10 August 2001

---

Council Chairman calls on Cowen to act on cross-border incursion

The Sinn Fein Chair of Dundalk Urban District Council, Sean Kenna, has called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen to make a strong protest to the British authorities following a cross-border incursion this morning by members of the British Army and the RUC who mounted a checkpoint on the Southern side of the border. The incident took place at 10am in the Hackballscross area of County Louth 100 yards south of the Armagh border.

Councillor Kenna said that Sinn Fein had contacted the department of Foreign Affairs requesting that Brian Cowen raise this matter with the British government immediately.

Councillor Kenna said:

``This morning members of the British Army and the RUC mounted a check-point 100 yards south of the Armagh border. It was only after locals protested that the forces returned across the border.

``We have contacted the department of Foreign Affairs requesting that Brian Cowen immediately protest to the British government. These checkpoints are unwelcome and unnecessary in the Six-Counties. They are completely unacceptable on this side of the border.

This incident again highlights the urgent need for complete demilitarisation of the British war machine throughout the six-counties.''

---

Sinn Fein Press Office, 44 Parnell Square, Dublin 1
Tel: +353-1-8726100 and +353-1-8726839   ·   Fax +353-1-8733074
E-mail: sinnfein@irlnet.com   ·   Website: http://www.sinnfein.org

---

Sinn Fein   ·   Sinn Fein Documents

---