News

February 21, 2004 DUP Difficulties Over Army Plans

Aughnacloy military checkpoint - earmarked for closure The decision to close two army bases in Northern Ireland may jeopardise the DUP's role in the review of the Good Friday Agreement, the party has said.

Troops are to be withdrawn from Aughnacloy in County Tyron while the Clooney base in County Londonderry will close in the near future.

The chief constable Hugh Orde said the base at Aughnacloy was to be demolished and Clooney military base would be closed and sold.

Announcing the decision on Wednesday, Mr Orde said the move was not part of the so-called "normalisation process".

However, DUP assembly member Maurice Morrow said he was "absolutely horrified" at the decision.

"This has all its roots in the joint declaration and here we see a border crossing, which is vital to the security of Northern Ireland, being demolished," he said.

To remove troops from the shared base in Aughnacloy is effectively ceding that area to the terrorists.

Ian Paisley, DUP leader

Mr Morrow said the decision had serious implications for the talks process.

"This makes the situation infinitely more difficult," he said.

"If the government are saying that they are going to run a twin track process of concessions to republicans and hope that talks are going to go on, then I think it is going to add up to a lot of difficulties."

The Clooney base is to be offered to the Northern Ireland administration through the Office of the First Minister/Deputy First Minister.

Mr Orde said: "This is a joint decision which has been taken by the Army and the Police Service after careful consideration.

"It is essentially prudent housekeeping and we believe that it will allow for the most efficient use of military resources. We consider that the Aughnacloy military base is no longer needed although the adjacent police station will remain."

Meeting
The chief constable added there would "be no let-up in the fight against terrorism or criminality from whatever quarter it might emanate".

However, DUP leader Ian Paisley said he was "completely and utterly appalled to learn" of the decision.

"This decision makes absolutely no sense whatsoever," he said.

"To remove troops from the shared base in Aughnacloy is effectively ceding that area to the terrorists, because the police find it near impossible to do their duties there without protection from the army."

Mr Paisley added that he was demanding an immediate meeting with the Secretary of State, Paul Murphy, and the Security Minister Jane Kennedy to discuss the issue.

Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew said the British Government was "engaging in rationalisation, not demilitarisation".

"People in this part of Tyrone have been the victims of an upsurge in British Army harassment in recent times. This announcement will do nothing to end this," she said.