§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many claims for compensation have been made arising from injury or death from the use of plastic bullets in the Province; and how many have been settled to the latest date;
(2) in how many cases regarding injuries sustained by plastic bullets compensation has been awarded; and if he will state the amounts of such awards.
§ Mr. Prior[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 545]: Forty-three claims have been made against the police authority for Northern Ireland in respect of injury or death allegedly caused by plastic baton rounds fired by the police. As at 18 February, one claim had been settled out of court and one had been rejected by the courts.
In addition, some claims have been made under the Criminal Injuries (Compensation) (Northern Ireland) Order 1977. Information regarding the exact number of such claims and awards could be obtained only at disproportionate cost, but the number of awards is thought to have been small. The number of claims in respect of injuries allegedly caused by baton rounds fired by Army personnel is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.
§ Mr. Parryasked 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 fatal injury of all those who have died as a result of the use of plastic bullets, and giving the coroner's verdict in each case for 1981 and 1982.
§ Mr. Prior[pursuant to his reply, 24 February 1983, c. 545]: The names, age, sex and date of death of those who have died as the result of the use of plastic baton rounds are as follows: 555W
Name Age Sex Date of death 1. Stephen Geddis 10 Male 30 August 1975 2. Brian Stewart 13 Male 10 October 1976 3. Michael Donnelly 20 Male 9 August 1980 4. Paul Whitters 15 Male 15 April 1981 5. Julie Livingstone 14 Female 13 May 1981 6. Carol Ann Kelly 12 Female 22 May 1981 7. Henry Duffy 45 Male 22 May 1981 8. Nora McCabe 30 Female 9 July 1981 9. Peter Doherty 33 Male 31 July 1981 10. Peter McGinness 41 Male 9 August 1981 11. Stephen McConomy 11 Male 19 April 1982 I am writing to the hon. Member with the information he has requested about the circumstances in each case and the coroner's verdict on the fatalities between 1981 and 1982. A copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.