HC Deb 10 January 1985 vol 70 cc895-6
12. Mr. Parry

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what representations he has received calling for an inquiry into the death of North McCabe; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hurd

Since 4 December 1984, one early-day motion, one parliamentary question, six letters from Members of Parliament, one letter on behalf of a political party and nine letters from members of the public have made representations for an inquiry into the death of Mrs. Norah McCabe.

Mr. Parry

The Secretary of State will be aware that early-day motion 195 is supported by 79 hon. Members and calls for an inquiry into the tragic and unnecessary death of a young mother of three children. Will he reconsider his decision not to hold a public inquiry, which he announced in a written reply to me of 20 December? Has any compensation been paid to the dependants of that unfortunate young woman?

Mr. Hurd

I have thought long and hard about that. There are two aspects. The first relates to possible action against individual police officers arising from the death. I cannot second-guess the independent decisions of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who has examined all the evidence, including the film, part of which was recently shown on television, and has come to that conclusion. I have no grounds nor standing to second-guess that.

The second aspect relates to the control of the use of plastic baton rounds, which I have also examined carefully. The House should know that every incident in which the Royal Ulster Constabulary now has to use those rounds is reported to me, and that the use of each round now has to be accounted for. [Interruption.] Yes, compensation has been given.

Mr. Bell

I appreciate the fullness and frankness of the Secretary of State's answer, but does he recall the statement by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State during the debate on the Baker report. He said: The law provides that any person may use only such force as is reasonable, and both the police and the Army in Northern Ireland have to operate within the law"?—[Official Report, 20 December 1984; Vol. 70, c. 645.] Does the Secretary of State feel that the force used in the killing of an innocent bystander was reasonable in relation to the circumstances surrounding that death? If he does not, why does he not accede to the demands for an inquiry and establish culpability if there is culpability?

Mr. Hurd

I tried to explain in my original answer the reasons why I do not believe that I can second-guess the decision of the Director of Public Prosecutions, who had access to all the evidence available. I should modify slightly my last answer to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Riverside (Mr. Parry). The action that Mrs. McCabe's husband brought against the Chief Constable for the death of his wife was settled out of court on 29 November for a substantial sum.