§ Mr. McCuskerasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement giving the details of the events which led to the capture of arms and arrest of terrorists at Eglish on 10th June, 1974.
§ Mr. William RodgersI have been asked to reply.
I assume the hon. Member is referring to the incident which took place at Eglish on 13th June.
Shortly after midnight on the night of 12th–13th June an Army patrol observed a group of men carrying weapons from the garden of a house to a car. When challenged the men fired on the patrol and scattered. The patrol returned fire. An immediate follow-up operation with 362W the support of the Royal Ulster Constabulary led to the recovery of five rifles, one pistol, almost 50 rounds of ammunition and bomb-making materials. Seven men were arrested, of whom four have since been charged with firearms offences.