asked the Minister for Justice why a van-full of heavily armed British soldiers some of them in civilian attire, were allowed to leave the Republic following Garda questioning at Clones, County Monaghan.
32.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - British Army Border Infringement.
31.
asked the Minister for Justice by whose authority the British Army squad which was apprehended by the Garda in Clones, County Monaghan on 25th May, 1973 was released.
33.
asked the Minister for Justice the circumstances under which armed British soldiers in civilian attire were released from custody when apprehended within the Twenty-six Counties.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 to 33 together. Responsibility for this or any such decision rests with me as Minister for Justice. The decision was made because it was considered to be the appropriate one.
Is the Minister aware that there were six soldiers in this van including two NCOs in the front seat? The four men in the back of the van, including an NCO, were all heavily armed and in combat dress. When they were apprehended by the Garda they gave wrong names which, in itself, is an offence. The Garda in the area telephoned Dublin and as a result of this call the soldiers were allowed to cross over the Border again. These offences having been committed, how does the Minister explain that the action taken was the appropriate one?
In some respects the information I have does not correspond precisely with that in the possession of Deputy Lemass. There is some difference on facts.
I got this information locally. Is the Minister also aware that it is quite likely that these soldiers were members of the MRF of the British Army who, it is alleged, have committed brutal killings along the Border. It is also alleged that they transported people from the Six Counties and shot them on the Twenty-six County side.
I am not aware that such a unit did undertake such activities.
My information is the same as that of Deputy Lemass and I am not satisfied with the answer given by the Minister.
I did not suggest that everything Deputy Lemass said was incorrect but there are significant instances on which his information differs from mine.
Would the Minister state if the demoralising effect the hasty release of these soldiers would have on the very vigilant Garda in the Clones area was considered?
I am not aware of any such demoralising effect nor was this release hasty. It was a considered decision.
Is the Minister prepared to accept the statement of the British Army officer that the patrol took a wrong turn when it arrived in Clones in the first instance?
That is a question which I have difficulty answering for another Minister. I am not in a position to say if the other Minister would be prepared to accept such a statement which does not come directly under the questions. I am afraid I could not honestly give the Minister's state of mind on that point.
Does the fact that the troops entered Clones from a direction opposite to the Border not signify that they had encroached very deeply into the territory? The Press reports were to the effect that these troops called at a house in the Clincarrig area of County Monaghan and circled this house for approximately one hour before they were apprehended in the Diamond in Clones. Was that taken into consideration before the hasty release of these troops?
I am not quite clear as to the facts that are now being alleged.
The fact is that this van, which was unmarked and had some persons in civilian attire in it, entered Clones opposite the Border. It has also been stated in a newspaper report that a van similar to the one apprehended in Clones called at a house on the Border and approached it from the Twenty-six County direction. A soldier in uniform got out and knocked at the door with the butt of a rifle. When no response was got from the persons in the house the occupants of the van circled around the house in the van for some considerable time.
The Chair is very anxious to assist Deputies to elicit information but this is not the manner or method at Question Time.
(Interruptions.)
The Chair is in charge of Question Time.
The Deputy has insisted on alleging a whole set of facts and it is difficult to disentangle the ones I am aware of and those I am not aware of. A number of the points made by the Deputy as regards the visit of the soldiers to this house and entering Clones from the direction mentioned seems to be substantially correct. It is clear that the troops concerned had wandered to a significant degree into the Republic.
This happened just 100 yards from where there was severe bombing in this town on a number of occasions. Innocent people were injured in these bombings.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper. I must advise the House that the time for dealing with questions has expired and I must pass on to the next business.
I would then press to have this matter raised on the Adjournment.
The Chair will communicate with the Deputy.