26 April 2001 Edition

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RUC exacerbate Lurgan trouble

``The RUC only made the situation worse'', said Sinn Féin councillor John O'Dowd commenting on rioting in Lurgan's Kilwilkie estate on Tuesday 24 April.

``Although there was some trouble during the day, mostly youngsters stoning the British Army, the real serious trouble only started after the RUC moved into the area driving their Land Rovers at the young people''.

According to the Sinn Féin councillor, it was only after the RUC ``made their cavalry charges'' into the area that older people got involved in the rioting and the situation got worse. Up to a dozen petrol bombs were thrown during the trouble, while the RUC fired a plastic bullet.

``Despite our attempts to get the RUC to pull back from the area they refused and only succeeded in making a bad situation worse.It shows their contempt for the people of this area of North Armagh,'' said O'Dowd.


RUC raid homeless hostel



The Morning Star Hostel on the Falls Road was the target of an RUC raid in the early hours of Tuesday morning, 24 April.

According to Sinn Féin's Fra McCann, the RUC sledgehammered their way into the Hostel and ransacked a number of rooms in the building.

``This was a terrifying ordeal for the 18 residents of the hostel,'' said McCann.

The Sinn Féin man rubbished RUC claims that they burst into the hostel after receiving a call that someone was being held on the premises and was about to be shot.


An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland