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(1) The Crossmaglen Examiner – 5th March 2002
Conor Murphy, MLA Newry/Armagh has received numerous complaints about the increased level of British Army and PSNI activity in the South Armagh area.
Mr. Murphy said; “In recent weeks there has been an increased British military presence in South Armagh. People have complained to me that on Saturday and Sunday 24th February roadblocks were set-up by members of the PSNI and British Army on every road leading into Forkhill. This was backed up by helicopters flying low overhead.”
“On Tuesday 19th February a young family suffered a terrifying experience when a helicopter swooped low continuously over their car late at night on the Tullydonnell Road.”
“We are also receiving information that the material removed from the post on Sturgan Mountain has been transferred to a nearby post and that the British Army are in fact rebuilding in this area.”
“South Armagh is the most heavily fortified area in the North Of Ireland. People living here have long since given up hope of the British army fulfilling their promises on demilitarization. A creditable start must be made to dismantling the British army presence to convince the people of this area of the benefits of the Peace Process.”
(2) zwei Pressemitteilungen des South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee
(SAFRC - Webseite: http://www.safrc.com/ ) zu dem Hubschrauberabsturz:
PRESS RELEASE 16th March
2002
As the exclusive photographs captured by Toni Carragher,
Secretary & PRO of the South Armagh Farmers & Resident Committee
clearly illustrate, it was a miraculous escape of possible death and destruction
that residents living nearby had.
Had this so-called “forced landing” occurred at either the
Forkhill or Crossmaglen bases, we could have experienced multiple civilian
fatalities from within the local community.
At 10.20am on Saturday morning a Puma helicopter spiralled
out of control and crashed just 200 yards away from Declan Fearon’s home which
is situated at the foot of Faughil Mountain in South Armagh. Declan,
who is the Chairperson of the SAFRC formed in September 1997 to campaign for
demilitarisation of South Armagh following the resumption of the IRA ceasefire
on the 20th July 1997, stated that this was an “accident” waiting to
happen.
Toni Carragher called for the immediate grounding of all
British military aircraft in the South Armagh area, as this was the second
incident in the Jonesborough area within the past two weeks and indeed one of
many crashes in the South Armagh area over the past 20 years. And
annoyingly, the British government together with the MOD has successfully
covered up previous crashes by stating that “forced landings were necessary due
to weather conditions.” Indeed, Danny Kennedy jumped on this bandwagon,
claiming that it was misty!
Declan Fearon, after alerting his committee colleagues to
the Puma helicopter crash behind his home, was first to arrive at the
scene. With a large delegation of committee members and locals, this
allowed Toni Carragher to secure several rolls of film as photographic evidence,
which confirms that this was no “forced landing”
Declan Fearon stated that maybe now those in authority will
see the unwarranted danger that people in South Armagh are living with day and
night. The day has long past when the British government can continue to
argue that this high level of military activity is necessary in the current
climate of peace. The time has long since past when we here in South
Armagh see the removal of all the military paraphernalia that adorns the
area. We call on the British government to begin a serious programme of
demilitarisation, which is clearly long overdue.
The photographs are available on our website and can be
viewed here, together with other
relevant information.
Yours faithfully
Toni Carragher
Secretary & Pro
PRESS STATEMENT 18th March 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The South Armagh Farmers & Residents Committee can exclusively reveal the possible cause of the crash, which was not due to mechanical failure as first thought.
Following close inspection by the SAFRC of
the photographs taken by Toni Carragher who is Secretary & Pro of the group,
it was discovered that yards of razor wire that surrounds the Spy post on
Faughil mountain was clearly visible and entangled around the main body of the
Puma helicopter.
Declan Fearon, Chairperson of the SAFRC, who was first at the scene of the crash, having spoken to eyewitness, is now convinced that the Puma helicopter had actually attempted to land at the post, then crashed into part of the perimeter fence and became entangled with the razor wire and in an attempt to fly away from the post, was dragged to the ground were it crashed.
Concerns raised by the group in the past that this area is being used as a training ground for young pilots, certainly seems to be the possible cause for this accident.
Declan Fearon reiterated his groups demand, for the immediate grounding of all British military aircraft in the South Armagh area.
Yours faithfully
Toni Carragher
Secretary & Pro
Five soldiers and two civilians were injured, two of them seriously, when the helicopter was forced to land in on the side of a hill at Slieve Gullion near Jonesborough in south Armagh at 1035 GMT on Saturday.
There had been three crew members and six passengers on board.
Members of the RAF's board of inquiry flew into Northern Ireland on Saturday night and began their investigation on Sunday.
Declan Fearon: "There was
pandemonium" |
The helicopter, based at RAF Aldergrove in County Antrim, had been on a routine flight between security force bases in south Armagh.
RAF Squadron Leader of the Joint Helicopter Force in Northern Ireland, David Breese, said terrorist involvement had been ruled out but pledged a thorough investigation.
Eyewitnesses said it seemed to lose control and spiralled to the ground about 150 yards short of the watchtower.
Sinn Fein councillor Packie McDonald, who witnessed the crash, said: "The pilot tried to control it for a while but shortly after it just crashed on the side of the mountain about 150 yards from the look-out post."
Local resident Declan Fearon, who was one of the first people to reach the crash site, said: "There was pandemonium. The debris was spread over a large area.
"I passed the propeller on the way up the hill and when I got to the helicopter I saw the tail had broken off."
Michael McCann: "Injured were suffering from
fractures, back and chest
injuries" |
Some people were trapped in the helicopter's wreckage for more than two hours.
Army helicopters were used to transport emergency rescue teams to the crash site.
They took most of casualties to Daisy Hill hospital in nearby Newry, where an emergency procedure plan was put into place.
An emergency physician at the hospital, Michael McCann, said: "They were treated for a multiplicity of trauma injuries including spinal injuries, multiple fractures and chest injuries."
Residents' objections
Meanwhile, Tony Carragher from the South Armagh Farmers' and Residents Committee said all RAF helicopters should be grounded, following the crash.
Her group has been campaigning against the number of RAF helicopter flights in the area.
Speaking to BBC News Online she said: "We are now calling for a complete cessation of all British Army helicopter flights.
"This puma helicopter could have landed on homes and there could have been a major loss of life.
"The British Army called this a forced landing, which is what they always call them.
"If some of our group were not able to go up to the crash site and take photographs we believe there would have been a cover-up."