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GV Gutted house
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GV PAN Firemen walk through gutted house (2 shots)
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SV Firemen spraying hot area with hose
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GV & SV Wrecked house (4 shots)
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Initials SGM/0035 SGM/0027


TELERECORDING original colour on 1432/72 22ft

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Background: The country home of Major Ivan Neill, the Speaker of the Northern Ireland Parliament (Stormont) was badly damaged by fire on Thursday (30 December). Major Neill was not at the house at Rostrevor in County Down, 35 miles (56 kms) from Belfast and in sight of the border with the Irish Republic. Responsibility for the explosion and fire at the house has been claimed by the official wing of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in Dublin.

SYNOPSIS: Fire badly damaged the country home of Stormont speaker Major Ivan Neill early Thursday. The Major wasn't in the house at Rostrevor, 35 miles from Belfast and in sight of the border with the Irish Republic. Police said there was an explosion before the fire broke out and gutted a wing of the mansion.

The official wing of the Irish Republican Army in Dublin claimed responsibility for the explosion. They said it was in retaliation for the alleged wrecking of Catholic working-class homes by British troops. They've also threatened there'll be more such incidents if the British Army doesn't stop.