RIR threaten Councillor's life
LURGAN SINN FEIN councillor John O'Dowd has accused members of
the RIR of threatening his life when he was held by members of
the sectarian force on Saturday 30 August.
O'Dowd and two companions were stopped and he was ordered out of
his car at Lurgan's Shankill estate and held for 20 minutes.
``I told the RIR man in charge that I was a councillor on
constituency buisness but he replied that he couldn't care less''.
O'Dowd asked for the RUC to come and when they did they were as
abusive as the RIR. Then after they searched O'Dowd's car the RIR
said they could get in, but as the three men weren't free to go
the Sinn Féin man said he preferred to stand outside ``to get some
fresh air''.
``It was then that one of the RIR soldiers said that it might be
the last fresh air I would get''.
The next day O'Dowd was again stopped and harassed by the RIR. He
had just left Lurgan RUC barracks and was walking along William
Street when he was stopped and held for about ten minutes by an
RIR patrol. He told them he had just left Lurgan barracks so if
they wanted to know his movements they could contact the
inspector. Eventually they let him go.
``People should make complaints about their treatment at the hands
of these people'', said O'Dowd, ``the RUC tried to put us off
making our complaint by leaving us waiting for over an hour, but
people should make sure this type of harassment doesn't go
unchecked''.