HC Deb 14 December 1989 vol 163 cc1151-2
8. Mr. Mallon

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last met the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and what decisions were made concerning the prevention of confidential security information being made available to terrorist organisations.

Mr. Cope

I have regular and frequent meetings with the Chief Constable and other members of the security forces. The subject matter of such meetings is properly confidential. I am, however, satisfied that appropriate measures to safeguard material that might be of use to terrorist organisations have been put in place by both the police and the Army.

Mr. Mallon

The Minister will be aware of the bizarre circumstances that led the police to carry out a search for illegal arms, ammunition and terrorist paraphernalia at one of their own stations, at Kells, County Antrim on 12 October 1988. Will he confirm that two police officers serving at Kells resigned from the force, three were transferred to other stations, and one, named McAuley, was charged with the possession of arms and ammunition illegally held on behalf of a Loyalist paramilitary grouping? Can the Minister say whether the investigation carried out by Mr. Stevens involved interviewing the two officers who resigned and the three who were transferred? Was McAuley interviewed and, more importantly, were all the police officers who served at Kells during the two years prior to that date also interviewed?

Mr. Cope

I can confirm that the RUC demonstrated its evenhandedness and its preparedness to consider anything that might have gone wrong int its operation in connection with the RUC station at Kells. Nothing was found in the RUC station at Kells that gave rise to any doubt. As the hon. Gentleman says, certain officers resigned and so on. The Stevens inquiry is looking into all aspects of collusion which are drawn to its attention, but I do not wish to comment on that until Mr. Stevens has completed his investigations.

Rev. Ian Paisley

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. It relates to the supplementary question by the hon. Member for Newry and Armagh (Mr. Mallon). The matter being discussed is currently before the Northern Ireland courts.

Mr. Speaker

If that is so, we should not proceed, but it is not within my knowledge.

Mr. Cope

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. There are certain charges pending, so in certain respects the matter is sub judice.

Rev. Ian Paisley

It concerns a constituent of mine.

Mr. Speaker

In that case, we should move on.

Mr. McNamara

Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. What is your practice in these matters? Are you accepting points of order during Question Time or at the end of Question Time?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member well knows, and the House knows, that if a matter requires the immediate intervention of the Chair I must take the point of order—[Interruption.] The hon. Gentleman may reflect that that is exactly what happens during debates at any other time.