§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Minister of State for Defence what action was taken by the army to apprehend the Irish Republican Army gunmen who fired shots in salute as the funeral cortège of Daniel McAreavey passed the junction of Falls Road and Whiterock Road on 9th October, 1972.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithAs the funeral procession made its way down Falls Road at about 2.35 p.m., four men emerged from Rockdale Street, fired a salvo of shots over the coffin and made off down St. James's Parade.
The local Army Commander did not intervene, for reasons described by my hon. Friend in his answer on 23rd October.—[Vol. 843, c. 207–8.]
§ Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister of State for Defence how many units recruit primarily from Northern Ireland; what are the names of those units; and what is their present strength.
§ Mr. G. Johnson SmithFive Army units recruit primarily from Northern Ireland; 5th Royal Iniskilling Dragoon Guards, The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars, Irish Guards and 1st and 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rangers. It is not the general practice to publish the strengths of Army units; all five units are, however, well up to establishments.
No units in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force are recruited on a geographical basis.