HC Deb 07 April 1977 vol 929 c614W
Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Mrs. Hester McMullan was murdered by the IRA on Monday 28th March.

Mr. Mason

Early on the morning of 28th March, Mr. James McMullan was ambushed by four terrorists as he was driving his lorry to work. The attack took place about three and a half miles to the north-east of Toomebridge in County Antrim. Mr. McMullan drove through the ambush but was chased by the men who fired at him from their car. Although the lorry was hit a number of times and Mr. McMullan was cut by flying glass, he was able to escape into a neighbour's house. The gunmen then switched their attack to the home of Mr. McMullan's parents in Crosskeys. They fired indiscriminately into the house, killing Mrs. Hester McMullan. Police investigations into these two incidents are continuing.