11 September 1997 Edition
RIR threaten Councillor's life
LURGAN SINN FEIN councillor John O'Dowd has accused members of the RIR of threatening his life when he was held by members of the sectarian force on Saturday 30 August.
O'Dowd and two companions were stopped and he was ordered out of his car at Lurgan's Shankill estate and held for 20 minutes.
``I told the RIR man in charge that I was a councillor on constituency buisness but he replied that he couldn't care less''.
O'Dowd asked for the RUC to come and when they did they were as abusive as the RIR. Then after they searched O'Dowd's car the RIR said they could get in, but as the three men weren't free to go the Sinn Féin man said he preferred to stand outside ``to get some fresh air''.
``It was then that one of the RIR soldiers said that it might be the last fresh air I would get''.
The next day O'Dowd was again stopped and harassed by the RIR. He had just left Lurgan RUC barracks and was walking along William Street when he was stopped and held for about ten minutes by an RIR patrol. He told them he had just left Lurgan barracks so if they wanted to know his movements they could contact the inspector. Eventually they let him go.
``People should make complaints about their treatment at the hands of these people'', said O'Dowd, ``the RUC tried to put us off making our complaint by leaving us waiting for over an hour, but people should make sure this type of harassment doesn't go unchecked''.
O'Dowd and two companions were stopped and he was ordered out of his car at Lurgan's Shankill estate and held for 20 minutes.
``I told the RIR man in charge that I was a councillor on constituency buisness but he replied that he couldn't care less''.
O'Dowd asked for the RUC to come and when they did they were as abusive as the RIR. Then after they searched O'Dowd's car the RIR said they could get in, but as the three men weren't free to go the Sinn Féin man said he preferred to stand outside ``to get some fresh air''.
``It was then that one of the RIR soldiers said that it might be the last fresh air I would get''.
The next day O'Dowd was again stopped and harassed by the RIR. He had just left Lurgan RUC barracks and was walking along William Street when he was stopped and held for about ten minutes by an RIR patrol. He told them he had just left Lurgan barracks so if they wanted to know his movements they could contact the inspector. Eventually they let him go.
``People should make complaints about their treatment at the hands of these people'', said O'Dowd, ``the RUC tried to put us off making our complaint by leaving us waiting for over an hour, but people should make sure this type of harassment doesn't go unchecked''.