Republican News · Thursday 24 January 2002

Crown forces' harassment

Sinn Féin Assembly member Gerry McHugh has described as "disgraceful" the behaviour of British Army helicopter pilots who flew their aircraft over the house of his personal assistant Kevin Lawrenson last Tuesday night, 15 January.

The British Army pilots hovered over Lawrenson's home near Newtownbutler for over 20 minutes between 8.45pm and 9.10pm, "causing great distress to the Lawrenson family and clearly targeting them for harassment".

McHugh said livestock in nearby fields were also distressed by the noise.

Local Sinn Féin councillor Thomas O'Reilly accused the British Army and RUC/PSNI of increased militarisation in Fermanagh.

Michelle Gildernew MP has hit out at the harassment of nationalists by the PSNI in the Clogher area. On Wednesday night, 16 January, two local nationalists were held at a PSNI checkpoint in the village and subjected to verbal and abusive language by a police officer. Gildernew said that the incident reflected the true nature of this force's attitude towards nationalists and exposed their 'charm offensive' as a sham. She said it was unfortunate that the SDLP had been hoodwinked into thinking that enough changes had been made in order for this force to be held accountable.

In a separate incident, Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty was held and questioned by an RUC/PSNI patrol in Belfast on 11 January. The West Tyrone MP and Sinn Féin vice-President had just driven into Belfast from Dublin when he was pulled over by the crown forces.