22 April 1999 Edition

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Hard heads in hard hats

Sinn Féin's Conor Murphy has said that the fact that British soldiers are once again wearing steel helmets is a small but obvious sign that far from demilitarising, the British army is in fact stepping up its activity.

The Newry and Armagh Assembly member said: ``When British soldiers changed from wearing helmets to berets, TV crews and photographers were invited to record the change. It was presented as a significant move towards demilitarisation. It was never that, of course, but the media obliged with extensive coverage. Now that British soldiers in South Armagh are once again wearing helmets, I would invite the same journalists to record the scenes.''

Murphy added: ``While they are in South Armagh, they can also record the building work at Glassdrummond lookout post, which the British army press office last week denied was taking place but this week have conceded is going on. The press should also record the helicopter flights in South Armagh, which are at an all-time high, and the increased checkpoints and the record number of patrols.''

 

No imminent handover for Crossmaglen GAC



The British Army has denied reports that demolition work will begin soon on the military base inside Crossmaglen GAC grounds.

GAA President Joe McDonagh, in his address to Congress at the weekend, announced the withdrawal of the British Army from Crossmaglen Rangers' grounds. He told delegates that he was informed by ``people of the highest stature and integrity'' that demolition work would start this week on the British base at the South Armagh club's grounds.

However, the British Army has since played down these reports. A spokesperson said on Tuesday that only a preliminary ``working meeting'' would take place, investigating exactly what land would be returned and what state it was now in.

A meeting was expected to be held on Monday afternoon, but Armagh county board secretary Joe Nugent confirmed that no meeting had taken place and he was not aware that any had been arranged. Therefore, any major works on the ground are at a very early stage and there is as still no timetable for a withdrawal.


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