Unionist anger as demolition begins at Armagh watchtower

A MILITARY base in the North is to close as part of major new normalisation moves announced yesterday in the wake of the IRA’s decision to halt its armed struggle.

But unionists were furious at the decision by army chiefs, which also involved tearing down another of the military watchtowers in the IRA’s south Armagh stronghold.

Lieutenant General Reddy Watt, the general officer commanding Northern Ireland, confirmed: “In light of developments, the Chief Constable and I have decided that a further reduction in security profile is possible.

“I can announce that preliminary work is starting in south Armagh on the removal of the hilltop observation tower at Sugarloaf Hill near Camlough, on the vacation and closure of the base at Forkhill and on the removal of a super-sangar (a lookout post) at Newtownhamilton police station.”

A revised security normalisation programme is also expected to be published, while plans are being made to allow on-the-run paramilitary fugitives to return home. The authorities reacted swiftly to the unprecedented declaration by the IRA of an end to the armed and bloody struggle it has waged for more than three decades.

But Arlene Foster, a senior member of Ian Paisley’s Democratic Unionist Party, was incensed by the military scale-down.

She said: “It’s criminally irresponsible of the government to do that, given what has gone on in those border areas.

“The government seem quite happy to act on words alone. It’s startling that when the IRA give a statement saying they will stop what they should never have been doing that the government act so soon.”

Danny Kennedy, deputy leader of the Ulster Unionist team at the suspended Northern Ireland Assembly MLA, also reacted angrily.

He said: “With the ink not even dry on yesterday’s IRA statement, it is absolutely outrageous that the government have decided to embark on such a major security scale-down.

“The government have foolishly decided to act on IRA words alone when it is actions which the people of Northern Ireland are looking for.

“When you consider ongoing IRA criminality in the area and the threat posed by dissident republicans this latest move is more than premature.”

But the Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy, welcomed the military actions.

He said: “People living in areas like south Armagh have lived with the negative effects of military occupation for too long. We are now well over 10 years into this process.

“The start made today must be built upon in the days and weeks ahead, not just in South Armagh but across the six counties.

“The demilitarisation of communities is an important element in consolidating the progress already made and ensuring that we build a new future free from conflict and division.”