Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Mar 1994

Vol. 439 No. 7

Adjournment Debate. - Border Incidents.

Mr. D. Ahern

I thank the Chair for allowing me to raise this matter. This is the first time I raised specific incidents north of the Border. I am doing so because of the intensity of the representations made to me in relation to incidents which occurred on 24 and 26 February last in the Silverbridge area of County Armagh. The first incident involved a number of British troops and RUC personnel and I was told that five helicopters backed them up. They surrounded a house and outbuildings which were occupied by a number of people. I accept a large number of people in one house can attract attention, particularly in Border areas, but it is my understanding that on this occasion the transactions in the House and outbuildings were legitimate. One of the people involved was a 54 year old handicapped person who resides in the house. He was detained for nearly four hours with many others who arrived at the scene. The British Army and RUC interrogated six of those people for nearly four hours and a number of them were physically assaulted. I have a doctor's report to back up those allegations.

The second incident was more serious. On 26 February at a checkpoint, manned by approximately eight British soldiers a woman of 22 years was taken out of her car, pinned up against it and interrogated for approximately one hour. A number of people who passed by in cars asked if she was in difficulty but were told in no uncertain terms by British Army personnel to remove themselves from the area or they would be dealt with in a similar fashion. I have spoken to many people who know the woman in question and it is my understanding that she was physically abused by members of the British Army. When members of her family were contacted — one of whom is a solicitor of good repute in the area — and arrived at the scene the British soldiers ran away and left the woman on the side of the road. She subsequently went to her local doctor who submitted a letter to me giving details of her medical report. She stated that she was suffering from extreme anxiety as a result of the incident. She had bruises on her chest from being flung across the bonnet of her car, she had bruising on her right shoulder and abrasions all over her body. The doctor said she had to be heavily sedated.

Those two incidents are the culmination of a heavy security presence in recent days in the south Armagh area. Local people especially young females travelling alone, are living in fear. I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs for coming into the House to reply and urge him to raise the matter through the Anglo-Irish Secretariat and Conference and any other channels available to him.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

I am grateful to Deputy Ahern for raising the matter on the Adjournment. I am aware of the two incidents in question. An individual from the south Armagh area contacted my office on 28 February with a report of harassment and ill-treatment of six local men during a raid by the RUC and British Army at Silverbridge on the afternoon of 24 February and a disturbing account of ill-treatment of a woman — and threats against her — by soldiers on the night of 26 February. On receipt of those reports my officials raised the matters on an urgent basis with the British authorities through the Anglo Irish Secretariat. On my instructions they have sought an urgent full account and explanation from the British Government of the reported behaviour by the Northern security forces. I shall ensure that the Deputy's concerns in the matter, which I am sure are widely shared in this House, are brought to the attention of the British Government.

The issues raised by the Deputy illustrate clearly the problems that arise in the situation where the Nationalist community has little confidence in the security forces. They illustrate also the importance of ensuring an end to incidents of harassment by members of the security forces and the mistrust to which they have given rise. The creation and development of confidence by the Nationalist community in the security forces in Northern Ireland remains a central objective of the Government within the framework of the Anglo-Irish agreement. Within the conference framework we have raised the issue of harassment and individual cases as they arise. We have stressed to the British authorities — and will continue to stress — that the promotion of security objectives in the interests of all sections of the community and the promotion of Nationalist confidence in security forces are necessarily complementary. We have drawn to the attention of the British authorities the inflammatory effects of incidents such as those reported in Silverbridge and the obvious propaganda benefits which the paramilitaries reap from them. I shall ensure that developments in this area, including specific cases that arise, will continue to be closely addressed within the framework of the conference. The Government will continue actively to engage the British Government on the question of harassment and ill-treatment by members of the security forces with the aim of achieving a position in which the Nationalist community in Northern Ireland can have full confidence in the security forces, their accountability under the law and the administration of justice.