HC Deb 28 July 1988 vol 138 cc569-70W
Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what information is available to him on the activities or associations of the Economic League in Northern Ireland; and whether the Royal Ulster

Name Date of death Circumstances
Francis Rowntree 22 April 1972 Francis Rowntree was hit in the head by a rubber baton round fired during rioting at Divis Flats in Belfast on 20 April 1972. He died in hospital two days later.
Tobias Molloy 16 July 1972 On 16 July 1972 a number of rubber baton rounds were fired by the security forces when a crowd of youths attacked an army checkpoint near Strabane, Tobias Molloy is believed to have been struck by one of the rounds and was reported dead on arrival in hospital, across the border, in the Republic of Ireland.
Stephen Geddis 30 August 1975 On 28 August 1975, as the army moved in to dismantle a barricade built by youths at a road junction in Belfast, they were stoned by a crowd. The security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds and later Stephen Geddis was admitted to hospital with head injuries from which he died the following day.
Brian Stewart 10 October 1976 On 4 October 1976 the security forces fired a number of plastic baton rounds to disperse a crowd of around 500 people who were stoning them in the Turf Lodge area of Balfast Shortly afterwards Brian Stewart was admitted to hospital suffering from a fractured skull; he died on 10 October.

Constabulary has investigated whether that body might receive, possess or circulate information or misinformation which might be useful to some terrorist groups.

Mr. Ian Stewart

[holding answer 15 July 1988]: I understand that no such information is held by my Department, nor has any such investigation been carried out by the RUC.

Mr. Hume

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether Government at any level in Northern Ireland have or have had contacts with the Economic League, receive information or representations from it or give information to it or have had such contacts with individuals or bodies whom Government might regard as acting for or with the Economic League.

Mr. Ian Stewart

[holding answer 15 July 1988]: I am not aware of any such relationships between my Department and the Economic League.