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25/06/2007
Bessbrook army base to close
A British Army base in County Armagh is set to close down as part of Northern Ireland’s “normalisation” programme.
At the height of the Troubles the Bessbrook site was the busiest heliport in Europe, and the last flight took place this weekend.
Operation Banner, the name the army gave its support to the police, was the longest running single campaign in military history, stretching back more than 35 years to the early 1970s.
The withdrawal is one of the last high-profile events before the army ends its official role of supporting the police in Northern Ireland on July 31.
Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy hailed the news, saying: “This is obviously welcome news for the community of South Armagh, who have had to live under British military occupation for the past 30 years.
“Sinn Fein made the issue of demilitarising communities like South Armagh a central part of the political negotiations. We are happy we have now arrived at this point.”
Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was the last soldier to be murdered by the IRA. He was shot dead by a long-distance sniper while operating a security checkpoint in 1997, and was the last of 763 military personnel to die in the Province.
At the height of Operation Banner there were more than 30,000 troops in Northern Ireland based in over 100 locations.
(JM)
At the height of the Troubles the Bessbrook site was the busiest heliport in Europe, and the last flight took place this weekend.
Operation Banner, the name the army gave its support to the police, was the longest running single campaign in military history, stretching back more than 35 years to the early 1970s.
The withdrawal is one of the last high-profile events before the army ends its official role of supporting the police in Northern Ireland on July 31.
Sinn Fein MP Conor Murphy hailed the news, saying: “This is obviously welcome news for the community of South Armagh, who have had to live under British military occupation for the past 30 years.
“Sinn Fein made the issue of demilitarising communities like South Armagh a central part of the political negotiations. We are happy we have now arrived at this point.”
Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick was the last soldier to be murdered by the IRA. He was shot dead by a long-distance sniper while operating a security checkpoint in 1997, and was the last of 763 military personnel to die in the Province.
At the height of Operation Banner there were more than 30,000 troops in Northern Ireland based in over 100 locations.
(JM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A mostly cloudy start with scattered showers, the showers becoming more isolated and largely confined to the south this morning. Becoming brighter this afternoon, the best of any sunnier spells across northern counties. Northerly winds easing. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:A dry evening with late sunny spells and some long clear spells overnight. Becoming cloudier across the north towards dawn with a few showers possible. Touch of frost in south. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
