HL Deb 04 March 1985 vol 460 cc1115-22

4.22 p.m.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)

My Lords, with the leave of the House, I shall now repeat a Statement being made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The Statement is as follows:

"I shall with permission, Mr. Speaker, make a Statement on last Thursday's attack by the Provisional IRA on Newry police station and on later incidents in which two members of the security forces died.

"At about 6.40 on the evening of 28th February, nine mortars were fired at Newry police station from a lorry parked about 200 metres away. The lorry had earlier been stolen near Crossmaglen. Seven mortars exploded. One of these hit the prefabricated canteen at the back of the police station. Three exploded at the front of the police station, two more exploded on derelict property opposite, and the seventh exploded in the garden of the rear of this property. The two mortars which did not explode landed in a street near the police station.

"Nine police officers, including two police-women, were killed. Seven other officers were taken to hospital, one of whom is still detained, and 23 civilians also received treatment.

"Later that evening, at about 10.30, a device beside a telegraph pole in Pomeroy, County Tyrone, exploded as a UDR foot patrol passed. One soldier, a part-time private in the regiment, was killed, and another soldier was injured.

"Yesterday morning outside St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic church in Enniskillen two terrorists shot dead an off-duty RUC officer in front of his wife and children. The terrorists escaped in a stolen car towards the border, and abandoned the vehicle at Belcoo.

"The Provisional IRA has claimed responsibility for all these brutal murders.

"I reviewed security arrangements with the Deputy Chief Constable and the GOC on Friday, and these are now being urgently re-examined. So far as the attack at Newry is concerned, no building can be made impregnable and the risks faced by the security forces in Northern Ireland are well understood. I have already approved a capital expenditure programme for police building of between £20 and £25 million in the next three years, including a new police station in Newry. We shall now look carefully and urgently at possible further physical measures for the protection of buildings and at all the procedures designed to forestall attacks of this kind.

"These attacks on Protestant and Catholic members of the security forces show once again the callous savagery of the terrorists. I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our deepest sympathy to the families of the dead and injured and our appreciation of the courage and steadiness of the security forces. I believe this House will want to send out another message: we must not and will not bow to terrorists—they will not win".

My Lords, that concludes the Statement.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, we are grateful to the noble Lord for repeating the Statement, and we join with him in offering our profound sympathy to the families and friends of the nine men and women killed last Thursday by the attack on Newry police station, as well as the relatives of the others who have been killed over the last two or three weeks. Words are inadequate to convey our horror and revulsion at this wicked deed, which is reported as being one of the worst attacks since the beginning of the present troubles in Northern Ireland 16 years ago. Sadly, it reflects a worsening of the violence in the Province during the last 14 days. Last year it seemed that the violence was abating, and it is disappointing to find that this is not the case.

I am sure the noble Lord agrees that there are no simple solutions, but the supporters of terrorism must not think that an escalation of violence is a solution. It is totally counter-productive. I should like to say also that we appreciate very much Dr. Garret FitzGerald's absolute condemnation of this wicked act. Further-more, I hope it will not be thought that as a result of this act the political situation in Northern Ireland has reached an impasse and that further initiatives should not be taken, even though the talks between the SDLP and the two main Unionist parties have broken down, mainly as a result of Mr. Hume's agreement to meet the IRA.

We noted that the right honourable gentleman the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland said after the Newry attack that although political progress is important—I quote him: it shrinks into insignificance when compared with the job of getting rid of terrorism". Of course it is absolutely essential that the defeat of terrorism should be a key priority of any government, but will the noble Lord give an assurance that this will not be at the expense of seeking a political solution? Is it not true that striving for a political solution is in fact part of the remedy against terrorism itself?

Will the noble Lord also assure the House that the Government, with the Government of Eire, will carefully consider new security initiatives on both sides of the border, on the grounds that these are essential if the safety of both the Catholic and Protestant communities of Northern Ireland, and of that area below the border, are to be secured?

