Bomb attack on North peer’s home

An ‘‘attack with explosives’’ has been carried out on the home of Ulster peer Lord Brookeborough, a member of the policing board for Northern Ireland, the Lords were told today.

Leader of the British House of Lords, Lord Williams of Mostyn said: ‘‘I have been given quite recently some information which your Lordships will want to know, which is that there was an attack with explosives on the property of Viscount Brookeborough.

‘‘The details that I have which I am giving at this stage obviously as soon as I am able to, is that the army advises me, that the Continuity IRA have telephoned a local newspaper claiming responsibility and a recognised codeword was used.

‘‘We would all want to send a message of unswerving solidarity to a parliamentary colleague.’’

Lord Williams made his announcement before repeating the Prime Minister’s statement on the situation in Northern Ireland.

Crossbench peer Viscount Brookeborough is an honorary colonel in the Territorial Army.