19 February 1998 Edition
British Army steals Council documents
SINN FEIN COUNCILLOR Noel Sheridan has accused the British army of stealing confidential council documents.
The Armagh councillor, along with his three sons aged 17, 14 and 11, was stopped at a British army checkpoint on Saturday night 14 February and held for about 30 minutes.
During a search a British soldier took a sheaf of documents, relating to council business, from Sheridan's car, took it to the back of a landrover and in the company of other soldiers rifled through the papers.
The soldier then removed three documents, one listing the council's meetings which contain information about the times and meetings which Sinn Fein councillors attend.
A second document listed building applications giving the addresses of those who applied and thirdly general information about government bodies.
``These documents were private and confidential'', said Sheridan, ``the British army had no right to take them and now I fear the crown forces have information about the timetable and movements of Armagh's Sinn Fein councillors''.
The Armagh councillor, along with his three sons aged 17, 14 and 11, was stopped at a British army checkpoint on Saturday night 14 February and held for about 30 minutes.
During a search a British soldier took a sheaf of documents, relating to council business, from Sheridan's car, took it to the back of a landrover and in the company of other soldiers rifled through the papers.
The soldier then removed three documents, one listing the council's meetings which contain information about the times and meetings which Sinn Fein councillors attend.
A second document listed building applications giving the addresses of those who applied and thirdly general information about government bodies.
``These documents were private and confidential'', said Sheridan, ``the British army had no right to take them and now I fear the crown forces have information about the timetable and movements of Armagh's Sinn Fein councillors''.