Northern Ireland

HC Deb 01 March 1972 vol 832 cc119-23W

Mr. Rose

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will investigate why three letters to Army officers, copies of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Blackley, concerning the conduct of troops in Ulster were not received by his Department.

Lord Balniel

We have not received from the hon. Member copies of three letters to Army officers concerning the conduct of troops in Northern Ireland. If the hon. Member wishes to send me copies of these letters, I will see that he has a reply.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action the Army took on Sunday, 27th February, when a crowd of people from the Irish Republic tried to fill in a cratered road at Rosslea, Northern Ireland.

Lord Lambton

At about 4.45 p.m. on 27th February troops near Rosslea were attacked by a crowd of about 150 persons throwing stones and other missiles. Nineteen rubber bullets and a baton charge were used to disperse the crowd. The crowd had dispersed south of the Border by about 6.30 p.m.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action the Army took in Armagh after the Irish Republican Army's murder attempt on the life of Mr. John Taylor, Member of Parliament, Minister of State at Stormont for Home Affairs; and what arrests were made.

Lord Lambton

The shooting was reported to the Army within about 10 minutes. Road blocks were set up within the next 10 minutes to close all routes out of Armagh, and extensive searches were made. The Army made a number of arrests in Armagh on 26th February and I understand that two of the arrested men have assisted the Royal Ulster Constabulary with its inquiries into the shooting. The inquiries are continuing and other arrests have since been made by the police.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances troops at Flushtown Bridge, near Strabane, were fired on from the Irish Republic on Sunday, 27th February; how many shots the Irish Republican Army terrorists fired; what sort of gun was used; whether the fire was returned; and with what effect.

Lord Lambton

At about 6.20 p.m. on 27th February a joint Army/R.U.C. patrol stopped to investigate smoke rising from Flushtown Bridge. As is stopped, 10 high velocity rounds were fired at it from a position south of the Border. It is thought that the terrorists were using M1 carbines. Troops fired four rounds in return. No hits were recorded.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances soldiers were fired upon on Sunday, 27th February, at Toomebridge, County Antrim, Northern Ireland; whether the fire was returned; and what arrests were made.

Lord Lambton

Shortly after 10 p.m. on 26th February, two pistol shots were fired at a foot patrol south-east of Toomebridge. Four rounds were returned. The troops sustained no casualties. No terrorists were seen to be hit and no arrests were made at the time.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the date of the last arms search by the Army in the Bogside and Creggan Estate, Londonderry; what streets were searched; and with what result.

Lord Lambton

The most recent major search operations were conducted in the Creggan area on 10th December, 1971, involving houses in Fanad Drive, and in the Bogside area on 30th December, 1971, involving houses in Lacky Road and Meenan Square. Nothing was found on those occasions, although earlier searches had been successful.

On 6th December in the Creggan area a search in Creggan Broadway and Leenan Gardens uncovered 4 carbines, 1 rifle, 1 shotgun and 169 rounds of ammunition hidden in the garden of one house.

In the Bogside area, a search in Stanley's Walk and Elmwood Street on 28th December revealed 5 nail bombs and a detonator.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was forced by a group of women to free a boy gunman with a loaded carbine on Sunday night, 27th February, at the Divis flats, Belfast; what arrests were made; and what age the Army estimates the boy to be.

Lord Lambton

Shortly after 10 p.m. a foot patrol searched a youth, estimated to be between 12 and 14 years of age. He was found to be in possession of a carbine and 14 rounds of ammunition, all of which were seized. The carbine was loaded, with a round in the breech. During the search, a crowd of 20 to 25 women gathered and obstructed the patrol, enabling the youth to escape. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances a patrol of the 12th Light Air Defence Regiment was fired on in the Suffolk area of Belfast on Monday, 28th February; what damage resulted; what sort of weapon the Irish Republican Army terrorists used; whether the fire was returned; with what result; and what arrests were made.

Lord Lambton

At about 5 a.m. six high velocity shots were fired by two men at a mobile patrol at the junction of Suffolk Road and Glen Road, Belfast. The troops returned ten rounds but, in closing on the gunmen's position, had 10 pistol shots fired at them. A further round was returned. The troops sustained no casualties. No terrorists were seen to be hit and no arrests were made at the time.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to a public house in Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland, on Sunday, 27th February, after it had been damaged by a bomb; how the bomb was constructed; what weight of explosives it contained; how it was detonated; and what arrests were made.

Lord Lambton

At about 9 p.m. an explosion caused moderate damage to the Tivoli Bar, Manor Street, Donaghadee. Army ammunition technical officers estimated that the explosion had been caused by about 15 to 20 lb. of explosive, although they were unable to assess how the device had been constructed and detonated. No arrest were made by the Army at the time.

Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to the Monarch Laundry on the Donegal Road, Belfast, on Sunday, 27th February, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; at what time the bomb exploded and how long after the Army arrived; how the bomb was constructed; what weight of explosives it contained; how it was planted; how it was detonated; and what arrests were made.

Lord Lambton

At about 9.35 a.m. two men threw a bomb into the Monarch Laundry, and it exploded about five minutes later, damaging some fittings and clothes. The first troops were quickly on the scene and Army ammunition technical officers arrived by 9.55 a.m. They estimated that the bomb had contained 5 to 10 lb. of explosive, although they were unable to assess how it had been constructed and detonated. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.