Crown Force operations in Armagh, Belfast

Posted by Jim on February 24, 2018

Tensions are high in north Armagh following a three-day British Army and
PSNI assault against the republican community in the area.

The operation began on Wednesday night when five armed response vehicles
suddenly descended on the Kilwilkie estate. They were backed up by over
half a dozen armoured land rovers who blocked both sides of the road
which tried to prevent locals from accessing the area, where two local
republican activists were detained. Masked police pointed assault rifles
at residents who had come out of their homes to see what was going on.

The harassment of republicans continued for the next 48 hours with
stop-and-search detentions and raids monitored by two British military
aircraft, a spotter plane and a helicopter.

In a statement, Republican Sinn Fein said the actions “did not resemble
the actions of a normal police force but instead resembled what can only
be described as actions of a paramilitary style police force attempting
to intimidate, harass and put fear into people.”

They said the “oppressive” PSNI had “no interest in bettering or
building strong communities” and accused them of recruiting drug dealers
as spies against the republican community.

“Residents have expressed their anger at these actions which left
parents and children walking in the estate petrified at what they where
witnessing,” they said. We would encourage everyone to be vigilant and
report any incidents of harassment to local members of Republican Sinn
Fein so it can be highlighted and challenged.”

CLONARD RAID

There was also tensions in Clonard in west Belfast when the home of a
prominent member of Saoradh was raided by PSNI.

Five jeeps full of armed and masked militiamen, accompanied by
plainclothes police, descended on the area simply to ransack the family
home of Fionnuala Parry, a former Saoradh chairperson. After a raid
lasting a total of five and a half hours, personal items were taken.

Saoradh linked the raid to its political efforts in the area.

“This latest act of Crown Force aggression comes just two days after a
successful leaflet drop and positive engagement with Clonard residents
by Saoradh members,” Saoradh said.

“It is surely no coincidence that this raid took place so soon after, in
the hope of demonising a well respected veteran Republican from the
area. In fact the opposite has been the case, with local residents
offering support to the family today.”

“Regardless of State Forces attacks, in either the Six or Twenty Six
Counties, Saoradh continues to grow and develop with a clear
revolutionary endeavour. Such attacks, supported by Crown Force
cheerleaders in areas such as Clonard, are futile and will continue to
be resisted.”

NEIL HEGARTY RELEASED

Meanwhile, Saoradh have welcomed the release of republican prisoner Neil
Hegarty who had been interned since December, ostensibly on the basis that
he had not complied with electronic tagging requirements.

It is understood the Parole Commissioners released him ahead of a legal
appeal against an ambiguous court judgement last week which confirmed
the internment.

In a statement, Saoradh said: “His release should in no way deflect
from the vindictive and arbitrary way in which he was interned, or the
cases of other ongoing similar examples.

“To our comrade Neil Hegarty we say welcome home to your family and
community. Failte romhat abhaile, a chara.”