§ Rev. Ian Paisleyasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the circumstances surrounding the murder of Police Reservist Bernard Montgomery by the Irish Republican Army on Good
724Wbeen convicted of terrorist offences have been granted compassionate parole each year since 1972; and how many have failed to surrender themselves back into lawful custody again.
§ Mr. AlisonPrisoners convicted of terrorist offences are not classified separately. The following table gives the information requested in regard to (i) special category prisoners, and (ii) others. A few prisoners were granted leave on more than one occasion.
Friday; what kind of weapon was used; how many shots were fired; how the constable was killed; and what arrests have been made.
§ Mr. Humphrey AtkinsAt 15.55 hours on 4 April 1980, when Police Reservist Bernard Montgomery was in an office at his place of work, Irish Waste Services in the Glenbank industrial estate, Belfast, two men entered the store. Mr. Montgomery left the office to speak to them, and as he returned, the two men each drew a handgun and opened fire, killing him and slightly wounding another occupant of the office. They then made their escape in a car which had been hijacked earlier that afternoon in Belfast.
The number of shots fired cannot be positively established until the results of the pathologist's report are known.
No arrests have been made to date but police investigations are continuing.