Plastic Bullets (Hansard, 28 July 1988)

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list, for each incident involving death or injury by plastic bullet rounds in Northern Ireland since 1972, the victim, the date of the incident, the circumstances leading to death or injury, the amount of compensation paid, if any, and whether it was paid under criminal injuries compensation legislation or other provisions.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart [holding answer 8 July 1988]
Since 1972, 13 people have died after being struck by plastic baton rounds. During the same period two people died as a result of rubber baton round injuries. The names of those who died and the details of the circumstances of each death are as follow:
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Name Date of death Circumstances

Michael Donnolly 9 August 1980 On 9 August 1980 the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds during a period of sustained rioting in Leeson Street in Belfast. Michael Donnolly was struck by one of these rounds and died a short time later in hospital.

Paul Whitters 25 April 1981 On 15 April 1981 during rioting in Londonderry masked youths approached a bakery throwing stones and breaking windowes and apparently intending to hijack a lorry. The security forces fired a plastic baton round at the crowd which hit one of them, Paul Whitters, on the head. He was admitted to hospital where he died 10 days later.

Julie Livingstone 13 May 1981 On 12 May 1981 members of the security forces in an armoured vehicle in Belfast fired 3 plastic baton rounds when they were attacked by youths throwing petrol bombs. Julie Livingstone was seen to fall and she later died as a result of a head injury.

Carol Ann Kelly 22 May 1981 On 19 May 1981 in the Twinbrook area of Belfast two army landrovers came under attack from youths throwing stones and other missiles, and the security forces fired two plastic baton rounds. Carol Ann Kelly was struck on the head by the second of these baton rounds and she died in hospital three days later.

Henry Duffy 22 May 1981 On 22 May 1981, during a period of heavy rioting in the Bogside area of Londonderry, the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds when they came under attack from youths throwing petrol and nail bombs. Henry Duffy was hit in the head by a baton round and died after admission to hospital.

Norah McCabe 9 July 1981 In the early hours of 8 July 1981 two police landrovers were attacked with stones and other missiles whilst travelling on the Falls Road in Belfast. At the junction of Linden Street a plastic baton round was fired from one of the landrovers and Norah McCabe was struck on the head, she died the following day in hospital.

Paul Doherty 31 July 1981 On 24 July 1981 following disturbances and demonstrations in connection with the Republican hunger strike, barricades were erected outside Divis Flats in Belfast. As the army removed these barricades they were stoned and petrol bombed by youths on the road and in the adjacent flats. A member of the security forces fired two plastic baton rounds and one of these struck Peter Doherty, who was near an open window in the kitchen of a flat. He died a week later.

Peter McGuinness 9 August 1981 On 9 August 1981 police on the Whitewell Road in Belfast were attacked with stones and petrol bombs by about 50 youths. As two petrol bombs burst on the roof of a police vehicle the security forces fired one plastic baton round and Peter McGuinness, who had been demonstrating with the crowd, was hit in the chest and died shortly afterwards.

Stephen McConomy 19 April 1982 On 16 April 1982, as a suspected explosives device was examined by the army, an armoured vehicle came under attack from rioters, Stephen McConomy was one of a group of youths near the vehicle. He was hit by a plastic baton round and died three days later in hospital.

John Downes 12 August 1984 On 12 August 1984 the police attempted to arrest Mr. Martin Galvin, the banned Noraid publicity director, at a rally in Andersonstown, West Belfast to mark the thirteenth anniversary of the introduction of internment, in the disturbances which followed the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds. John Downes died after being struck by one of them.

Keith White 14 April 1986 On 31 March 1986 following rioting in Portadown, Keith White was struck by a plastic baton round. He died in hospital from his injuries on 14 April 1986.

Since 17 March 1981, when records were first collated, 417 people are recorded as having been injured by baton rounds. More detailed information concerning these alleged injuries is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
The information in respect of compensation is not available in the form requested, but between 1982 and 1988 (to 8 July) 48 of the claims made under the Police Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 against the Chief Constable of the Royal Ulster Constabulary for deaths and injuries from baton rounds have been settled at a figure of £505,516. Information relating to such claims made against the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) Northern Ireland Order 1977 could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Regarding the details of those of the 48 settled claims that were concluded in court and are therefore in the public domain, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given him today to his written question.
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§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many actions were brought against the Royal Ulster Constabulary by individuals or the families of individuals injured or killed by plastic bullets in each year since 1972.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
[holding answer 8 July 1988]: The information requested is not readily available since 1982 and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
However, since 1982, 183 cases, of which 107 have been concluded and 76 are pending, involving the use of plastic baton rounds, have been brought against the RUC. These cases include civil bills, writs and letters of claim, and cover claims for personal injury or death and also damage to property.

§ Mr. McNamara
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if for those actions brought against the Royal Ulster Constabulary by individuals or the families of individuals injured or killed by plastic bullets since 1972, he will list(a) the outcome in each case whether
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compensation was paid, to whom, in what amount and on what date and (b) for those cases settled out of court, amounts of compensation paid, to whom and on what date.

