HC Deb 17 March 1983 vol 39 cc259-60W
Mr. William Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many of the following categories of persons have been murdered by terrorist violence in the period from 3 May 1979 to 1 September 1979 and from 1 September 1979 to date in: (a) each Royal Ulster Constabulary division, (b) the regular army, (c) the Ulster Defence Regiment: (i) full-time cadre and (ii) part-time cadre, (d) the Royal Ulster Constabulary, (e) the Royal Ulster Constabulary Reserve, (f) prison officers and (g) civilians; and in each case how many were believed to have been murdered by republican terrorists.

Mr. Prior

The available information is as follows:

Deaths arising from the security situation
(a) RUC Division 3 May 1979–31 Aug 1979 Sept 1979– 10 March 1983
A 1 15
B 4 59
C 1 30
D 1 17
E 0 13
F 1 15
G 0 1
H 23 37
J 2 10
K 6 32
L 5 16
M 2 12
N 1 37
O 1 23
P 1 2
R 0 3
Total 49 (42) 322 (227)
(b) Regular Army 23 (23) 47 (47)
(c) Ulster Defence Regiment* 3 (3) 31 (31)

as to differentiate between rounds fired by members of the regular Royal Ulster Constabulary members of the Reserve, although in practice very few members of the full-time Reserve and no members of the part-time Reserve use riot guns.

(a) RUC Division 3 May 1979–31 Aug 1979 1 Sept 1979–10 March 1983
(d) RUC 5 (5) 28 (28)
(e) RUCR 3 (3) 21 (21)
(f) Prison Officers 0 (0) 9 (9)
(g) Civilians 15 (8) 186 (91)
Total 49 (42) 322 (227)
* The available records do not distinguish between full-time and part-time UDR members.

These figures give the number of deaths connected with the security situation during the relevant periods. It is not possible to say with certainty how many resulted from terrorist violence.

The figures in brackets indicate the deaths in which republican groups are likely to have been involved.

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