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'Tyrone village driven mad by British army helicopters'

  • 11-08-2009 1:03am
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭


    From yesterday's Sunday Tribune (available online today here: http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/aug/09/tyrone-village-driven-mad-by-british-army-helicopt/):

    Suzanne Breen, Northern Editor
    AFGHANISTAN_Troops_10125901_display.jpg
    Afghanistan: not Tyrone

    Residents are demanding that the British army stop using a Co Tyrone village as a training centre for its war in Afghanistan. They say that family life and farming activity are being destroyed by low-flying helicopters late at night.


    The Irish government has been asked to raise the issue with Downing Street.


    "Two nights this week, my family's sleep has been disrupted and my children terrified," said Ardboe farmer Dermott McKenna (35).


    "A helicopter hovered about 100 feet above our house at 11.45pm on Monday. The noise was deafening. I have three young children – aged between two and eight. They were terrified. They awoke crying – they didn't know what was happening.


    "The following night, the helicopter began hovering overhead at 12.40am. It stayed there about half an hour. My cows were so frightened they ran through a fence. Thankfully, they ended up in another field and not on the road.


    "The cattle were spooked by the whole experience and have been difficult to handle."


    A local second world war aerodrome, near the shores of Lough Neagh, is used by the British army. SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone said: "People had enough of military activity in this area during the Troubles.


    "They thought a decent night's sleep would be part of the peace dividend. They don't want low-flying helicopters nor anything to do with a war which they don't support.


    "British military spokesmen tell us how important this training is for operations in Afghanistan. There are very few Arabs and no sand in Ardboe. We have no connection with this war and no interest in being connected to it.


    "These helicopters are intruding on a quiet, rural community. All Ardboe wants is to be able to sleep at night so the British army should find somewhere else to do its training."


    McGlone has contacted the Northern Ireland Office about the issue and also asked the Irish government to intervene.


    Dermott McKenna said he had spoken to the British Ministry of Defence after heavy helicopter activity last year. "I've already explained to the MoD that my children are terrified because they hear this horrendous noise in the dark and don't know where it's coming from.


    "At night, that's impossible. The British military are doing this to piss us off. There are plenty of less populated places in Britain for them do their training where they would be wanted and wouldn't be disturbing anybody."


    August 9, 2009






    Where is Sinn Féin in all this? Is the SDLP the only political party in the community opposing it? Where has all that talk about demilitarisation gone now when British troops are organising and training here (and Sinn Féin is the largest nationalist party in government)?

    At the very least, if the British want to impose more of their war machine in Ireland, it would only be fair that loyalist villages and the loyalist community are kept up night after night by this product of their self-confessed British "loyalty". But that would ruin the "fun", wouldn't it. Making Irish people suffer for yet another British occupation of a foreign land is simply a massive two fingers to the entire constituency that Sinn Féin claims to represent.

    Yet again, Irish-Ireland is the dumping ground for the most despicable elements of British society, the plebian underclass that serve as its footsoldiers in foreign lands. This is deliberate provocation of the native Irish community by a foreign force which is, obviously, deeply resented in the community.
    [font=&quot]Plus ça change, plus c'est la même.[/font]

    So, how do Britain's apologists here justify this one, and how do Sinn Féin voters justify the party's silence on it? I've already written to Mícheál Martin about it.







«13456

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 647 ✭✭✭ArseBurger


    Rebelheart wrote: »



    The Irish government has been asked to raise the issue with Downing Street.

    You'd think they'd approach their own government first before asking another country to get involved.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    ArseBurger wrote: »
    You'd think they'd approach their own government first before asking another country to get involved.

    Presuming that everybody in the village is a citizen of Ireland, they therefore did approach their own government first, asking that it request that the 'other country' remove its troops from their village. The article is quite clear about that.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭gurramok


    Helicopter noise is indeed deafening and i can only imagine the horror experienced by young children.
    I'm quite well used to the Garda helicopter hovering overhead late at night, at least i know they are out to do policing catching crims. The BA excuse for training for a foreign war is reprehensible, absolute insensitive to the locals. And to add salt into the wounds to do it very late at night.

    And apologists here wonder why kids like those will grow up hating the BA.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,188 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Presuming that everybody in the village is a citizen of Ireland, they therefore did approach their own government first, asking that it request that the 'other country' remove its troops from their village. The article is quite clear about that.

    When can people get this through their heads, you are living in a dfiferent country, you pay taxes to a different exchequer (sadly), you draw the dole from a different exchequer (thankfully), you have a different government and thus the one to go complain to are in Westminister (with your own offshoot in Belfast), not the bunch of muppets that sits now and again in the Dáil in Dublin.
    Actually to me that could be a plus.

