§ Lieut-Colonel Grosvenorasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, in view of the statement by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland that the perpetrators of the murder of Constable Anderson should be brought to justice, whether Her Majesty's Government will seek an assurance from the Government of the Republic of Ireland that the murderers, when apprehended, will be handed over to stand trial in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. H. Fraser:I have been asked to reply.
There are no arrangements for bringing before the courts of Northern Ireland for trial an alleged offender who is in the Irish Republic. Mr. Lemass has appealed to his countrymen to do everything they can to bring the killers of Constable Anderson to justice.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Grosvenorasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, what protest has been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of the Republic of Ireland regarding their failure to prevent armed members of the illegal Irish Republican Army crossing the border into Northern Ireland, as a result of which Constable Anderson was murdered on 27th January.
§ Mr. H. Fraser:I have been asked to reply.
None, Sir. The Prime Minister of the Irish Republic issued a statement on 27th January saying that the news of this brutal murder would be received by all Irish people with horror and disgust and urging Irishmen to do everything within their power to bring its perpetrators to justice. In view of Mr. Lemass's state- 44W ment, which Her Majesty's Government warmly endorse, I do not think that any useful purpose would be served in protesting to the Government of the Irish Republic.