Bogside Defenders Reject Army Plans

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32077, 27 August 1969, Page 13

Bogside Defenders Reject Army Plans

(N.Z.P.A. ’Reuter—Copyright) LONDONDERRY, August 26.

Defiant Roman Catholics in the Bogside area of Londonderry have rejected a plan to exchange their barricades for guarantees of British military protection.

Mr Paddy Docherty, one of the leaders of the Derry Citizens’ Defence Association, which controls the Bogside area, told reporters that the association had discussed the British Army’s proposals and had decided to reject them.

“They are unworkable,” Mr Docherty said. “The decision was unanimous, and the barricades will remain.” The offer to ensure the safety of the 25,000 Bogside residents in exchange for the removal of their barricades was made by LieutenantColonel Charles Millman, commanding officer of the peacekeeping troops of the Queen’s regiment, with whom, Mr Docherty said, the association wanted to discuss the matter further.

Meanwhile, there is still controversy over the use and effects of the C.S. tear-gas fired by the police in the siege of Bogside 12 days ago. Journalists, and some doctors, have reported people suffering from sever vomiting

and stomach pains several days after inhaling the gas; and it has also been suggested that it could be the cause of severe diarrhoea in babies.

But the Ministry of Health in Belfast has denied that the gas had any harmful aftereffects.

Top-level. Inquiry

In the capital, where the province’s worst rioting broke out 10 days ago, after the Londonderry troubles, it has been

announced that the Government inquiry into the disturbances will be held by “someone of the calibre of a British judge.” The Minister of Development (Mr Brian Faulkner) told a press conference that his name would be announced today. Mr Faulkner said that the Government was still holding 21 detainees, and would probably prefer charges against four of them. The remaining 17—all believed to be Republicans—could be detained indefinitely under the Special Powers Act, the Minister added.

Three of the 24 men originally held after the Belfast rioting had been released. The Militant Protestant leader, the Rev. lan Paisley, has complained to the British Army commander in Ulster (Lieutenant-General Sir lan Freeland) about the withdrawal of six members of the “B” Special Constabulary guarding his Belfast home. They have been replaced by two regular policemen of the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

An entire platoon of 21 “B” Special reservists, has resigned after handing in their arms and uniforms to a police depot. The Specials, at Dunmore, a country district In County Down, have given no reason for their decision to quit the force, but one report says that they walked out after orders from the British military garrisons in Ulster that the “B" Specials in Londonderry and Belfast must hand in their arms to a control point. In the past, members of the part-time force of 8000 have kept their revolvers, rifles and machine-guns at home while off duty.