HC Deb 16 March 1978 vol 946 cc335-7W
Mr. McCusker

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the murder of the soldier in Crossmaglen on 4th March 1978 and indicate how the bomb was detonated.

Mr. Mason

At 12.45 on Saturday 4th March a Saracen armoured personnel carrier escorting a foot patrol on the outskirts of Crossmaglen stopped alongside a telegraph pole to which was affixed a tricolour. A soldier climbed on to the vehicle and began to remove the flag. As he did so, an explosive device detonated, killing him instantly. A second soldier from the vehicle was injured, although not seriously.

Information available suggests that the explosive device, which was at the base of the flag-pole, was initiated by a switch which operated when the flag was handled.

Police inquiries into the incident are continuing.

Mr. McCusker

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the two gun battles which took place along the South Armagh border on 4th and 6th March 1978, indicating whether the attacks were made across the frontier; how many terrorists it is estimated were involved; and how long the encounters lasted.

Mr. Mason

During the night of Saturday 4th March, at least two gunmen opened fire on an Army mobile patrol in the area of Derrynoose, near Keady, County Armagh. Fire was returned by the patrol but no hits were claimed and there were no security force casualties. The exchange of fire lasted for approximately two minutes; there is no evidence that firing came from across the border.

In the early evening of Monday 6th March, an Army patrol to the south-east of Crossmaglen came under fire from 10 or 11 terrorists in two groups. Fire was returned and the patrol claimed one hit. There were no security force casualties. The exchange of fire lasted for 22 minutes. I understand that security forces in the Republic have found a number of spent cartridge cases, but it has not yet been established whether these related to the incident on 6th March.

Police inquiries into both incidents are continuing.