    Anyway didn't anybody tell you up there that Jack O'Connor (Kerry manager) has done a deal with the BA to fly over the houses of Tyrone GAA players to put them off before their upcoming matches.
    They are probably looking for Brian Dooher's house ;)

    I am not allowed discuss …



  • Closed Accounts Posts: 1,366 ✭✭✭IIMII


    Isn't it terrible to think that you can't rely on the support of so many of your own countrymen? Not even for a kind word


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    IIMII wrote: »
    Isn't it terrible to think that you can't rely on the support of so many of your own countrymen? Not even for a kind word


    Countrymen? I feel about as bad for them as I would for someone being bothered by helicopters in Norfolk, or the Hebrides. They're not my countrymen. That said helicopters at night aren't fun. Have had to get used to the aforementioned Garda helicopter buzzing overhead quite frequently. Perhaps I should lobby Gordon Brown to sort it out. Just another case of NIMBY-ism tbh.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    "These helicopters are intruding on a quiet, rural community. All Ardboe wants is to be able to sleep at night so the British army should find somewhere else to do its training."

    surely a rural area is the place to carry out training isn't it? doing it in a city would only disturb even more people.

    still, at least all those new mountains being made out of mole hills will make the area more scenic.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    surely a rural area is the place to carry out training isn't it? doing it in a city would only disturb even more people.

    still, at least all those new mountains being made out of mole hills will make the area more scenic.

    Im sure if it was your house this was happening over you would feel the same way.. your one sided opinions always baffle me.

    There is plenty of uninhabited land throughout britain where this could be done..


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    neil_hosey wrote: »
    Im sure if it was your house this was happening over you would feel the same way.. your one sided opinions always baffle me.

    There is plenty of uninhabited land throughout britain where this could be done..


    With a usuable aerodrome nearby, rural enough, and you don't even know what exercises they are doing... I doubt the BA are sitting around plotting which farm they are going to hover over for the fun of it tonight. It doesnt strike me as a constant or even frequent problem either. O Noes there was helicopter activity last year!! And now twice in a week! The torment. Nobody likes it, but build a bridge and get over it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭DoireNod


    surely a rural area is the place to carry out training isn't it? doing it in a city would only disturb even more people.

    There aren't any rural places in England, Scotland or Wales?

    The presence of the British Army in Ireland has never really been welcomed, so to bring their soldiers over here in relative force for 'training exercises' is bound to unsettle a few people.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    DoireNod wrote: »
    There aren't any rural places in England, Scotland or Wales?

    So it is just simple NIMBY-ism. Thought so.
    DoireNod wrote: »
    The presence of the British Army in Ireland has never really been welcomed, so to bring their soldiers over here in relative force for 'training exercises' is bound to unsettle a few people.

    Relative force is a helicopter now?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    prinz wrote: »
    With a usuable aerodrome nearby, rural enough, and you don't even know what exercises they are doing... I doubt the BA are sitting around plotting which farm they are going to hover over for the fun of it tonight. It doesnt strike me as a constant or even frequent problem either. O Noes there was helicopter activity last year!! And now twice in a week! The torment. Nobody likes it, but build a bridge and get over it.

    once more... there are PLENTY of aerodromes all over britain in uninhabited areas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_the_United_Kingdom), particularly England and Scotland where these could be situated. The presence of the british army has always been a touchy subject in the north, its not about "getting over it" as you put it. Its a pity you dont have this happening to you at night, i wonder would your opinion still be to "get over it" ....

    you tell me I dont know what exercises they are performing, you ALSO dont know how often this is occuring in the area. A few lines in the tribune isnt a detailed account.

    Defending the british army to the hilt as fratten fred seems to do bugs me even when its simply a case of the BA disrupting everyday life for people and their livelihood. Bigotted one sided opinions annoy me. Hovering 100 feet over someones house for no reason, when theirs cattle on the farm shows their lack of respect for the community.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    ****ing hell, why does everything in Ireland have to be political.

    The army (who are quite likely based in NI) are carrying out exercises to prepare themselves for a tour in Afghanistan. there is nothing sinister about this, they aren't "Picking" on anyone, they are just being a pain in the arse for a few people.

    love the way i disagree with someone and i am therefore a bigot :rolleyes:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    DoireNod wrote: »
    There aren't any rural places in England, Scotland or Wales?

