To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the six soldiers found hiding in an old school in the Courtney Hill area of Newry on 12 April were doing; why they were in plain clothes; why they were armed with pump action shotguns; and if he will make a statement.

I can confirm that four soldiers were in the building on 12 April. However, they were carrying out properly authorised duties, they were all in uniform and they were equipped with service issue weapons. It is not the practice to comment on the detail of operations.