Northern Ireland (Hansard, 13 April 1972)

§ 38. Mr. McMaster
asked the Minister of State for Defence how many explosions have been caused by Republican terrorists in Northern Ireland each week since 1st January, 1972, to the latest available date; and how many pounds of explosive it is estimated by the Army was used each week over the same period in these incidents.

§ Mr. G. Johnson Smith
Following is the available information. I regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to provide weekly figures starting at 1st January.

Period Number of explosions Estimated weight of explosive used in these

27th December, 1971–3rd January 21 350 lb.

3rd–10th January 26 270 lb.

10th–17th January 17 130 lb.

17th–24th January 27 330 lb.

24th–31st January 53 590 lb.

31st January–7th February 28 360 lb.

7th–14th February 28 600 lb.

14th–21st February 33 320 lb.

21st–28th February 31 300 lb.

28th February–6th March 31 760 lb.

6th–13th March 16 710 lb.

13th–20th March 40 870 lb.

20th–27th March 28 1,630 lb.

27th March–3rd April 27 960 lb.

3rd–10th April 27 530 lb.

§ Rev. Ian Paisley
asked the Minister of State for Defence in what circumstances and on what orders two British soldiers were made to leave their safe positions after being warned of an Irish Republican Army bomb in Londonderry on Monday night, 10th April, with the result that they were killed; and if he will make a statement.

§ Lord Lambton
A foot patrol of the 5th Light Regiment (Royal Artillery) was despatched to investigate the area of the Bowling Green Pavilion, Brooke Street, Londonderry, after an anonymous phone call had been received that a bomb had been planted in the pavilion. The patrol located the bomb at 7.28 p.m. It immediately cleared the area and withdrew to212W safe positions. Army bomb disposal experts were notified. Several youths, however, who were attacking the patrol with stones, refused to leave the area. The patrol commander, acting on his own initiative, together with five other members of the patrol, therefore tried to clear the youths from the area of the bomb. Whilst they were doing so the bomb exploded and the patrol commander and one other member of the patrol were killed.

Period	Number of explosions	Estimated weight of explosive used in these
27th December, 1971–3rd January	21	350 lb.
3rd–10th January	26	270 lb.
10th–17th January	17	130 lb.
17th–24th January	27	330 lb.
24th–31st January	53	590 lb.
31st January–7th February	28	360 lb.
7th–14th February	28	600 lb.
14th–21st February	33	320 lb.
21st–28th February	31	300 lb.
28th February–6th March	31	760 lb.
6th–13th March	16	710 lb.
13th–20th March	40	870 lb.
20th–27th March	28	1,630 lb.
27th March–3rd April	27	960 lb.
3rd–10th April	27	530 lb.