Ógra demilitarisation picket

Ógra Shinn Féin held a spontaneous protest outside the British Army camp in Omagh on Saturday 28 May to highlight the lack of demilitarisation in the Six Counties and in particular the garrison town of Omagh. The day had seen the British Army remove anti-rocket caging from a number of their sangers in Lisanelly and St Lucia Camp.

Shortly after 3.30pm, a number of Ógra Shinn Féin activists blocked the entrance to the camp with placards demanding demilitarisation. As they approached, British Army Engineers called a halt to their activities and withdrew inside. The decision to hold the protest was taken after Ógra Shinn Féin learned of the British Army's intention to remove caging from around their watchtowers scattered around the perimeter fencing of the British Army camp in Omagh.

Attending the protest was Martin McColgan, chair of the Omagh Residents' Demilitarisation Committee and recently elected Sinn Féin councillor for Omagh. "It's good to see that the British Government have finally listened to the people of Omagh and have moved in a small way to demilitarise the British Army camp in the town, but it isn't enough," he said. "I am again calling for the British Army to vacant this site and hand it back to the people of Omagh so that we can use it for the economic development of the county town of Tyrone. I'm looking forward to the day that this happens."