27/06/2001

BORDER CROSSED IN HOT PURSUIT INCIDENT

RUC officers who attempted to stop a suspicious van in Markethill fired a shot when one man made off across fields in South Armagh.

Police had earlier spotted a suspicious van in Markethill on Tuesday June 26, but when the van did not stop police followed the vehicle from Markethill to the Keady area where it was abandoned.

One man made off on foot across fields and was chased by police who inadvertently strayed across the unmarked border into the Republic of Ireland. One RUC officer discharged a firearm but police say that no-one was injured.

A Garda patrol detained one man and escorted the RUC officers back across the border to their own jurisdiction.

A 31-year-old man was later charged with dangerous driving by Garda.

The Ombudsman's office is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. (SP)

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