Vol. 412 No. 7
44 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will obtain from the Northern Ireland Office an explanation of the most exceptional circumstances in which a British army patrol, without a police presence, was in direct contact with the community at 9.45 a.m. on Friday, 8 November 1991 at Circular Road, Dungannon, County Tyrone; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
As I made clear in reply to an earlier question from the Deputy, the Government attaches very great importance to the commitment given at the highest levels in the Hillsborough communique, and on many other occasions subsequently, to ensure "as rapidly as possible that save in the most exceptional circumstances there is a police presence in all operations which involve direct contact with the community".
I have instructed my officials to raise the Deputy's report through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat with a view to establishing whether the case complained of was a departure from the principles agreed with the British Government and, if so, the circumstances which gave rise to it.
