Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, how many legally-held shotguns, rifles and pistols, respectively, have been stolen from their owners in Northern Ireland in each of the last eight years; how many have been recovered; and of those recovered, how many have been returned to their owners or their representatives.
§ Mr. DunnThe information is as follows:
WEAPONS STOLEN FROM THEIR [...]GAL OWNERS Year Shotguns Rifles Pistols/Revolvers 1970 … … 38 — 1 1971 … … 28 2 — 1972 … … 138 39 49 1973 … … 88 51 90 1974 … … 83 25 19 1975 … … 124 34 36 1976 … … 154 15 45 1977 (to 18th November 1977) 59 15 18 TOTAL … 712 181 258 Total recovered in the period 1970–77 174 85 126 Total returned to legal owners in period 1972–77* 44 48 69 *Records only available since 1972.