27 May 1999 Edition
Get out of those gardens!
Four families living beside Crossmaglen British Army base have launched a campaign for the return of their gardens. The gardens were taken over by the British army at the same time as land belonging to Crossmaglen Rangers GFC. The families' land amounts to over 1,000 square yards and is substantially greater in area than the land to be returned to Crossmaglen Rangers.
Following a meeting with the families, Sinn Féin Assembly member Conor Murphy said: ``This land must be returned immediately. The British government has used the return of land belonging to Crossmaglen Rangers as a publicity stunt, yet they are ignoring calls for the return of these people's gardens. It is the height of hypocrisy for the British government to tell the world they are righting a wrong by returning land to the GAA while they are refusing to return the gardens to these families.
``Land has been stolen from people throughout South Armagh and it should all be returned. While this situation continues it is clear to see that the British government is not serious about demilitarisation.''
Following a meeting with the families, Sinn Féin Assembly member Conor Murphy said: ``This land must be returned immediately. The British government has used the return of land belonging to Crossmaglen Rangers as a publicity stunt, yet they are ignoring calls for the return of these people's gardens. It is the height of hypocrisy for the British government to tell the world they are righting a wrong by returning land to the GAA while they are refusing to return the gardens to these families.
``Land has been stolen from people throughout South Armagh and it should all be returned. While this situation continues it is clear to see that the British government is not serious about demilitarisation.''