05/07/2006

Last army watchtower to be removed

The last Army observation post in Northern Ireland is to be taken down over the next few days.

The post in Forkhill in south Armagh is the 13th and final tower to be removed as part of the normalisation process, and work on removing it is to begin "very shortly," according to the Ministry of Defence.

It is understood that the site on which the post stands, will be returned to its rightful owners, which is not the case with the site of the former watchtower in Crossmaglen.

It has been reported that the PSNI and Policing Board plan to take over the site.

Sinn Fein Assembly member for Newry and Armagh, Davy Hyland has said that this is unacceptable and added that he had raised the issue with both the British and Irish Governments.

However, Mr Hyland has welcomed the news that the observation posts were to be removed from the Armagh area.

He said: "I have been informed by the British government that the British army will have retreated from their remaining hilltop spy post in south Armagh by next week."

(EF/SP)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

11 September 2012
Royal Mail: Jason Smyth Will Not Get A Golden Post Box For Eglinton
Royal Mail has confirmed that Northern Irish athletes who competed for Team Ireland will not get a post box painted gold in their home town.
27 July 2007
Post Office staff to stage walkout
Further postal strikes will continue today with the expected half-day strike of counter staff at nine post offices. The nine post offices affected are in Newtownards, Bangor, Antrim, Coleraine, Londonderry, Lisburn and two in Belfast. The walkout will be the fifth in a continuing dispute over pay and conditions and will begin at 2.30pm.
23 January 2006
Loss of contract could cause Post Office collapse
The Post Office network in Northern Ireland "will collapse" if the plans to change welfare benefit payments are implemented. The warning stems from the government's refusal to renew the £1 billion contract for the Post Office Card Account. This account is used by around 4.
02 December 2002
£20m cash boost for rural post offices announced
Rural post offices in Northern Ireland are set to receive more than £6.9 million-a-year for the next three years, in the largest ever government support package for this vital community service. The money is part of a £450 million national fund to safeguard the future of thousands of rural post offices, which was unveiled by the government today.
03 June 2008
Four NI Post Offices Spared As 38 Axed
The 'listening' post office has announced it is to heed at least some of the matters raised in its recent public consultation on proposed NI branch closures - and is going to spare a total of four outlets originally earmarked to shut or change status.