter such people and who know that they possess arms for these deeds, should be treated as mad and criminal, and be deemed to be as guilty as those who take part in the offence.

Mr. Prior

I shall have to study the legal position of what my hon. Friend said, but I should be surprised if those who harbour known criminals are not in some contravention of the law. I am not a lawyer and I shall have to study that point.