Northern Ireland (Border Incidents)

HC Deb 12 February 1973 vol 850 cc247-8W

Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the incidents on the border between Northern and Southern Ireland in the months of November and December 1972 and January 1973, and if lie will break them down to indicate their nature, and give the number of casualties resulting therefrom.

Mr. Amery

Between 1st November 1972 and 31st January 1973 there were 121 border incidents involving violence initiated by IRA units south of the border. The totals month by month were:

November	…	…	…	…	52
December	…	…	…	…	41
January	…	…	…	…	28

By categories these incidents comprised:

Shootings	68
Customs Posts destroyed	4
Other buildings attacked	13
Armed robberies and similar attacks	8
Booby traps	17
Kidnappings	2

The balance comprises miscellaneous acts of violence.

I regret to state that, as a result of these cross-border attacks, six persons lost their lives and 13 persons were wounded in Northern Ireland. IRA casualties are not included in these figures.