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25/08/2009
Orde Defends Blockade Withdrawal
Police action in driving away from an armed republican 'checkpoint' was the right thing to do.
The road block, staged by dissident republicans in south Armagh at the weekend was merely a "stunt", said PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
Sir Hugh supported the decision to pull out of Meigh, near Newry, where up to seven masked gunmen closed a road and distributed threatening leaflets.
It is believed six of the men were armed with machine guns, while another carried a rocket launcher. They warned locals not to cooperate with the police or Sinn Féin.
"It was just a stunt by a group trying to be relevant," said Sir Hugh (pictured).
"I'm absolutely convinced they [the police patrol] took the right action when they came across it.
"This sort of activity will not put us off community policing and will not put the community off community policing."
Sir Hugh, who will stand down as Northern Ireland's top ranking police officer next week, insisted the incident would not impede people's support for law and order.
"We will continue to protect the communities as best we can, with their support and I know they will not let us down," he said.
"This organisation and this community is going in the right direction, these people will not prevent it, whatever they try to do."
Northern Ireland Police Federation Chair Terry Spence lauded the officers' swift response on Friday night, stating they had done "a magnificent job" in the face of danger.
"They acted swiftly with very cool heads and they extricated themselves from the scene. Otherwise, I fear that they could have lost their lives."
See: Checkpoint Gunmens' Propaganda 'Coup'
(PR/BMcC)
The road block, staged by dissident republicans in south Armagh at the weekend was merely a "stunt", said PSNI Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde.
Sir Hugh supported the decision to pull out of Meigh, near Newry, where up to seven masked gunmen closed a road and distributed threatening leaflets.
It is believed six of the men were armed with machine guns, while another carried a rocket launcher. They warned locals not to cooperate with the police or Sinn Féin.
"It was just a stunt by a group trying to be relevant," said Sir Hugh (pictured).
"I'm absolutely convinced they [the police patrol] took the right action when they came across it.
"This sort of activity will not put us off community policing and will not put the community off community policing."
Sir Hugh, who will stand down as Northern Ireland's top ranking police officer next week, insisted the incident would not impede people's support for law and order.
"We will continue to protect the communities as best we can, with their support and I know they will not let us down," he said.
"This organisation and this community is going in the right direction, these people will not prevent it, whatever they try to do."
Northern Ireland Police Federation Chair Terry Spence lauded the officers' swift response on Friday night, stating they had done "a magnificent job" in the face of danger.
"They acted swiftly with very cool heads and they extricated themselves from the scene. Otherwise, I fear that they could have lost their lives."
See: Checkpoint Gunmens' Propaganda 'Coup'
(PR/BMcC)
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