8 July 1999 Edition
Crossmaglen families under siege
By Deirdre Feehan
Following the return of the confiscated land belonging to the GAA in Crossmaglen, additional surveillance equipment has been installed in the gardens of the Quinn, McNamee and Teelan families which were confiscated in 1973, at the same time the GAA had their property confiscated.
This surveillance equipment consists of a row of infra-red lights and cameras which are permanently trained onto the families' property, leaving the rear rooms of the homes permanently lit and under constant surveillance.
``This is a total invasion of the families' privacy and has resulted in one woman, Mrs Quinn, having to abandon her bedroom and sleep downstairs'', said Toni Carragher of the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee.
And Eilish Quinn, Mrs Quinn's daughter, told An Phoblacht how continuous helicopter flights over their homes have caused havoc with soot blown down the chimney, destroying the furnishings. As a result, the family has had to block the chimney and install central heating.
On one occasion, four flights went into the adjoining barracks within seven minutes, with one helicopter flying so low that some of the washing on the line was blown off into trees. According to Eilish Quinn ``this is an everyday occurrence''.
The occupation of this land has also seriously hampered the expansion of what could be a thriving business. Phil McNamee, who lives over McNamee's Bakery, stated that they currently employ 30 people and with the return of the land a further 30 could be employed.
Mrs Teelan, who also had property confiscated in 1973, talked of how she would like to have developed her garden by planting trees and erecting a wall. An unsightly watch tower which is built on her property stares into the rear of her living accommodation, again invading the family's privacy.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Conor Murphy has demanded the immediate return of the land and called on the British government to ``honour their part of the agreement and demilitarise''.
Following the return of the confiscated land belonging to the GAA in Crossmaglen, additional surveillance equipment has been installed in the gardens of the Quinn, McNamee and Teelan families which were confiscated in 1973, at the same time the GAA had their property confiscated.
This surveillance equipment consists of a row of infra-red lights and cameras which are permanently trained onto the families' property, leaving the rear rooms of the homes permanently lit and under constant surveillance.
``This is a total invasion of the families' privacy and has resulted in one woman, Mrs Quinn, having to abandon her bedroom and sleep downstairs'', said Toni Carragher of the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee.
And Eilish Quinn, Mrs Quinn's daughter, told An Phoblacht how continuous helicopter flights over their homes have caused havoc with soot blown down the chimney, destroying the furnishings. As a result, the family has had to block the chimney and install central heating.
On one occasion, four flights went into the adjoining barracks within seven minutes, with one helicopter flying so low that some of the washing on the line was blown off into trees. According to Eilish Quinn ``this is an everyday occurrence''.
The occupation of this land has also seriously hampered the expansion of what could be a thriving business. Phil McNamee, who lives over McNamee's Bakery, stated that they currently employ 30 people and with the return of the land a further 30 could be employed.
Mrs Teelan, who also had property confiscated in 1973, talked of how she would like to have developed her garden by planting trees and erecting a wall. An unsightly watch tower which is built on her property stares into the rear of her living accommodation, again invading the family's privacy.
Sinn Féin Assembly member Conor Murphy has demanded the immediate return of the land and called on the British government to ``honour their part of the agreement and demilitarise''.