Attacks on Lurgan residents
By Sean O'Tuama
A dossier of complaints is to be presented to Police Commission
Chair, Chris Patten, following a series of assaults on
nationalist residents during Crown force raiding in Lurgan's
Kilwilkie estate. The attacks began at 5am on 29 June after raids
uncovered ammunition and a quantity of explosives in one house in
the estate. Around one thousand RUC, RIR and British troops were
involved in the operation, marauding around the estate kicking in
doors and threatening residents.
At 7am an elderly woman fell from her wheelchair during an RUC
and British army raid on her home, breaking her arm and cracking
a rib.
The police and soldiers jeered and laughed but did nothing to
assist her. Attempts by her son to access medical treatment were
thwarted when the RUC refused to let him through a Crown force
cordon. Only after a protracted argument with an RUC sergeant was
the seriously injured woman's son allowed to secure medical help.
Throughout the day over a dozen plastic bullets were fired
indiscriminately. In one instance, a plastic bullet was fired at
Mrs Marshall and Mrs McConville as they pushed their young
children in buggies through a narrow pathway. Mrs McConville told
An Phoblacht, ``We were just walking along and heard this
unmerciful bang and saw the bullet fly between us and into the
wall.'' She added that the children ``were in convulsions of panic''
after the attack and that both women were ``badly shaken.''
In a number of incidents children were also assaulted. A twelve
year old boy was slammed in the face with a shield by an RUC man
and then crushed against a wall. A fifteen year old girl was
confronted by two RUC men and a number of British soldiers who
pushed her off a wall and batoned her across the back.
In a statement to An Phoblacht one resident, who did not wish to
be named, said: ``at about 3.30am the Army and police swamped
Kilwilkie estate getting people out of their beds to search their
back gardens,'' and ``revving up their landrovers'' to make sure
they woke everyone. A cordon was put round Ennis Close where ``old
people were taken from their homes, people were prevented from
going to the shops and children prevented from going to school.''
Abuse was shouted at women and children and the whole estate was
effectively ``put under curfew.''
Inevitably rioting erupted in the estate that evening when youths
hurled bricks and petrol bombs at the crown forces.
Speaking on Tuesday 30 June, Sinn Fein Assembly member, Dara
O'Hagan said ``After yesterday's onslaught by the British army and
the RUC on the Kilwilkie estate, local community activists and a
number of lawyers will be taking evidence all afternoon. This
will be presented to Commission on Policing Chairperson Chris
Patten. I would appeal for all those with a complaint to make
about the behaviour of the RUC and British army to do so.''
She went on to say of the crown forces actions ``This type of
hostile and provocative behaviour is in contradiction to the
search for a lasting peace and a direct contravention of the
Mitchell Principles on non-violence. At a time when a process of
demilitarisation is urgently required the British response is to
dramatically increase their military presence in nationalist
areas.'' O'Hagan called on Direct Ruler Mowlam to withdraw all
military forces from the area immediately.
yone who was unable to attend the incident centre should
contact the community centre which will put them in touch with
lawyers to register their complaint.
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