British soldier fires shot
A British soldier on patrol in South Armagh fired a shot into the
air on Tuesday night, Toni Caraher, who lives nearby, told An
Phoblacht.
According to Ms Caraher two British army helicopters landed in a
field near her home on Tuesday this week, dropping off up to 20
British soldiers and two RUC members.
``This was about 5.15pm,'' said Ms Caraher. ``They set up
checkpoints at the school down from our house and stopped
motorists. Then four soldiers and the two RUC men went into a
field at Larkin's Road and it was one of these soldiers who fired
the shot''.
Ms Caraher, who is a member of the South Armagh Farmers and
Residents group said a number of people witnessed the British
soldier firing the shot, ``not far from houses and children who
were out playing''.
She went on to accuse the British army of ``employing bully boy
tactics to intimidate and scare local people''.
After the incident the British patrol stayed in the area until
about 7pm before setting off on foot towards Crossmaglen.
Newry and South Armagh SF representative Conor Murphy called for
a complete demilitarisation of South Armagh. He also slammed the
RUC's role in the incident. ``The role of the RUC in these sorts
of military operations only goes to show their inability to
police in an accountable or indeed unarmed manner. It underlines
the necessity for the RUC to be immediately disbanded and
replaced with an accountable and unarmed policing service.''
Sinn Féin Cavan/Monaghan TD Caoimhghín O'Caoláin, who was
contacted by Ms Caraher, has said he will take the matter up with
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. ``This is a brazen act of provocation,''
O'Caoláin said.
![[An Phoblacht]](http://republican-news.org/graphics/title_gifs/aprn.gif)