§ 46. Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence what orders have been issued to the Army in the Springfield Road district of Belfast to enter into agreements with the residents of certain areas in that district whereby members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary will not be permitted into those areas.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourNo such orders have been issued and no such agreement operates.
§ 47. Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence what reports he has of an incident which took place at approximately 1.45 a.m. on 15th January, 1971, on the Kasmir Road, Belfast when two policemen had to leave their duty area and return to their station on the orders of a group of armed men whose demands were supported by a Sergeant Thorpe and an Army land-rover patrol; and if he will condemn the action of this patrol and apologise to the policemen concerned for the humiliation to which they were subjected.
§ Mr. Ian GilmourA small routine military patrol encountered two R.U.C. constables surrounded by a hostile crowd, and urged the constables, purely in the interests of their personal safety, to leave the area. Appropriate steps have been taken with the police at Divisional level to remove any possible misunderstanding arising from this incident and to ensure that it is not repeated. The R.U.C. are continuing to patrol this area in cooperation with the Army.