§ Mr. Bradfordasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the cause of delay in paying compensation for bomb damage to the property of McCune & Sons Limited, Builders, Arbour Street, Belfast, 14, incurred in 1972; and when a settlement will be offered.
Mr. Concannon, pursuant to his reply, [Official Report, 4th March 1976; Vol. 906, c. 729], gave the following information:
The only outstanding case in 1972 affecting this firm dates from August of that year, when an application was received for criminal injuries compensation in respect of bomb damage to property stated to be £22. in value. Under Section 2 (2) of the Criminal Injuries (Northern Ireland) Act 1956 the Chief Constable is required to certify that in his opinion the damage was caused by a malicious person acting on behalf of or in connection with an unlawful association, before compensation can be paid. It is the claimant's responsibility to submit the Chief Constable's certificate but there has, in this case, despite four reminders, been no response. It is consequently not possible to say if or when any settlement in this case will be reached. Payment of compensation to this firm between August 1969 and the present date has totalled about £24,500.
If the hon. Member wishes to write to me with further details of this, or any other, claim for compensation which is causing him concern, I will look into the matter.