§ Rev Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland why the Royal Ulster Constabulary was informed by the Army that it was in order for them to go into the Ardoyne, Belfast, on Saturday 22nd July 1978, in order to clear the area because of a bomb alert, when in fact there was no Army cover and the result was the shooting by the Irish Republican Army of a child and a Royal Ulster Constabulary constable, causing both serious injuries.
§ Mr. Mason, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 31st July 1978], gave the following information:
The area in which the incident occured is regularly patrolled by the RUC without Army support, and it was not considered necessary to seek such support on this occasion.