Republican News · Thursday 15 May 2003

TD furious over British Army incursion

Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan has reacted angrily to last week's incursion into County Louth by the British Army. He described it as "grotesque hypocrisy" that the two governments are engaging in "silly word games with the IRA" while the British Army is engaging in illegal military operations in the 26 Counties. The county Louth TD was responding to the latest incident in which a British Army helicopter crossed the border and was observed photographing buildings and people around the Hackballscross area on Tuesday 6 May. Deputy Morgan said:

"I am demanding that the Minister for Foreign Affairs investigate this latest incursion into Louth by the British Army. It is not good enough to receive assurances from the British that this sort of incident won't happen again. We have heard it all before.

"Just this week, in the Joint Declaration, the British government has been looking to introduce sanctions against Sinn Féin for the actions of another organisation while at the same time their army has been engaged in illegal military operations in County Louth. Who will sanction the British government for breaching the Good Friday Agreement?

"Coming so soon after the release of the Stevens' report, which confirmed that nationalists were targeted for assassination by the British government during the '80s and '90s, and that those responsible are still in positions of power and influence, it will reinforce the anger and annoyance that exists that the IRA's unprecedented moves of last week were spurned by the two governments to save David Trimble.

"The grotesque hypocrisy of the two governments position as they continue to engage in silly word games with the IRA on its clear and completely peaceful intentions will not be lost on the wider republican and nationalist community."