HC Deb 11 July 1974 vol 876 c540W
34. Mr. Dunlop

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the take-over by the IRA on Tuesday 25th June 1974 of the whole area of the town of Strabane, including the blocking of the main road to Omagh for eight hours and the carrying out of foot patrols in the Ballycolman estate for over five hours; and if he will explain why the security forces did not take action to prevent this.

Mr. Merlyn Rees

There was no IRA take-over of Strabane on 25th June 1974. Following the funeral of a local Catholic man at about 2 p.m. Republican elements tried to create incidents by blocking the main road to Omagh and access roads to the Ballycolman estate. The security forces, with the co-operation of local residents, cleared the road blocks in the estate by about 4 p.m. and the other roads by about 7.30 p.m. The main road to Omagh was blocked for about five hours but alternative routes were open.