9 April 1998 Edition
Black Watch sent home from US
Six soldiers from the notorious Black Watch regiment have been sent home from a tour of the United States. Three were sent home after failing random drug tests, the other three were found guilty of other crimes and a seventh remains in prison after allegedly stealing a gun. The trouble flared when the soldiers were in Seattle in February for a British army exercise called ``Trumpetdance''.
During their 11 tours of duty in the Six Counties the Black Watch have been responsible for the murder of 12 Catholics including three during the Falls Curfew in July 1970.
Three Black Watch soldiers were dismissed in 1995 for taking drugs and an MOD spokesperson said that those who failed drug tests would be automatically dismissed, ``but if the commanding officer can put forward a strong argument, that might change.''
During their 11 tours of duty in the Six Counties the Black Watch have been responsible for the murder of 12 Catholics including three during the Falls Curfew in July 1970.
Three Black Watch soldiers were dismissed in 1995 for taking drugs and an MOD spokesperson said that those who failed drug tests would be automatically dismissed, ``but if the commanding officer can put forward a strong argument, that might change.''