§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people in Northern Ireland have sustained injuries from being struck by plastic bullets necessitating remaining in hospital for periods of (i) over 24 hours, (ii) over 48 hours, (iii) over seven days and (iv) over two weeks, indicating the nature of the injuries in each case.
§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins[pursuant to his reply, 2 July]: From 5 May this year, arrangements were instituted to collect from hospitals details of injuries alleged to have 42W been caused by baton rounds. Since then a total of 110 such cases have been reported. 65 patients were discharged immediately after treatment but it is not possible without disproportionate cost to determine the length of stay in hospital of each of the remaining 45. The following table gives an indication of the types of injury suffered:
Treated and discharged Head 9 Chest 3 Arm 12 Shoulder 1 Leg 19 Groin 2 Back 3 Waist 2 Not known 14
Admitted to hospital Head 31 Chest 1 Arm 2 Back 3 Waist 2 Not known 6 Of the 31 people listed as having been admitted to hospital with head injuries, three subsequently died.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the Official Report the age, sex, date of fatality and circumstances of sustaining the injury of all those who have died as a result of injuries sustained by the use of plastic bullets, giving the coroner's verdict in each case.
§ Mr. Humphrey Atkins[pursuant to his reply, 2 July]: Since April 1972, nine people are believed to have died from injuries received when they were struck by baton rounds. Details are as follows:
Sex Age Date of fatality Coroner's Verdict Male 11 years 22 April 1972 Open verdict. Male 18 years 16 July 1972 Person died in a hospital in the Republic of Ireland and details are not available. Male 10 years 30 August 1975 Misadventure. Male 13 years 10 October 1976 Open verdict. Male 20 years 9 August 1980 No verdict given—coroner stated that he died as a result of being hit by a baton round fired by the security forces. Male 15 years 25 April 1981 No inquest yet held: all at present subject to continuing police investigations Female 14 years 13 May 1981 Female 12 years 22 May 1981 Male 42 years 22 May 1981 The five deaths between 1972 and 1980 occured during civil disturbances. While police inquiries are continuing into the other four deaths, it would be improper for me to comment on the circumstances in which they occured.