§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine the home of Royal Ulster Constabulary Detective Sergeant Albert Simpson of Dungannon, Northern Ireland, after it had been bombed by Irish Republican Army terrorists on Saturday night, 22nd May; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithOn 23rd May, shortly after midnight, an explosion initiated by persons yet to be identified occurred in the garage of Detective Sergeant Simpson's house. An Army ammunition technical officer reported that the damage caused was consistent with a charge of approximately 10 lb. of high explosives, but he was unable to determine the means of initiation. A search of the immediate area was carried out, but no arrests have so far been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine Pomeroy Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Northern Ireland, after it had been bombed by Irish Republican Army terrorists on Saturday night, 22nd May; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly before 1.45 p.m. on 22nd May approximately 10 lb. of explosive was thrown over the wall of this R.U.C. Station. An Army ammunition technical officer reported that initiation may have been by means of 175W a safety fuse. A search of the immediate area was carried out, and some cardboard found at the scene of the explosion has been sent to the R.U.C. Forensic Department. No arrests have so far been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine the home of resident magistrate Mr. Paddy Maxwell of Londonderry after it had been bombed by Irish Republican Army terrorists on Sunday morning, 23rd May; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt 2.30 a.m. on 23rd May an explosion was caused by persons not yet identified at the home of Mr. Maxwell. An Army ammunition technical officer's findings were that between three and five lb. of uncased high explosive were used. A search was made of the immediate area by the Army and 9 ft. of safety fuse was found at the scene of the explosion. No arrests have so far been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Corporal Bankier was shot dead in the markets area of Belfast on Saturday morning, 22nd May; how many persons took part in the ambush; how many shots they fired; what sort of guns they used; whether they belonged to any organisation; how many soldiers were involved; how many were injured; what return of fire the Army made; what injuries this inflicted; what searches were carried out; what was the result of the searches; and how many arrests were made;
§ Mr. Pounderasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the death of Corporal Robert Bankier in Logan Street, Belfast, on the night of 21st-22nd May, and on the ensuing search of the Market area of Belfast.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithVery early in the morning of 22nd May a mobile patrol of four men of 1st Battalion, Royal Green Jackets went to the assistance of a military police patrol of four men which was under attack from a gang of youths in Cromac Square, Belfast. On the arrival of the Royal Green Jackets patrol, the176W youths ran off. The patrol gave chase on foot but came under attack from at least three gunmen who fired about 11 shots from a sub-machine gun. The patrol fired five shots in return without, it is believed, inflicting injury. During this exchange of fire Corporal Bankier, the leader of the patrol, received fatal wounds but no other injuries were sustained by the military patrols. A large scale cordon and search operation was instituted. All the streets and about 240 houses in the area were searched. Three shotguns, one Thompson sub-machine gun, one .45 pistol, one 9 m.m. Luger pistol, one nail grenade and nine 9 m.m. rounds were found lying in an alley-way. No arrests in connection with the shooting have so far been made, and it is not therefore known whether the assailants belonged to any organisation.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence what were the circumstances surrounding the ambush of an Army land rover on the Ml near Belfast on Saturday, 22nd May; how many persons took part in the attack; what sort of guns were used; how many shots were fired; whether the gunmen belonged to any organisation; how many soldiers were involved; how many were injured; what was the nature of their injuries; whether the fire was returned; what searches were carried out; with what result; and how many arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly after 11.30 a.m. an 22nd May an Army land rover with two soldiers inside, which was returning to Lisburn from Belfast on the Ml, was overtaken near the Stockman's Lane exit by a civilian car believed to contain two people. Eighteen shots from a .45 automatic fired from the car hit the land rover. There was no opportunity to return fire. The driver of the land rover was wounded in the leg, shoulder, and stomach, but his passenger was unhurt. The car escaped by the motorway exit and was subsequently found abandoned after having been set alight. Part of the motorway was searched for evidence; there have so far been no arrests, and it is not known therefore whether the occupants of the car belonged to any organisation.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army expert was called to 177W examine the Mountain View Tavern, Shankill Road, Belfast, after it had been bombed by Irish Republic Army members on Monday, 24th May, causing injury to 18 persons; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
Mr. Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the bomb attack on the Mountainview Bar, Shankill Road, Belfast, on 23rd May.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly before noon on 24th May an explosion initiated by persons yet to be identified severely damaged the Mountain View Tavern. The Army ammunition technical officer's findings were that between 18 and 20 lb. of high explosives had been used and that initiation was probably by means of a safety fuse. The tavern was subsequently searched by an explosive ordnance disposal team. No arrests have so far been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances a shot was fired at soldiers setting up a road block at the junction of Foyle Road and the lower deck of Craigavon Bridge, Londonderry, on Sunday morning, 23rd May; if the soldiers returned the fire; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly before 2.30 a.m. on 23rd May a civilian car passed this road block and a passenger in the car fired one round at the patrol. There was no opportunity to return fire. An immediate search of the area was carried out and a general call was put out for the car, whose registration number had been noted. The car, which had been stolen, was found abandoned l½ miles south of Londonderry. No arrests have so far been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine a policeman's car parked outside Mountpottinger Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Belfast, after it had been bombed by Irish Republic Army terrorists on Sunday night, 23rd May; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly after 10 p.m. on 23rd May an explosion178W damaged the car belonging to a policeman outside Mount Pottinger R.U.C. Station. An Army ammunition technical officer reported that the charge consisted of approximately I lb. of high explosive which had been placed under the bonnet of the car. An extensive search of the area was carried out by a platoon of Royal Highland Fusiliers accompanied by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. During this search an unknown gunman jumped out of hiding, and shots were exchanged with a member of the Army patrol before the man escaped. Subsequent searches resulted in the finding of four .38 and two 9 mm. cartridge cases. No arrests have so far been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine the British Legion Hall at Suffolk, Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, after it had been bombed by Irish Republic Army terrorists when occupied by over 200 persons early on Saturday, 22nd May; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt around 1.30 a.m. on 22nd May an explosion caused by persons not yet identified resulted in major structural damage to the wall of the British Legion Hall at Suffolk, Dunmurry. An Army ammunition technical officer's search for evidence revealed that 5–10 lbs. of high explosive had been placed on a widow ledge of the hall and had been initiated by a safety fuse. No arrests have so far been made.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the attacks on Army personnel in Belfast during the weekend of 21st May.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI would refer to the replies given to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) today.