Republican News · Thursday 27 March 2002

British Army harass Clones Council Chair

Councillor Pat Treanor, Cathaoirleach of Clones Town Council, was stopped and detained by British military personnel on Monday evening last at approximately 8.15pm in what Sinn Féin has called a deliberate attempt by the British Army to frustrate the work of an elected representative. The councillor was driving back from a meeting in Cavan and was a mile from Clones at the time of the incident.

Pat Treanor has since explained that he was held for half an hour while his car was searched inside and out. "These people know who I am, they know I am the Chairperson of Clones Town Council. The verbal abuse that was hurled at me indicated that they wanted to provoke me. Their actions in detaining me prove again that the role of the British Army in Ireland is to exert dominance over the local population.

"I am fortunate in that in my role as a local elected representative I am in a position to highlight my experience. Others cannot do so for fear that the harassment will escalate. The days of the British Army in Ireland must come to an end. They are not welcome and their actions do nothing to enhance the peace process," said Treanor.