HC Deb 15 July 1970 vol 803 cc213-4W
79. Mr. McMaster

asked the Minister of State for Defence how long shooting continued in the lower Newtownards Road area of Belfast on the night of 27th-28th June; how many civilians, police and soldiers were killed or injured as a result; and how many arrests were made by the Army assisting the police in the area on that night.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Shooting took place intermittently over a period of some five hours on the night of 27th-28th June. Known casualties were three civilians killed and 26 civilians injured. One person was arrested.

80. Mr. McMaster

asked the Minister of State for Defence for how many hours the Army assisted the police in East Belfast on the night of 27th-28th June; and how many shots were fired by the soldiers at men armed with guns and snipers operating in the lower Newtownards road area between Bryson and Seaforde Streets.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Troops were assisting police in East Belfast on the night of 27th-28th June, from shortly after midnight onwards. They fired no shots in this area at this time since, owing to the confused situation, it was impossible to identify targets.

Mr. McMaster

asked the Minister of State for Defence what examination has been made by Army experts following the shooting on the night of 27th-28th June of the buildings and shops between 120 and 128 Newtownards Road to determine the number of shots fired into these buildings, the degree of penetration of the bullets with a view to determining the weapons from which they were discharged, and the direction from which they were fired; and what were the results.

Mr. Ian Gilmour

Careful examination of the area has shown that the buildings were subjected to heavy fire from a variety of weapons. The number of shots fired into them cannot be reliably estimated. Ammunition found in the area suggests that the weapons used included revolvers, sten-guns, Sterling or Thompson sub-machine guns and foreign rifles. There is evidence that the firing was from the general direction of St. Matthew's Church.