Latest News & Updates

Ground British Helicopters Now

06/01/10

éirígí general secretary Breandán Mac Cionnaith has said the rise in complaints about British military helicopter over-flights is proof of increased British army activity in the Six Counties.

It emerged on Monday [December 4] that complaints about British helicopter activity in occupied Ireland had increased by 46 per cent over the last year. The complaints rose from 85 to 124.

According to the reviewer of Britain’s Justice & Security Act 2007, the legislation under which the British army currently operates in the Six Counties, Robert Whalley, some of the activity was attributable to training for the war on Afghanistan.

Mac Cionnaith said: “Whether it’s training for Afghanistan or actual operations in the Six Counties, there is absolutely no excuse for British army helicopter activity in Ireland.

“However, it is significant that the British government’s reviewer of its army’s activities in Ireland attributed only some of the helicopter activity to training for Afghanistan. By omission, what he is saying that the rest of the flights were down to British army operations in Ireland, against Irish citizens.

“éirígí has been saying for a long time that the British war machine is again cranking up its activities in the Six Counties. Last year, former PSNI chief Hugh Orde admitted that at least one regiment – the Special Reconnaissance Regiment – was back on a war footing on Irish soil. Now, Robert Whalley has tacitly admitted that British military aircraft are engaging in operations against Irish citizens.”

Mac Cionnaith continued: “Over the years, British military helicopters have caused great disruption to communities across the Six Counties, particularly in rural areas. These flights should be grounded immediately.

“Neither the people of Ireland nor the people of Afghanistan need the presence of the British war machine in their countries.”

Print-friendly version