§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under whose orders three Army land rovers crossed the Northern Ireland border into the Irish Republic near the village of Jonesboro on Sunday night, 2nd May, 1971; and what steps he now proposes to take to keep such patrols in Northern Ireland and not increase the risk of the lives of their crews by possible Irish Republican Army ambush.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithOne Army land rover and two Ferret scout cars crossed the border of the Republic of Ireland in error during the night of 2nd-3rd May. All units are aware of the importance of avoiding accidental crossings of this kind.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence what searches for arms and ammunition have been carried out recently by the Army in the grounds of St. Gabriel's School, Crumlin Road, Belfast; and what number of arms and what amounts of ammunition have been discovered.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithOn 29th-30th April Army units searching within the curtilage of St. Gabriel's School found a machine gun, nine other firearms, nine magazines of various kinds and over 2,200 assorted rounds of ammunition.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence why a Republican crowd was able to attack St. Mark's Church of Ireland Hall, Ballysillan, Belfast, on Friday night, 30th April, resulting in the breaking up of a youth club dance in the hall; at what time the Army eventually arrived at the hall; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe Army was called to the scene of this disturbance by the R.U.C. as a precautionary measure and arrived at 10.50 p.m. The assistance of the Army was not in the event required by the R.U.C., who, I understand, arrested five persons.
§ Mr. Pounderasked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration is being given to extending the period of unaccompanied tour of duty for soldiers posted to Northern Ireland beyond four months.
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§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI have nothing to add to the statement made by my hon. Friend during the Defence Estimate (Army) debate on 11th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 740–1.]