22/01/2002

Chief Constable announces major army base will close

The Northern Ireland Chief Constable has announced that one of Londonderry’s major army bases is to be closed and the 500 troops based there are to be withdrawn to England.

The closure of Ebrington army barracks in County Londonderry was included in a number of measures announced by Police Service of Northern Ireland Chief Constable Sir Ronnie Flanagan on Tuesday January 22 in response to a “generally lower terrorist threat”.

Sir Ronnie said that work on the closures would begin immediately. He explained that the downsizing had been made after reviewing and evaluating the current terrorist threat.

He said: “As all right thinking and law abiding people in Northern Ireland continue to strive towards a more normal society, it is encouraging that both the General Officer Commanding NI and I feel able to announce these moves. We will however continue to be vigilant as long as there is any element of threat to peace and stability. The situation will be kept under continuous review but the hope and desire that we all as a society keep making progress along the road to normality.”

The measures announced include the closure of the Ebrington army base and an army watchtower in Crossmaglen, South Armagh. (AMcE)

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