Dismay at Paras deployment
Mick Murphy, Sinn Féin Assembly member for South Down, has expressed
his dismay at news of the deployment of the British army's Parachute
Regiment in his constituency.
``Nationalists were promised a new beginning in the Good Friday
Agreement,'' he said. ``People are angry that the British regiment
responsible for Bloody Sunday have been sent into the area.''
Murphy believes that events in his constituency over the past week
suggest to nationalists that nothing has changed. ``Those responsible
for the murder bid on Francis Trainor in Castlewellan are given a
free hand by the RUC and RIR while the Paras are deployed in
nationalist areas to harass and intimidate my constituents'' he said.
Murphy continued: ``It is ironic that while we are constantly hearing
demands for decommissioning from British and Unionist spokespersons,
the largest military machine in Ireland, the British Crown forces,
are still looking down their guns at the broad nationalist
community.''
He concluded: ``If this peace process is to work, then it is essential
that immediate steps are taken to remove completely not only the
Paras from South Down, but the British military presence in all its
manifestations.''
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