Top Issue 1-2024

23 April 1998 Edition

Resize: A A A Print

British troops invade farm in South Armagh

A large force of British soldiers moved onto lands at Crossmaglen, County Armagh at 9.05am on Wednesday morning. The farm and house of Henry McElroy and his mother, aged over 70 years, have been placed under occupation with soldiers digging into fields and adjacent roads spiked and chained.

There is a constant traffic of British Army helicopters which have brought in pallets of sandbags.

Thirty of Henry McElroy's cattle were frightened and stampeded through a ditch and a barbed wire fence by the helicopters. He has been unable to reach his injured livestock. He and his mother are unable to leave their home and neighbours have also been trapped.

Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghín O Caoláin, who was contacted in Leinster House by Henry McElroy, described the incident as''outrageous''. He said: ``On the very day when Leinster House is debating the Good Friday document which promises equality and justice for all in the Six Counties the British Army has carried out another aggressive and provocative act against the nationalist community in South Armagh.

``I am seeking an urgent meeting with the Taoiseach to raise both this outrageous incident and the need for immediate demilitarisation in South Armagh and elsewhere.''


ALL-IRELAND SAOIRSE MOBILISATION IN CROSSMAGLEN
2pm Sunday 26 April.
Main Speaker: Mitchel McLaughlin
GUE-NGL-new-Jan-2106

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland