Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Remarks on IRA attack on Newry RUC Station

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: ?Outside No.10 Downing Street
Source: Thatcher Archive: COI transcript
Editorial comments: It is unclear when MT made her remarks.
Importance ranking: Major
Word count: 166
Themes: Law & order, Northern Ireland, Terrorism

Commentator

Mrs. Thatcher said the attack would not damage the morale of the force.

Prime Minister

No, never. They are a marvellous group of men in the RUC. They will recruit fresh people. It just reminds us how much we owe to them, each and every day.

Question

Mrs. Thatcher, what is your reaction to what has happened in Newry?

Prime Minister

The reaction of every single civilised person—of horror, enormous sympathy with the families, for whom it started as an ordinary day, and then tragedy hit. The community there will look after them, because it has known so much tragedy. We have had over two thousand deaths there. Will really look after them. And then the other feeling is how much we owe to the bravery, to the daily courage, of ordinary people. They know intellectually that one day this might happen, but you never believe it is going to happen—and then it does.