Following his arrest and questioning in Castlereagh in August, Ronnie Bunting gave the following statement to the Association for Legal Justice, date 11-8-1980:

I was arrested along with Sean Flynn and Francis Barry (Troops Out Movement) after a public meeting in the markets area (time of arrest 9 p.m. Friday 8-8-80).

We were all brought separately to the Grand Central. I was illegally photographed by the army despite my protests. I refused to answer any questions.

The three of us were transferred to Castlereagh under Section 11. First night no interrogations. I ate no food during my stay. On Saturday I was fingerprinted and interrogated. I refused to answer any questions, gave name and address. One plainclothes man asked me to punch him. It would cost me six months in jail, but think of the satisfaction. The first two interrogators said I would be glad to hear a soldier was dead and fourteen police hurt, but many others were dead and injured.

Second interview: Plainclothes about 45, silver hair and big beefy dark haired cop. I refused to answer anything but name and address. The young one said how would it go for me on the Shankill. It could be arranged that I would get three slugs in the head, then these people could inspect me on the slab in the morgue. The silver haired man had vainly but ingeniously tried to strike up a conversation with me. The beefy cop said twice "You are a bad bastard and we'll get you."

Third interview: I had requested to see the duty inspector twice to complain about the death threats. My requests were ignored. (plainclothes, early forties, country intonation). When this person realised I wasn't going to answer questions he said I'd be killed by him. The method would be a shotgun. I would be unrecognisable in the coffin. When I got what I deserved, my daddy wouldn't be there to "hold my hand". I got a lot of sardonic remarks about my father attending my court case. The coffin would be burned to destroy my lice-ridden and flea-ridden body. The older cop's partner, straight-haired, blondish. The older cop said "Look at my face. This is the face you'll see before I kill you." I broke my silence and asked these cops their names. They refused to give their names.

I was told if my father killed me, any Irish court would award him a medal. They wouldn't convict him.

I was told my family would suffer what the Trainor family in Portadown suffered I com plained to two doctors and the duty inspector {uniformed} about these death threats.'

T. R. Bunting

Following the recording of this statement, Mr Bunting made a formal complaint to the RUC at Queen Street