Republican News · Thursday 25 April 2002

Woman and children terrorised by helicopter

Mid Tyrone Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey McAnespie described on Tuesday how a local woman and her children were subjected to a terrifying ordeal by the crew of a British Army helicopter.

Speaking about the incident, which he said had only come to light in the previous few days, McAnespie said:

"A young mother and her two young children were travelling along the Whitebridge Road to Carrickmore, when a British Army helicopter appeared and began following just several feet above the roof of the car. The deafening noise sent the children into hysterics and the woman found it hard to keep control of the car, due to the downward gusts from the helicopter. Luckily, there was no oncoming traffic or the results could have been tragic.

"The ordeal continued when the helicopter overtook the car and recklessly landed on the road. Members of the Paratroop Regiment alighted from the helicopter and carried out a search of the car, the woman and her children. They have been severely traumatised by this terrifying ordeal.

"Given that the woman had barely left her home when this incident happened, she believes that British soldiers engaged in covert surveillance passed this information on to the helicopter crew.

"People are asking if this was a training exercise with a local family being treated as guineapigs or if there is something more sinister afoot. People are mindful that the home of Dungannon pensioner Roseanne Mallon was under covert surveillance at the time of her murder. yet there was no attempt to intervene to prevent it.

"There has also been an upsurge in activity by the Paratroop Regiment in the Drumnakilly area. Fences have been broken down and farmers are incensed at the financial cost that they have to incur, never mind the dangers posed to their livestock.

"People are rightly asking what members of this infamous regiment are doing in this part of Tyrone many years into a Peace Process and why they are treating the people of this community with such hostility and contempt."