HC Deb 21 July 1971 vol 821 cc301-2W
Rev. Ian Paisley

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to the printing works of the Daily Mirror, Dun- murry, Belfast, on Saturday, 17th July after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion ; how the bomb was constructed ; how it was detonated and planted ; how many Irish Republican Army members took part in the operation ; how they were armed ; at what time the bomb exploded ; how soon afterwards the Army arrived on the scene ; what damage was caused ; if the area was sealed off ; what searcher were made ; and what arrests resulted.

Mr. G. Johnson Smith

There are no Army eyewitness reports of this raid. The estimate of the Army ammunition technical officer is that 20 to 50 lbs. of explosive were used, detonated by a fuse. Severe structural damage was caused.

The security forces quickly set up checkpoints, but I understand that no arrests have so far been made in connection with the incident.