Helicopters 'threatening lambing season'

A member of the Dáil has complained that British Army helicopter activity along the Northern Ireland border is threatening the lambing season for local farmers.

Fianna Fáil's Cecilia Keaveney, who represents a borderside Co Donegal constituency in the Dáil, said today that newly-born lambs were in danger of suffering from stress because of the noisy choppers.

She claimed there had been a number of recent British helicopter incursions of the border, including one alleged landing in a field earlier this week.

Ms Keaveney said she had been assured by Foreign Minister Brian Cowen that he was regarding the alleged landing as a serious matter and that it would be raised with the British authorities.

She added: “I believe the British Army also owe people living along the border an explanation as to why such intense helicopter activity is necessary.

“These army pilots seem to believe they can land their helicopters wherever they please. There are real concerns among sheep farmers as we head into the lambing season.

“Any farmer who loses livestock as a result of British Army activity can seek compensation from the British Army Claims Office. Any compensation must be fair and reflect the losses that sheep farmers will suffer.

“I would ask the British Army to be aware how important the lambing season is for farming communities on both sides of the border and to adjust their flying habits.”