24 April 1997 Edition
Arrested men's families issue appeal
The families of men arrested and assaulted in South Armagh earlier this month have issued a statement outlining the nature of the assaults and calling for help to prevent a miscarriage of justice. The men have been charged with serious offences.
The statement reads:
We, the families of a number of men arrested in South Armagh on 10 April 1997 wish to bring to your attention more details of serious assaults launched on these men at the time of the arrests by British soldiers, believed to be members of the SAS.
We also have reason to dispute the circumstances of the arrest and subsequent statements by the RUC.
Doctors' reports, copies of which are available, detail a wide range of injuries, especially on Bernard McGinn, Miceal Caraher and Seamus McArdle.
All three display symptoms of severe beatings about the head, arms, legs and body. Mr McGinn has lacerations to the skull, face and legs as well as extreme bruising all over the body.
Mr McArdle had a broken nose, loose teeth, bleeding gums along with major areas of bruising and tenderness.
Mr Caraher displayed bruising and welling to skull, chest, legs and left hand.
Bernard McGinn and Miceal Caraher were both treated in Craigavon Hospital, Caraher being treated twice. McGinn received a number of stitches and staples to his wounds.
Martin Mines also had severe cuts to the head, and other extensive bruising over his body, legs and arms.
Given that these men were arrested by a large force of military personnel, many in plain clothing, and that they were unarmed and were not even all in the one place, any story of a struggle or resistance is untrue.
The RUC have neglected the principle of innocence until proven guilty by releasing information to the media of ``Dawn raids on isolated farm house'' when in fact the arrests took place about 100 yards from the Main Newry-Crossmaglen road.
A wide range of charges have been put against these men including the extremely difficult to fight, Conspiracy. We the families, intend to fight every step of the way for justice.
We are asking for those who believe in justice to help us, and not to wait for ten, fifteen or twenty years to start a Miscariage of Justice Campaign. Help us prevent a miscarriage now!
The statement was issued on behalf of the McGinn, Caraher, Mines and McArdle families.
The statement reads:
We, the families of a number of men arrested in South Armagh on 10 April 1997 wish to bring to your attention more details of serious assaults launched on these men at the time of the arrests by British soldiers, believed to be members of the SAS.
We also have reason to dispute the circumstances of the arrest and subsequent statements by the RUC.
Doctors' reports, copies of which are available, detail a wide range of injuries, especially on Bernard McGinn, Miceal Caraher and Seamus McArdle.
All three display symptoms of severe beatings about the head, arms, legs and body. Mr McGinn has lacerations to the skull, face and legs as well as extreme bruising all over the body.
Mr McArdle had a broken nose, loose teeth, bleeding gums along with major areas of bruising and tenderness.
Mr Caraher displayed bruising and welling to skull, chest, legs and left hand.
Bernard McGinn and Miceal Caraher were both treated in Craigavon Hospital, Caraher being treated twice. McGinn received a number of stitches and staples to his wounds.
Martin Mines also had severe cuts to the head, and other extensive bruising over his body, legs and arms.
Given that these men were arrested by a large force of military personnel, many in plain clothing, and that they were unarmed and were not even all in the one place, any story of a struggle or resistance is untrue.
The RUC have neglected the principle of innocence until proven guilty by releasing information to the media of ``Dawn raids on isolated farm house'' when in fact the arrests took place about 100 yards from the Main Newry-Crossmaglen road.
A wide range of charges have been put against these men including the extremely difficult to fight, Conspiracy. We the families, intend to fight every step of the way for justice.
We are asking for those who believe in justice to help us, and not to wait for ten, fifteen or twenty years to start a Miscariage of Justice Campaign. Help us prevent a miscarriage now!
The statement was issued on behalf of the McGinn, Caraher, Mines and McArdle families.