16 January 1997 Edition
Back issue: MASON TOLD PRESSMEN `I'LL HAVE THE LOT OF YOU'
Roy Mason's outburst at the Culloden hotel is in keeping with his overall attitude towards the war in Ireland. An arrogant little man whose frustration at never having served one day in the British Army while being in a position to dictate army policy has led to military paranoia.
Mason had asked, in his usual arrogant manner, that the media should declare a three-month blackout on all news from the war zone. One of the guests present asked Mason: ``does this mean that if the IRA assassinated you tomorrow, we shouldn't report it?'' Mason replied, before storming out: ``That's exactly what I mean... if any of this ever gets out, I'll have the lot of you.''
At that point the commander of the Brit forces in the Six Counties, Major General David Young, jumped up to join in the attack on the BBC for refusing to print certain British Army hand-outs. It is thought that Young was referring to the incident in which little Brian Stewart was murdered when hit at point-blank range by a rubber bullet. The official army line, that a crowd of `700' were stoning the Brits at the time of the incident was proven to be a blatant lie when a BBC camera crew visited the area shortly after the incident and talked to local people who had witnessed the shooting. The camera also scanned the ground, proving that no stones had been thrown in the area.
PS: It has been confirmed that a new wing in H-Block, Long Kesh, has been fitted with cells containing typewriters in anticipation of Roy Mason interning all unsympathetic reporters who make the terrible mistake of printing the truth.
Mason had asked, in his usual arrogant manner, that the media should declare a three-month blackout on all news from the war zone. One of the guests present asked Mason: ``does this mean that if the IRA assassinated you tomorrow, we shouldn't report it?'' Mason replied, before storming out: ``That's exactly what I mean... if any of this ever gets out, I'll have the lot of you.''
At that point the commander of the Brit forces in the Six Counties, Major General David Young, jumped up to join in the attack on the BBC for refusing to print certain British Army hand-outs. It is thought that Young was referring to the incident in which little Brian Stewart was murdered when hit at point-blank range by a rubber bullet. The official army line, that a crowd of `700' were stoning the Brits at the time of the incident was proven to be a blatant lie when a BBC camera crew visited the area shortly after the incident and talked to local people who had witnessed the shooting. The camera also scanned the ground, proving that no stones had been thrown in the area.
PS: It has been confirmed that a new wing in H-Block, Long Kesh, has been fitted with cells containing typewriters in anticipation of Roy Mason interning all unsympathetic reporters who make the terrible mistake of printing the truth.