§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent IRA bomb attacks at Martinstown, Cushendall Road, Ballymena, what sort of explosives were used; and what arrests have been made.
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§ Mr. MasonAt 2040 hours on 3rd March two masked gunmen entered the showroom of Turtles Garage, Cushendall Road, McGregor's Corner, held up the owner and a customer, placed a blast incendiary device under a car and stole an unknown amount of money from the till. They then drove 100 yards up the road to Glasses Garage where they again held up the staff, placed a blast incendiary device in the garage shop and stole an unknown amount of money. They then fired three rounds into the air and escaped in a stolen car.
At 2049 hours the device at Turtles Garage exploded causing minor damage to the showroom and destroying the car under which it had been placed. The device at Glasses Garage was carried outside by the proprietor and was later neutralised by an Army expert. It consisted of a small quantity of home-made explosive attached to a can of petrol.
Police inquiries into these incidents are continuing, but as yet no arrests have been made.
§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the recent IRA bomb attack on Bakers' Store, Annoy, County Antrim; what sort of explosives were used; and what arrests have been made.
§ Mr. MasonAt 20.30 hours on 6th March three masked gunmen entered Bakers' store, Dundallagh, near Annoy. They held the staff at gunpoint, stole £1,800, and having sprinkled petrol inside the premises placed a blast incendiary device on the floor and lit the fuse. They then fired several shots into the air and escaped in a stolen car. The owner of the shop threw the device outside where it exploded harmlessly on waste ground. Police inquiries into the incident are continuing, but as yet no arrests have been made.