HC Deb 24 June 1981 vol 7 cc129-30W
Mr. Canavan

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many deaths have occurred, as a result of military or paramilitary action, in Northern Ireland since 1969; how many of them were (a) civilians not believed to have been members of paramilitary organisations, (b) members of the British Army, (c) members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary, (d) members of paramilitary organisations; and how many of these people were killed by (i) the Provisional Irish Republican Army or other Republican paramilitary forces; (ii) the Ulster Volunteer Force or other Unionist paramilitary forces, (iii) the Royal Ulster Constabulary and (iv) the British Army.

Mr. Humphrey Atkins

[pursuant to his reply, 19 June 1981]: It is not possible to say how many deaths have occurred as a result of military or paramilitary action. However, since August 1969 and at 19 June 1981 2,117 people are believed to have died as a direct result of terrorist or sectarian violence, rioting or security force operations. This figure is made up as follows:

Deaths
(a) Civilians not believed to have been members of paramilitary organisations 1,213
(b) Members of the Army, including the UDR 456
(c) Members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) and Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve 151
(d) Suspected members of paramilitary organisations 297

Of the 2,117 deaths. 198 are attributed to Army action and 18 to RUC action. In the case of one other person who died as a direct result of security force operations it has not yet been established whether the police or the Army were responsible. It is not possible to say how many of the remaining deaths resulted directly from action by members of a paramilitary organisation.

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