Finally, can the noble Lord elaborate on the measures to be taken to protect the RUC stations in Ulster from this type of attack in the future? It is, I think, a matter of comment that the armaments used by the IRA were in fact heavy armaments; and it is further a matter of comment that they can be trundled about so easily without the security forces of either side being in touch with them or knowing about them. I hope that this matter will be investigated very carefully by Her Majesty's Government in concert with the Government of Eire.

The Statement rightly says that, no building can be made impregnable". But the point is clear, and is made in the Statement, that these were in fact prefabricated buildings and therefore were particularly vulnerable to attack. I wonder whether the noble Lord, when he replies, can tell us what is the total amount now spent by the Government on security in Northern Ireland.

Lord Hampton

My Lords, I, too, should like to thank the noble Lord the Minister for repeating this Statement. The Statement covers a new sequence of evil and utterly pointless atrocities. I accept that it is virtually impossible to make police stations 100 per cent. safe; but we are glad that the position is being reviewed as a matter of urgency.

We are told that nine mortars were fired at Newry police station from a lorry parked about 200 metres away. The lorry had earlier been stolen from near Crossmaglen. I should like to ask the Minister two questions about that. First, how much earlier had the lorry been stolen? Secondly, could it not and should it not have been tracked down before the mortars could be launched? The other outrages run true to form for the IRA. They seem to take vile pleasure in gunning down officers in front of their wives and children, and very often in the act of attending worship. There are no other questions that I wish to ask.

We on these Benches applaud the immense courage and devotion to duty of the security forces serving in the Province and we send our deepest sympathy to the injured and the bereaved, and the promise that we shall do all we can in the fight for a better, safer life for all in Northern Ireland. We wholeheartedly support the closing message from the Secretary of State: We must not and will not bow to terrorists—they will not win".

Lord Lyell

My Lords, may I begin by thanking the noble Lords, Lord Cledwyn and Lord Hampton, for the words that they have expressed about the bereaved and the injured? I shall certainly ensure that their good wishes and their tributes to the security forces, and above all to the brave men and women of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, are passed on. I am most grateful for them.

The noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, noted that the Taoiseach had issued a very forceful statement. We too are very grateful for Dr. FitzGerald's forthright support. Your Lordships will know that we all regard the fight against terrorism in Ireland and elsewhere as being of paramount importance. However, we appreciate Dr. FitzGerald's comments and the forthright statement that he issued.

The noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, also raised the question of a twin-track: of trying to achieve a political solution as well as combating terrorism. I understand that yesterday, in the course of an interview on the television programme, "Face the Press", my right honourable friend said that he was all in favour of political progress. One aspect of that is the discussions that we are having with the Irish Government, which I hope will succeed. I think that it is a twin-track, and if we can reach agreement over such an arrangement with the Irish, then that would be helpful. I do not think that it is a substitute for political progress within Northern Ireland. I am doing my best, and shall continue to do my best, to bring about such political progress. However, my right honourable friend was quite correct when in Newry—and this weekend in the light of the later events—he stressed that our one aim is to defeat the terrorists.

The noble Lord also asked whether there were any further points about which I could help regarding joint security between ourselves and the Republic. I am able to say that these relationships are very strong. I know that at the moment the security forces are reviewing whether anything could have been done. However, I am sure that both the noble Lord and the House will accept that any discussions of details, or any lessons that have been learned as a result of the tragic events of last week and the weekend, will be put into effect as soon as possible, but of course they should remain confidential.

The noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, also asked about measures for ensuring the safety of the security forces. The noble Lord referred to the Portakabin prefabricated buildings. I alluded to that in my opening Statement and mentioned that my right honourable friend has funds of between £20 million and £25 million for a further capital programme to improve RUC stations. It would be invidious of me to single out any particular improvements. I stressed that there would be a new, improved police station at Newry. However, as regards any reinforcement of roofs and suchlike of the Portakabins or covering the roof of the station with a layer of concrete, other liabilities may be involved, as we have found in the past at Ballykelly and more recently at the Abbeystead explosion in Lancashire, where very serious problems were encountered in rescuing the injured among concrete which had collapsed as a result of a very powerful explosion. However, we shall certainly take on board any lessons that we can learn from this.

The noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, also raised the question of expenditure on security. I am afraid that I am unable to give the noble Lord or your Lordships any meaningful figure of expenditure involving the Royal Ulster Constabulary and all kinds of operations; but I can tell the noble Lord that an extra amount of £3.1 million has been made available in 1984–85 to meet the cost of the force's expansion and, indeed, the increase in man-hours. I understand that for 1985–86 the increase will be in the region of £7 million. However. I hasten to add that that is an approximation. I hope that I have covered all the points raised by the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn.

The noble Lord, Lord Hampton, asked me two questions about the lorry which was hijacked. I understand that the lorry was hijacked near Crossmaglen at about one o'clock, lunchtime, on Thursday. The driver was held until 30 minutes after the bombing took place. I understand that he was released at about 7 p.m. Therefore, there was no way in which he could have reported the incident or in which the incident could have been averted by speedier action over the loss of this particular lorry.

The noble Lord also raised the point as to how the lorry came to be parked there. I understand that this falls within part of the operational procedures in and around Newry and that this particular aspect of the tragedy is being examined. Certainly any lessons that are learnt will be digested.

4.38 p.m.

Lord Somers

My Lords, the whole country is horrified at the absolutely wanton and meaningless slaughter which is indulged in by the IRA. Can the noble Lord say whether the Government have any intention of reconsidering their decision about introducing capital punishment for the authors of such crimes?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, we do not have any plans to reconsider any measures of capital punishment. Indeed, in July 1983 both your Lordships' House and another place rejected a proposal to reintroduce capital punishment—and, above all, for acts of terrorism. I believe that it would be the opinion of your Lordships that, despite this particular series of atrocities which I have had the misfortune to announce today, the position has not changed since then. Indeed, we believe that the effects of such a step would in the long-term prove counter-productive by making it much more difficult to bring terrorists to justice, and that would strengthen their support and certainly destabilise society in the Province.

Lord Blease

My Lords, as my home and family are in Northern Ireland I should like to be associated with today's Statement and particularly with the comments and the remarks on the Statement made by my noble friend on the Opposition Front Bench. Because of the tragic sorrowing and suffering with which it deals, the Statement is an important matter for the people of Northern Ireland and for all Irish people—for Irish people in Northern Ireland, for Irish people in the Republic, for the Irish in Britain and for the Irish overseas.

I should have liked to hear a much more vigorous and more thought-out Statement. I hope that the remarks made by my noble friend on the Opposition Front Bench will not go unheeded and perhaps to some degree they will supplement the Government's Statement. The Statement has arisen out of death and destruction. It deals with shattered lives and shattered homes. It deals, sadly, with shattered hopes—the shattered hopes of children and our children's children in Northern Ireland—brought about by the brutal crimes of terrorist murder.

It has been said that over the past 16 years, after the evil deeds which have been committed in Northern Ireland, we have perhaps run out of suitable words to express our deep sense of revulsion and condemnation of these fiendish acts. Nevertheless, having said that, the importance of this Statement today is that it should have been made by the Government and that it should be supported and acted upon. The message should go out from this Parliament of wholehearted support for the men and women of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and for the other security services who are in the frontline seeking earnestly, under great difficulties, to uphold the accepted principles of justice, peace, and law and order.

We would all hope that the expressions of sympathy from the Government and from this side of the House, made here today, may bring some comfort to those who have recently and so tragically been bereaved, in that they may know that we share in some little measure at least their terrible sorrow and grief at this time. I would hasten to add, in view of some remarks which have already been made, that this House should appeal to the people of Northern Ireland not to allow their understandable upsurge of emotion to overspill into actions of retaliation, revenge or hatred.

The Government propose to carry out a number of security measures. With regard to those security discussions, which I can understand have to be in confidence and have to be guarded for obvious reasons, I feel that, nevertheless, it is in the interests of the morale of the RUC and other security forces that the representatives of the men be brought fully into consultation, and that they should be aware of what is being done in their name.

