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POLICE IN THE North have said the Continuity IRA may have fired upon a civilian helicopter, rather than a police helicopter, in an incident reported last Thursday.
The PSNI said today a search operation is ongoing into a report last Wednesday of persons said to be representing the dissident group leaving a suspicious device in the Wattlebridge Road area of Newtownbutler in Fermanagh.
The Continuity IRA later claimed it had fired shots at a police helicopter in the area.
It has been established that a civilian helicopter was in the area at the time, but the PSNI said today no damage was caused.
Chief superintendent Andy Freeburn said: “I can confirm that the Police Service helicopter was not deployed in the Wattlebridge area at any time on Thursday 14 January. A fixed wing aircraft was deployed to conduct searches on this date. Following extensive enquiries we have established that a private helicopter was travelling through the area on Thursday.
“If there is any truth to the claims from dissident republicans, we believe that this civilian helicopter is the aircraft that they shot at. Fortunately the helicopter did not sustain any damage and its occupant was unaware of any shots being fired.
“Those involved have shown their absolute disregard for the lives of ordinary people. The fact that this alleged attack was intended for police, makes it no less heinous. Police officers safeguard our communities every day in the face of this threat and continue to do their utmost to build a safer society.”
Gardaí are assisting the PSNI in the operation in Newtownbutler, which is near the border with Monaghan.
A number of road closures are in place, including on the Cavan Road and Wattlebridge Road.
This evening, Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster said the incident highlighted the “utter stupidity and recklessness of these republican terrorists”.
“This latest incident where republicans claimed they left a device in the area and then shot at a civilian helicopter is crazy,” she said.
“Regardless of the debate of whether they did or did not target a helicopter who in their right mind would even think about shooting down a helicopter over a populated area? The devastation is unthinkable.”
With reporting from the Press Association
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Why would someone/group claim to have fired at a helicopter knowing they missed the target. Why own up to a failed attempt? Something not right here
@Ian Moylan: should have gone to specsavers
@Ian Moylan: bravado
Not very bright are they. Never were I suppose!
They haven’t gone away you know
@Patrick O Connell: Unfortunately neither have you Patrick the blue shirt shill.
@Tom Graham: Wait, you’re all getting paid to be here?
@Tom Graham: says the shinner sheep
The most important word in the headline is “may”.
And with the Clones road closed, god love anyone from Monaghan needing to get to Cavan hospital in a hurry.
There is plenty of groups leaving suspicious advice on this site
Snarlene on twitter pointing the finger already
@reginald: well she needed something to take away from the whole “England won’t care if there’s a United Ireland” and “Northern Ireland hasn’t done anything culturally for the UK” comments coming from the Tories today lol
@Hairy Teeth: DUP are in crisis after the NI protocol. The Protestants are officially less British. This makes me fuzzy inside
Jeasus, this is like a middle age. Get over this stuff. At some point this gets boring.
@Kris: The fact it’s Arlene and the PSNI tells you it’s lies. The pilot didn’t know he was shot at, the IRA didn’t hit it and if it was daylight you could tell the difference between a police helicopter and a civilian one. If it’s at night the pilot was as blind as the IRA. PSNI feeling threatened by Brexit I’d say. Also, there are children ringing in hoaxes left right and centre claiming to be the IRA and the Police report the unsubstantiated claims and call a pringles box with a wire – viable!
Is there an election soon ? these are the usual kind of mud slinging stories that are published around voting time.
Sorry but the PSNI say some group ‘may have’ fired shots, get something newsworthy for the love of god
Either they did or they didn’t ? Non story hyped up again by media !
Is that the Drew Harris trustworthy PSNI
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