PRC-UTE
15th February 2005, 07:29
IRSP claims over safety on Derry estates denied (http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northwest_edition/story.jsp?story=611063)
By Brendan McDaid
[email protected]
14 February 2005
The Army today rejected claims it was regularly taking helicopter "jaunts" over Londonderry's nationalist estates.
The Irish Republican Socialist Party said the lives of people living in Creggan, Galliagh and Ballymagroarty were being continually put at risk by the armed forces.
IRSP spokeswoman Yvonne Dalton said the behaviour of the Army in the Ballymagroarty area over the past week had been disturbing.
She claimed: "Residents who are fed up with the constant helicopter noise and danger posed by British Army manoeuvres over the estate have again approached the IRSP in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry to voice their concerns.
"During the past week alone, they have continued to put the lives of ordinary working class people at risk.
"Further to this, the constant noise from these machines is keeping families awake at night."
Ms Dalton claimed that such "jaunts around the skies of Derry" usually began at 1am or 2am, but lasted for three to four hours.
"This is totally unacceptable and would not happen in England," Ms Dalton said.
"The north of Ireland has always been a training ground for the British and their pilots are attempting to master the skills of night-time flying, over the homes of working class people.
An MoD spokesman responded that the safety of the people here was their priority."
He said: "Ms Dalton is correct in her assertion that the Armed Forces are indeed here to protect the public from the threat of criminal, terrorist violence.
"Helicopter activity is essential in that endeavour and every effort is made to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
"Indeed, helicopter flying hours have reduced significantly in the province.
"Flying hours for the financial year 97-98 ran at 28,411 hours.
"This has now dropped by almost 40% to 17,177 hours for the financial year 03-04."
By Brendan McDaid
[email protected]
14 February 2005
The Army today rejected claims it was regularly taking helicopter "jaunts" over Londonderry's nationalist estates.
The Irish Republican Socialist Party said the lives of people living in Creggan, Galliagh and Ballymagroarty were being continually put at risk by the armed forces.
IRSP spokeswoman Yvonne Dalton said the behaviour of the Army in the Ballymagroarty area over the past week had been disturbing.
She claimed: "Residents who are fed up with the constant helicopter noise and danger posed by British Army manoeuvres over the estate have again approached the IRSP in the Ballymagroarty area of Derry to voice their concerns.
"During the past week alone, they have continued to put the lives of ordinary working class people at risk.
"Further to this, the constant noise from these machines is keeping families awake at night."
Ms Dalton claimed that such "jaunts around the skies of Derry" usually began at 1am or 2am, but lasted for three to four hours.
"This is totally unacceptable and would not happen in England," Ms Dalton said.
"The north of Ireland has always been a training ground for the British and their pilots are attempting to master the skills of night-time flying, over the homes of working class people.
An MoD spokesman responded that the safety of the people here was their priority."
He said: "Ms Dalton is correct in her assertion that the Armed Forces are indeed here to protect the public from the threat of criminal, terrorist violence.
"Helicopter activity is essential in that endeavour and every effort is made to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum.
"Indeed, helicopter flying hours have reduced significantly in the province.
"Flying hours for the financial year 97-98 ran at 28,411 hours.
"This has now dropped by almost 40% to 17,177 hours for the financial year 03-04."