10 April 1997 Edition
Destructive raids in Cappagh
By Mick Naughton.
Several hundred British soldiers in helicopter troopcarriers descended on the Cappagh and Galbally areas of Tyrone last Thursday morning 3 April. They destroyed land and property in a clear attempt at community punishment.
Over 20 dug outs have been constructed in fields around the area and hundreds of British soldiers have built sandbagged underground emplacements covered with metal roofs.
In the wave of destruction British soldiers cut barbed wire fences allowing flocks of sheep to mix into each other, causing small farmers days of work separating and rounding them up as well as repairing damage.
Animal outhouses were damaged at a key time for spring lambs. ``It is as if they chose this time, when ewes are still lambing and young lambs are vulnerable to exposure due to the real risk of nighttime frosts,'' was how one middle aged farmer summed up his feelings.
``They arrived in large Chinook helicopters last week and have rampaged through the area, setting up countless vehicle checkpoints and generally harassing everyone,'' said Sinn Fein Councillor Francie Molloy.
Delivery vans bringing in produce were also targeted for general harassment with British soldiers messing about with goods, dumping them onto the roadway.
``Some drivers have said they are not going back until the British pull these checkpoints out and leave,'' Molloy said. ``Farmyards and doors at outhouses have been deliberately broken and animals left to wander.
``A local Galbally man was being waked from last Saturday and Sunday and mourners were pulled from their cars as they called to pay their respects at his home. Even during Monday mornings requiem mass in St Josephs chapel in the village funeral goers were stopped and searched. Its a form of community punishment,'' concluded the Dungannon councillor.
Several hundred British soldiers in helicopter troopcarriers descended on the Cappagh and Galbally areas of Tyrone last Thursday morning 3 April. They destroyed land and property in a clear attempt at community punishment.
Over 20 dug outs have been constructed in fields around the area and hundreds of British soldiers have built sandbagged underground emplacements covered with metal roofs.
In the wave of destruction British soldiers cut barbed wire fences allowing flocks of sheep to mix into each other, causing small farmers days of work separating and rounding them up as well as repairing damage.
Animal outhouses were damaged at a key time for spring lambs. ``It is as if they chose this time, when ewes are still lambing and young lambs are vulnerable to exposure due to the real risk of nighttime frosts,'' was how one middle aged farmer summed up his feelings.
``They arrived in large Chinook helicopters last week and have rampaged through the area, setting up countless vehicle checkpoints and generally harassing everyone,'' said Sinn Fein Councillor Francie Molloy.
Delivery vans bringing in produce were also targeted for general harassment with British soldiers messing about with goods, dumping them onto the roadway.
``Some drivers have said they are not going back until the British pull these checkpoints out and leave,'' Molloy said. ``Farmyards and doors at outhouses have been deliberately broken and animals left to wander.
``A local Galbally man was being waked from last Saturday and Sunday and mourners were pulled from their cars as they called to pay their respects at his home. Even during Monday mornings requiem mass in St Josephs chapel in the village funeral goers were stopped and searched. Its a form of community punishment,'' concluded the Dungannon councillor.