Republican News · Thursday 31 January 2002

British Army flies UVF flag

Sinn Féin councillor Pat McGinn has accused the British Army of glorifying loyalist violence after it was discovered that a UVF flag was hoisted on a stanchion supporting a military spy camera at one of the North's largest British Army bases in Bessbrook in South Armagh.

According to McGinn, "the UVF flag appeared on the British Army base in Bessbrook. It is attached to one of the stanchions used to support spy cameras at the base and it must be stressed that this flag is in such a position that the only people who could have erected it were those inside the base".

McGinn called on NIO Security Minister Jane Kennedy to "publicly explain why this flag has been erected and by who and why it has not been removed.

"We have known for many years that the British state forces have shared information, weapons and membership with unionist paramilitaries. It is, however, unusual for such a public display of collusion to be put on display."