HC Deb 05 December 1977 vol 940 c575W
Mr. Wm. Ross

asked 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. Dunn

The 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.