Seán South and Feargal O'Hanlon memorial vandalised

» Mark Moloney

'The time has come for local unionist politicians to step up to the plate'

A MONUMENT erected in memory to two IRA Volunteers who were killed during Operation Harvest – commonly referred to as the Border Campaign – has been vandalised by suspected hardline unionists.

The monument at Moane's Cross, between Roslea and Brookeborough, is dedicated to Volunteers Seán South and Feargal O'Hanlon, who were killed during an attack by the IRA's 'Pearse Column' on the joint RUC and B-Specials barracks at Brookeborough on New Year's Day 1957. A Union Jack symbol was spray-painted across the main panel of the monument while other parts were daubed with red, white and blue paint.

Erne East Sinn Féin Councillor Brian McCaffrey said the attack was pointless and an attempt to raise tensions before an upcoming controversial Royal Black Preceptory parade through Roslea. He added that the vandalism exposed the bankruptcy of hardline loyalism

“The time has come for local unionist politicians to step up to the plate,” he said. “They must loudly and openly condemn and disassociate themselves from this type of action. If they fail to do so, their lurking in the shadows will be seen as tacit approval.”

The ballads Seán South and The Patriot Game both recall the daring IRA raid which resulted in the deaths of the two Volunteers.

• The main panel of the memorial as it appeared before the attack