British military demand secrecy for Irish operations

Posted by Jim on September 22, 2018

The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sought to block a ruling
ordering it to release information about its ongoing operations in the
Six Counties.

British Army chiefs originally refused to hand over information
requested by the Committee on the Administration of Justice under the
Freedom of Information act, claiming it is exempt.

The CAJ last year asked for the terms of reference for ‘Operation
Helvetic’, the codename for the British Army’s continuing occupation in
the north.

British military officials claimed some of the information should be
legally withheld as “state intelligence” and “national security”.

In a recent decision, Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Office said
while some of the information on Operation Helvetic is exempt, other
information relating to it should be released.

British Army units are increasingly active in the North, carrying out
searches, dealing with bomb alerts, and flying reconnaissance missions
by helicopter and spotter plane. Ongoing recruitment efforts include
controversial promotional activities at secondary schools, including
some in nationalist areas.

Less is known about the activities of the British Army’s undercover
units, such as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SSR), and the
infamous SAS, responsible for political assassinations and military
ambushes in the past.

It is thought eight thousand British soldiers are currently stationed on
Irish soil, with many more MoD employees working in support roles.

Deputy director of the CAJ Daniel Holder said “the public have a right
to know whether the scope of the role of the British Army in Northern
Ireland complies with the terms of the peace agreement, Patten
Commission and human rights standards.

“In the absence of transparency about the remit of the armed forces
here, it’s not possible to tell if they are operating under PSNI
direction or if there is instead some undeclared link to MI5 or the use
of covert units, such as the Special Reconnaissance Regiment, that
bypass the oversight arrangements,” he said.