HC Deb 20 May 1999 vol 331 cc404-6W
Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when, where and by what means(a) Judge William Doyle, (b) Mr. Edgar Graham, (c) Lord Justice Gibson and his wife, (d) Resident Magistrate W. Staunton and (e) Resident Magistrate Martin McBirney were murdered; which terrorist organisation was responsible; how many persons have been brought before the courts for that crime; and what sentences were imposed. [81166]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: The information requested is as follows:

Judge William Doyle: At approximately 12.55 pm on 16 January 1983, Judge Doyle was shot in Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast, having just left Mass at St. Brigid's Church. An elderly lady passenger in the vehicle was seriously injured. The murder was claimed by the Irish Republican Army. to date no person has been made amenable.

Mr. Edgar Graham: At approximately 10.50 am on 7 December 1983, at University Square, Belfast, Mr. Graham was shot dead. The murder was claimed by the Irish Republican Army.

RUC investigations resulted in one person being convicted of making property available and withholding information and sentenced to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 3 years. Another person, convicted of withholding information, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment suspended for 2 years.

A number of other persons were arrested and interviewed in relation to this murder but released without charge.

Lord Justice Sir Maurice Gibson and Lady Cecily Gibson: At approximately 8.40 am on 25 April 1987, an explosion occurred on the Dublin Road at Killeen, Newry. Lord Justice Gibson and his wife were fatally injured. They had been returning home from a short holiday in England and had travelled overnight on the car ferry from Liverpool to Dublin. Explosives had been placed in a vehicle parked at the roadside and were detonated as the Gibson's car passed. The murders have been attributed to the Irish Republican Army but despite extensive inquiries no one to date has been made amenable.

William John Staunton RM: At approximately 8.50 am on 11 October 1972, Mr. Staunton stopped his car outside St. Dominic's Convent Grammar School, Falls Road, Belfast. As his daughter and some school friends alighted from the vehicle to enter the school, a motor cycle drew up alongside and the pillion passenger shot Mr. Staunton. He was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He never regained consciousness and died at 9.55 pm on Thursday 25 January 1973.

The murder was attributed to the Irish Republican Army. Two persons were arrested, interviewed and released without charge. To date no one has been made amenable.

Robert Martin McBirney QC, RM: At approximately 8.20 am on 16 September 1974, Mr. McBirney was shot in his home at 172 Belmont Road, Belfast. A man was seen to get out of a car and walk to the rear of the McBirney home. The man was then observed leaving and getting back into the car which had two other occupants. The car was located some 500 yards from the scene of the murder. Its occupants were seen to drive off in another vehicle. The car used to convey the gunmen to and from the scene had been hi-jacked on the morning of the murder. It was attributed to the Irish Republican Army.

Police investigations linked one person to the murder who was also identified as being the gunman. He was subsequently charged and convicted of murder and received a life sentence.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when, where and by what means Resident Magistrate Mr. Tom Travers and his wife were injured and their daughter murdered; which terrorist organisation was responsible; how many persons have been brought before the courts for that crime; and what sentences were imposed. [81167]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: At approximately 1 pm on 8 April 1984, Mr. Thomas Travers RM, his wife and their daughter Mary were walking to their home having just attended Mass at St. Brigid's Church in Derryvolgie Avenue when they were attacked by two gunmen. As a result Mary Travers was fatally wounded and Thomas Travers was seriously wounded. Mrs. Travers escaped injury. The attack was attributed to the Irish Republican Army.

Shortly after the incident police arrested a young woman in the Wellington Park area of the city. She was found to have two handguns in her possession. Both guns were later linked to the attack on the Travers family. She was subsequently convicted of the murder of Mary Travers and the attempted murder of Thomas Travers and received a life sentence.

A second person was arrested some seven weeks later and was identified by Mr. Travers as being one of the gunmen. However, he was acquitted of all charges.

Mr. William Ross

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when, where, and by what means Judge Rory Conaghan was murdered; which terrorist organisation was responsible; how many persons have been brought before the courts for that crime; and what sentences were imposed. [81245]

Mr. Ingram

[holding answer 16 April 1999]: At approximately 8.30 am on 16 September 1974, a person, posing as a postman, rang the doorbell of Judge Conaghan's home at 17 Beechlands, Malone Road, Belfast. The door was answered by Judge Conaghan. He was shot and fatally wounded. The gunman made off and was seen to get into a car which was driven by another person. The car was later abandoned in Windsor Avenue, Belfast. Witnesses observed that two males and a girl were seen to leave the car. The vehicle had been taken from its owner in the Dermott Hill Road, Belfast earlier that day by a person claiming to be from the Irish Republican Army.

To date, no one has been made amenable for Judge Conaghan's murder.