17 June 1999 Edition
Back issue: More Armagh land seized
Farmland in South Armagh has again been invaded and crops damaged as British soldiers constructed bunkers on farms along the Armagh to Newtownhamilton Road last week.
The soldiers were ``digging-in'' to guard the transport of heavy machinery on its way to build more spy-posts and repair existing ones in the Drumhill Bridge area. The existing spy-posts are hugh constructions on land seized by the British army all along the border. Farm work is disrupted and farmland damaged by the building of the spy-posts and the activities of the soldiers.
Local farmers described the area as being ``saturated with a massive British army presence'' as preparatory measures for the building of the latest spy-posts got under way. Fields and gardens were ripped up and all roads in the immediate vicinity sealed off.
Farm workers are subjected to constant harassment. Henry McElroy was held at gun-point on his own land and threatened with being shot as he attempted to move cattle from one of his fields to another.
The soldiers were ``digging-in'' to guard the transport of heavy machinery on its way to build more spy-posts and repair existing ones in the Drumhill Bridge area. The existing spy-posts are hugh constructions on land seized by the British army all along the border. Farm work is disrupted and farmland damaged by the building of the spy-posts and the activities of the soldiers.
Local farmers described the area as being ``saturated with a massive British army presence'' as preparatory measures for the building of the latest spy-posts got under way. Fields and gardens were ripped up and all roads in the immediate vicinity sealed off.
Farm workers are subjected to constant harassment. Henry McElroy was held at gun-point on his own land and threatened with being shot as he attempted to move cattle from one of his fields to another.