§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the circumstances in which Mr. Joseph Jardine, a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment, was murdered by Irish Republican Army men from the Irish Republic on Wednesday, 8th March, at Middletown, County Armagh.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithMr. Jardine worked for the Northern Ireland Ministry of Agriculture, was employed at Middle-town customs post on stock registration duties. At about 3 p.m. he was inside a hut adjacent to the cattle pens when three terrorists drove across the border from the Republic. They stopped at the customs post, dragged Mr. Jardine from the hut and shot him. Twenty-eight Thompson machine gun bullets and 13 Ml Carbine bullets were fired at him. Afterwards the gunmen drove back into the Republic.
144W
§ Mr. George A. Cunninghamasked the Minister of State for Defence what report he has now received from the General Officer Commanding in Northern Ireland concerning the allegations against British troops referred to him by the Ministry of Defence on 17th January.
§ Lord BalnielThe allegations to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 17th February are still being investigated by the R.U.C. with the full co-operation of the Army authorities so far as military personnel are concerned. Regrettably 15 of the 19 complainants have now refused to make statements or co-operate at all with the inquiries.—[Vol. 831, c. 596–7.]