§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) why, in view of its illegality, the Army permitted a civil resistance march to parade for over a mile and thus to enter the city of Armagh on Saturday, 22nd January, 1971, before bringing it to a halt;
(2) in what ways the civil resistance march attacked the Army in Armagh on Saturday, 22nd January; how many petrol bombs were hurled at the troops; what action the Army took; and how many arrests were made.
§ Mr. KirkAs they had planned, the security forces erected barriers at suitable tactical positions in Armagh on 22nd January, 1972. A crowd of about 300 people assembled and walked about 400 yards before stopping at the first barrier. They made no attempt to break through but withdrew some distance; most of them dispersed after about an hour. However, a hooligan element of about 60 youths returned to the barrier and threw stones and bottles at troops manning it. No petrol bombs were thrown. The troops replied with rubber bullets and made five arrests.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to Aghafin on the Fermanagh-Monaghan border on Sunday, 23rd January; what was happening when they arrived; how many rubber bullets and how much C.S. gas were used to drive a crowd of people back into the Irish Republic; and what injuries the troops suffered.
§ Mr. KirkAt approximately 2 p.m. on 23rd January troops were called to474W Aghafin where a crowd was engaged in filling in a cratered road. Stones were thrown at the troops and 14 rounds of C.S. gas cartridges and 14 rounds of rubber bullets were fired to disperse the crowd. One soldier was injured by the stone throwing. The crowd dispersed by about 6 p.m.