Finally, may I say that in this House today we should underpin and reinforce the determination of this Parliament to take urgent and forthright decisions to ensure that the evils of terrorism, which the Minister has already mentioned and which have been mentioned from our Front Bench, should not succeed. If we do so, I believe that these recent murders and other which have gone before, and the sufferings of the loved ones of the victims, will not have been in vain.

Lord Lyell

My Lords, we are grateful for the forthright, excellent and kind support from the noble Lord, Lord Blease, who of course has contributed so much to life in Northern Ireland and still contributes so much. So far as concerns the noble Lord's comment on this apalling tragedy reflecting upon everybody in Northern Ireland, and indeed on everyone in Ireland, perhaps I could draw your Lordships' attention to the opening paragraph of a statement issued by Dr. FitzGerald on the evening of the Newry atrocity. He said: Once again the IRA, in pursuit of their policy of seeking to provoke repression of the minority in Northern Ireland, have engaged in the mass murder of fellow Irishmen". That, coming from the Taoiseach, is an expression of the feeling of abhorrence and shock felt by everybody in the island of Ireland. We in this Government are particularly grateful for that forthright support from the Taoiseach.

The noble Lord raised a particular point about the consultations between the members of the security forces, and indeed the representatives of the security forces, and the Government. We shall certainly make sure that so far as is possible what is discussed at these consultations is made known, but of course this is a matter for the chief constable, or indeed the general officer commanding, as to the scope of the discussions between the Government and the security forces on security policy. It is a matter for them; and, of course, there is a great deal of operational policy as well, and I hope that the noble Lord will accept that.

Lord Fitt

My Lords, in view of the ruthless and relentless campaign of savagery that we have seen carried out by the IRA over this past fortnight, is it not time to say that a new atmosphere must be created? Over these past 14 days the IRA have murdered civilians and members of the security forces, both Catholic and Protestant, and they have carried on a campaign of murdering on the doorsteps of their places of worship, of their chapels, members of the judiciary, the RUC and the prison service. These murders have been carried out on the doorsteps of their own churches and chapels as they have gone to, or come from, mass. Would this not indicate that there is a new element of savagery entering into the activities of the IRA?

In view of this, and particularly when one recalls the howls of protest which emanated after three IRA men were killed in Strabane, would it not be right to pose the question, as I have done this weekend: if the security forces had apprehended that lorry, loaded with its mortar shells, two minutes before they unleashed them at the RUC station, would there not have been a howl of protest from Cardinal O'Fiaich, Peter Barry of the Irish Republic, and leaders of the minority population in Northern Ireland?

Is it not right that we should now say to the religious and political leaders of the minority in Northern Ireland that they, by these protests, and by their arguments and protests against the RUC and the UDR, however justified they may think their attitude is, are creating the conditions and the atmosphere in which the IRA can then engage in their murderous savagery? Is it not time that the Catholic minority population, of which I was one for 57 years until I left it last year, should now stand back and say, "We will withdraw our reservations against the security forces and assist them in every possible way to eradicate this terrorism from our land"?

Lord Lyell

My Lords, the whole House, and people far outside your Lordships' House, will appreciate the comments made by the noble Lord, who, after all, has such experience of facing up to this problem of the appalling violence and terrorism himself. For my part—and, indeed, I am sure on behalf of all your Lordships—I salute his courage over many years. His comments over the weekend are all the more valuable for his experiences.

I appreciate the appalling atrocities which have been carried out at the cathedral at Armagh since I was there this year. I went right round the cathedral and stood on the steps where the principal officer was murdered. I have not been to St. Gabriel's at Enniskillen, but I have a personal feeling for what the noble Lord points out.

The noble Lord raised the question of the lorry loaded with the mortar shells. He raised it over the weekend. His comments were particularly welcome and very relevant, and perhaps caused people to search their consciences. He will note that strong comment and condemnation was made in similar vein in the Irish newspaper, the Irish Independent. For all I know they copied the noble Lord's wise words. Certainly nobody is better qualified to condemn this appalling treachery and butchery by terrorism than the noble Lord, and I am sure that everybody is grateful for his comments.