§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances members of the Army were stoned and petrol-bombed and a bus hijacked and wrecked in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on the night of 1st July; what action was taken against the rioters; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. KirkThere were several incidents of stone and petrol bomb throwing, and other disorderly behaviour by small crowds of hooligans, during one of which a bus was damaged. On each occasion action was taken to disperse the crowds. Four youths were arrested by the Army.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence, under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to Donegal Pass, Belfast, on Thursday night, 1st July, to examine a bomb; how this bomb was constructed; how it was to be detonated; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.
§ Mr. KirkThe Royal Ulster Constabulary sought the assistance of the Army Armament Technical Officer in dismantling a gelignite bomb contained in a rucksack and designed for detonation by a fuse. The usual safety and forensic search was carried out, the area having first been cleared. I have no report of any arrests.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) under what circumstances the Army were called to the Stella Mares Roman Catholic schools, Carnmoney, Belfast, on Thursday, 1st July; what searches they carried out; and what the result was of these searches;
352W(2) under what circumstances members of the Army, engaged in searching the Stella Maris Roman Catholic schools, Carnmoney, Belfast, on Thursday, 1st July, were ordered by their commanding officer to line up outside the school and empty out the contents of their pockets before the schoolmaster and a priest.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Sergeant Clive Lambert was flown to Coatisland, Northern Ireland, on Thursday, 1st July, to dismantle a time bomb planned to explode during an Orange procession; how this bomb was constructed; how it was to be detonated; how much time Sergeant Lambert had in which to render it harmless; and whether he has been commended for his performance.
§ Mr. KirkA gelignite bomb designed to be detonated by means of a clockwork device was found on top of a bus station. The clockwork device had stopped. The assistance of the Army Armament Technical Officer was sought, and it took two minutes to render the device harmless.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will ensure that in the future Army explosive experts will be on duty during major Orange processions in Northern Ireland to deal with terrorist time bombs.