Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the 8 February 2022 Statutory Report of the Police Ombudsman of Northern Ireland, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the finding in that report that weapons stolen from the British Army were used in loyalist paramilitary murders.
Answered by Leo Docherty
The Police Ombudsman’s report shed further light on a series of shocking acts of terrorism that took place in the hon. Member’s constituency. The Ministry of Defence fully supported the Ombudsman in the conduct of her investigation into the attacks which took place between 1990 and 1998. It is of profound regret that stolen military weapons and ammunition were used in some of these attacks. Given the report was undertaken by the Police Ombudsman, the findings relate to the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) rather than the military. However, this report demonstrates the importance of information being made available to victims of The Troubles; this remains at the heart of the Government’s approach to legacy issues.
Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South and Mid Down)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
What assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Ballymurphy Inquest.
Answered by Ben Wallace
The PM has apologised on behalf of the Government to the families of those who died in Ballymurphy in August 1971. I am deeply sorry for the loss of all 1900 civilians killed during the troubles. Most at the hands of the terrorists, as well as the loss of RUC and Army personnel, the vast majority served with distinction and bravery.