§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence how many arrests the Army made in Northern Ireland of Irish Republican Army suspects during the month of February, 1972; and how these figures compare with the month of January, 1972.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe security forces arrested a total of 485 persons in January and 326 in February, 1972, under Regulation 10 or 11, made in accordance with the Special Powers Act. I regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to establish how many of those were arrested by the Army.
In addition, a number of persons were arrested with a view to their possibly being charged under the criminal law with offences in connection with the civil disturbances.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to Ferryquay Street in Londonderry on Wednesday, 1st March, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; what time the bomb went off; what time the Army arrived; what injuries resulted; and what arrests were made.
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§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt 4.18 p.m. it was reported that a bomb had been left in a car in Ferryquay Street; troops were at the scene within minutes. The bomb exploded at 4.25 p.m. Twenty-five people received minor injuries and severe structural damage was caused to several shops in the area. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.
February, 1971 January, 1972 February, 1972 Rifles … … … … … … 4 24 38 Machine guns … … … … … … — 4 9 Pistols and Revolvers … … … … … … 6 51 39 Other weapons (mainly shotguns) … … … … — 18 16 Ammunition (rounds) … … … … … … 5,184 14,874 18,337 Explosives (lbs.) … … … … … … 123 1,113 442
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence what evidence the Army has that stolen North Atlantic Treaty Organisation weapons are being used by the Irish Republican Army.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithNone, other than those stolen from the Army in Northern Ireland.
§ The Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence how many Irish Republican Army terrorist incidents have occurred in the City of Londonderry from 1st January, 1972, to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that it is not possible without disproportionate
February, 1971 January, 1972 February, 1972 Incidents during which single shots were fired at troops … 62 218 339 Incidents during which automatic fire was used against troops — 52 52 Servicemen shot and killed … 1 3 11 Servicemen shot and wounded … 5 7 18
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence (1) to how many Irish Republican Army terrorist bomb explosions the Army were called in February, 1972; what injuries and deaths resulted; and how these figures compare with January, 1972, and February, 1971;
(2) how many Irish Republican Army terrorist bombs the Army defused in Northern Ireland during February, 1972; what was the total weight of these bombs;
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February, 1971 January, 1972 February, 1972 Explosions, and devices defused … … … … 17 156 140 Estimated weight of explosive (lbs.) … … … … 380 1,240 1,080
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence what arms, ammunition and explosives have been uncovered by the Army in Northern Ireland during the month of February, 1972; and how these figures compare with the months of January, 1972, and February, 1971.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe following items were seized by the Army:
effort to provide such statistics for any particular area.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence how many shots were fired by Irish Republican Army terrorists at the security forces and what injuries and deaths resulted in February, 1972; and how these figures compare with January, 1972, and February, 1971.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to establish how many shots were fired by terrorists at the security forces during these periods. Available information, in respect of the Army, is as follows:
where they were planted; and how these figures compared with January, 1972, and February, 1971.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that it is not possible, without disproportionate effort, to separate explosions from those incidents when bombs were successfully defused, nor to identify which deaths and injuries were directly caused by explosions. Available figures are as follows:
357WDuring February, 1972, explosive devices were placed in a wide variety of places, including Government buildings, public thoroughfares, petrol stations, shops, factories, cinemas, private houses and a public ferry.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence how many shots were fired by Irish Republican Army terrorists at the Army in Northern Ireland during the week ending 4th March, 1972; and how many shots the Army returned; and with what results.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithI regret that it is not possible without disproportionate effort to establish how many shots were fired. Information available on shooting incidents during the period is as follows:
Incidents during which single shots were fired at troops 57 Incidents during which automatic fire was used at troops 16 Incidents during which troops fired 29 Terrorists killed 2 Terrorists believed hit 1
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Private Tommy Fletcher, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was muredered by Irish Republican Army terrorists on Wednesday, 1st March.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly before 8.0 a.m. four armed men stopped Private Fletcher on his way to work. They took him to his home, south-east of Garrison, where they stole a number of weapons. Subsequently, he was taken some yards to a point close to the border, where he was made to lie on the ground. They fired 22 shots at him, killing him instantly, and they then made their way across the border.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances Sergeant Dickson, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment was murdered in his home on Tuesday, 29th February.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithShortly after 10.0 p.m., two armed men, one of them hooded, went to Sergeant Dickson's home in Lurgan. His nine-year-old daughter
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At Vere Foster School, Belfast on 28th January, 1972 … … … 1 nail bomb. At St. Rose's School, Belfast on 21st February, 1972 … … … 6,299 rounds of ammunition. 3 pistols. 2 rifles. 23 ammunition magazines. Various parts of a pistol. At Christian Brothers Grammar School, Armagh on 28th February, 1972 2 flares. 2 electric detonators answered the door. The terrorists opened fire, killing Sergeant Dickson with three shots in the head and wounding his daughter. They escaped in a car which was later found abandoned.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to defuse an Irish Republican Army bomb at Kelleen, Newry, on Thursday, 2nd March; what size the bomb was; how it was planted; how it was detonated; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt about 6.30 a.m. it was reported that a car, with a bomb in the boot, had been left at a garage at Killeen. Army ammunition technical officers attempted to blow open the boot, but the bomb exploded. They estimated that the device had contained about 300 lbs. of explosive, but they were unable to ascertain how it was to have been detonated. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances was Staff Sergeant John McPherson shot in the head in Londonderry on the night of 29th February by Irish Republican Army terrorists; what sort of weapon was used; whether the fire was returned; with what results; and what arrests were made.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAt about 6 p.m. four high-velocity shots were fired at a foot patrol at the junction of Francis Street and William Street. Staff Sergeant McPherson was very seriously injured by one of the bullets which struck him in the head. The gunman did not present a clear target and the troops did not return fire. No arrests were made at the time.
§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list individually the arms, ammunition and explosives found in schools in Northern Ireland since 6th December, 1971; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithThe information is as follows: