§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why no protest was made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland about the border incident last month when two soldiers, of the Army of the Republic of Ireland in plain clothes, having crossed into Northern Ireland on their way to the Crossmaglen area with a Republic of Ireland Army.22 rifle in the boot of their car, were apprehended by the security forces; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HattersleyThe Royal Ulster Constabulary questioned the man found in possession of the rifle and were satisfied with his explanation that he had forgotten to remove it from the boot of his car when he returned from a hunting expedition in the Republic on the previous day. The matter was, however, drawn to the attention of the authorities of the Irish Republic by Her Majesty's Embassy on 16th October.