§ Mr. Ian Stewart
[holding answer 8 July 1988]: The complete information is not available in the form requested and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
However, since 1982, 107 cases have been concluded as follows:
(a) 48 cases were concluded with an amount of £505,516 paid in compensation. No admissions of liability were made in these cases.

(b) Liability was denied in 35 cases.

(c) 15 cases were disallowed at court.

(d) In nine cases there were no further proceedings.
It would not be appropriate to give details of individual cases that were concluded out of court or the names of recipients of settlements in court. The other details of the 15 out of the 48 concluded cases that were settled in court were as follows:

Date of incident Amount paid Date of settlement

9 August 1981 3,000 20 December 1983

8 July 1981 2,000 7 February 1985

21 May 1981 1,000 14 December 1984

9 August 1980 1,500 11 December 1984

24 April 1981 2,000 21 March 1983

2 August 1981 3,000 18 December 1984

22 May 1981 8,500 4 June 1985

20 April 1981 515 3 November 1983

8 July 1981 41,000 19 December 1984

9 August 1986 1,000 29 December 1987

9 August 1980 1,250 27 December 1984

15 July 1981 750 21 April 1982

12 August 1984 10,000 18 December 1986

9 August 1980 750 27 December 1984

8 May 1981 14,050 8 July 1987

Total 90,315

Name	Date of death	Circumstances
Michael Donnolly	9 August 1980	On 9 August 1980 the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds during a period of sustained rioting in Leeson Street in Belfast. Michael Donnolly was struck by one of these rounds and died a short time later in hospital.
Paul Whitters	25 April 1981	On 15 April 1981 during rioting in Londonderry masked youths approached a bakery throwing stones and breaking windowes and apparently intending to hijack a lorry. The security forces fired a plastic baton round at the crowd which hit one of them, Paul Whitters, on the head. He was admitted to hospital where he died 10 days later.
Julie Livingstone	13 May 1981	On 12 May 1981 members of the security forces in an armoured vehicle in Belfast fired 3 plastic baton rounds when they were attacked by youths throwing petrol bombs. Julie Livingstone was seen to fall and she later died as a result of a head injury.
Carol Ann Kelly	22 May 1981	On 19 May 1981 in the Twinbrook area of Belfast two army landrovers came under attack from youths throwing stones and other missiles, and the security forces fired two plastic baton rounds. Carol Ann Kelly was struck on the head by the second of these baton rounds and she died in hospital three days later.
Henry Duffy	22 May 1981	On 22 May 1981, during a period of heavy rioting in the Bogside area of Londonderry, the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds when they came under attack from youths throwing petrol and nail bombs. Henry Duffy was hit in the head by a baton round and died after admission to hospital.
Norah McCabe	9 July 1981	In the early hours of 8 July 1981 two police landrovers were attacked with stones and other missiles whilst travelling on the Falls Road in Belfast. At the junction of Linden Street a plastic baton round was fired from one of the landrovers and Norah McCabe was struck on the head, she died the following day in hospital.
Paul Doherty	31 July 1981	On 24 July 1981 following disturbances and demonstrations in connection with the Republican hunger strike, barricades were erected outside Divis Flats in Belfast. As the army removed these barricades they were stoned and petrol bombed by youths on the road and in the adjacent flats. A member of the security forces fired two plastic baton rounds and one of these struck Peter Doherty, who was near an open window in the kitchen of a flat. He died a week later.
Peter McGuinness	9 August 1981	On 9 August 1981 police on the Whitewell Road in Belfast were attacked with stones and petrol bombs by about 50 youths. As two petrol bombs burst on the roof of a police vehicle the security forces fired one plastic baton round and Peter McGuinness, who had been demonstrating with the crowd, was hit in the chest and died shortly afterwards.
Stephen McConomy	19 April 1982	On 16 April 1982, as a suspected explosives device was examined by the army, an armoured vehicle came under attack from rioters, Stephen McConomy was one of a group of youths near the vehicle. He was hit by a plastic baton round and died three days later in hospital.
John Downes	12 August 1984	On 12 August 1984 the police attempted to arrest Mr. Martin Galvin, the banned Noraid publicity director, at a rally in Andersonstown, West Belfast to mark the thirteenth anniversary of the introduction of internment, in the disturbances which followed the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds. John Downes died after being struck by one of them.
Keith White	14 April 1986	On 31 March 1986 following rioting in Portadown, Keith White was struck by a plastic baton round. He died in hospital from his injuries on 14 April 1986.

Date of incident	Amount paid	Date of settlement
9 August 1981	3,000	20 December 1983
8 July 1981	2,000	7 February 1985
21 May 1981	1,000	14 December 1984
9 August 1980	1,500	11 December 1984
24 April 1981	2,000	21 March 1983
2 August 1981	3,000	18 December 1984
22 May 1981	8,500	4 June 1985
20 April 1981	515	3 November 1983
8 July 1981	41,000	19 December 1984
9 August 1986	1,000	29 December 1987
9 August 1980	1,250	27 December 1984
15 July 1981	750	21 April 1982
12 August 1984	10,000	18 December 1986
9 August 1980	750	27 December 1984
8 May 1981	14,050	8 July 1987
Total	90,315