    The presence of the British Army in Ireland has never really been welcomed, so to bring their soldiers over here in relative force for 'training exercises' is bound to unsettle a few people.

    by you maybe, but the large numbers of people, north and south of the border who join up would make me think otherwise


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 238 ✭✭harsea8


    I do think this is likely to be hyped up more than usual because it is the British army. However, I am constantly amazed by the lack of common sense among the upper echelons of the British military (lets face it, the foot soldiers don't decide where to train)....surely they realize that there is "heightened sensitivity" to their presence on this island, so common sense would suggest that picking somewhere in England (Dartmoor & Exmoor are pretty uninhabited or are they out of bounds as NPs?) or Scotland (which has huge areas of uninhabited land) might be a better option


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    by you maybe, but the large numbers of people, north and south of the border who join up would make me think otherwise

    no.. by the majority of people :confused:

    Its not one comment, its your general attitude ive noticed towards anything republican or in ANY way related to people in northern ireland and the british army. Maybe I shouldnt be taking this into a/c in this thread..
    "A helicopter hovered about 100 feet above our house at 11.45pm on Monday. The noise was deafening. I have three young children – aged between two and eight. They were terrified. They awoke crying – they didn't know what was happening.

    The following night, the helicopter began hovering overhead at 12.40am. It stayed there about half an hour. My cows were so frightened they ran through a fence. Thankfully, they ended up in another field and not on the road."

    You dont find this inappropriate??? no?? i dont get it...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭DoireNod


    prinz wrote: »
    So it is just simple NIMBY-ism. Thought so.
    Pretty much, to put it crudely. People are much more sensitive to the British Army presence in Ireland than they are in Scotland, England and Wales. Can you not understand that?


    Relative force is a helicopter now?
    The point is, that British Army forces are supposed to have been withdrawn from Ireland. This activity will unsettle residents and other more suspicious souls. It's silly of the British Army to think that it's ok to do this in Ireland, because they're preparing for another imperialist war in Afghanistan. They could easily have carried out this training exercise elsewhere.

    Do you not understand that? Or do you think that people are stupid for feeling that way?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭DoireNod


    by you maybe, but the large numbers of people, north and south of the border who join up would make me think otherwise
    Man, are you serious? Did you grow up in the north?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    neil_hosey wrote: »
    Its a pity you dont have this happening to you at night, i wonder would your opinion still be to "get over it" .....

    Living in a lovely locality in north Dublin at the moment means I have the garda helicopter overhead a couple of times a week for almost 2 years now. It's aggravating at times but that's life.
    neil_hosey wrote: »
    you tell me I dont know what exercises they are performing, you ALSO dont know how often this is occuring in the area. A few lines in the tribune isnt a detailed account.

    Do you? All I see is helicopter (singular)..... two nights this week.... and something about helicopter activity in the area last year. Got to go by what I see.
    neil_hosey wrote: »
    Defending the british army to the hilt as fratten fred seems to do bugs me even when its simply a case of the BA disrupting everyday life for people and their livelihood. Bigotted one sided opinions annoy me...

    Sorry but where's the bigotry? If this had been "loyalist" farmland then according to the OP it would have been perfectly acceptable... THAT'S bigotry. You take an issue that could have been applied to everyone and turned it immediately into a Irish v British, nationalist v loyalist issue. THAT smacks of bigotry.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    harsea8 wrote: »
    I do think this is likely to be hyped up more than usual because it is the British army. However, I am constantly amazed by the lack of common sense among the upper echelons of the British military (lets face it, the foot soldiers don't decide where to train)....surely they realize that there is "heightened sensitivity" to their presence on this island, so common sense would suggest that picking somewhere in England (Dartmoor & Exmoor are pretty uninhabited or are they out of bounds as NPs?) or Scotland (which has huge areas of uninhabited land) might be a better option

    I guess a lot will depend on where they regiment is based. Their main training will probably take place in a more suitable place, but they might want to train a new pilot in a bit or try out a new technique before going off on location.

    If they were carrying out full training for a deployment to Afghanistan, those cows would be burgers by now.

    Dartmoor is already used extensively by the Army.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    prinz wrote: »
    If this had been "loyalist" farmland then according to the OP it would have been perfectly acceptable... THAT'S bigotry.

    Actually, my dear chap, that is justice.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,712 ✭✭✭neil_hosey


    prinz wrote: »
    Living in a lovely locality in north Dublin at the moment means I have the garda helicopter overhead a couple of times a week for almost 2 years now. It's aggravating at times but that's life.



    Do you? All I see is helicopter (singular)..... two nights this week.... and something about helicopter activity in the area last year. Got to go by what I see.



    Sorry but where's the bigotry? If this had been "loyalist" farmland then according to the OP it would have been perfectly acceptable... THAT'S bigotry. You take an issue that could have been applied to everyone and turned it immediately into a Irish v British, nationalist v loyalist issue. THAT smacks of bigotry.

    Im from Finglas, i know what its like to live under a helicopter... and thats why i can relate. The garda helicopter doesnt sit 100 feet over your house now does it??? And the garda hasnt been an oppressive force in north dublin for years now has it????


    "do you??" ... do i what???? :confused:


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 357 ✭✭JohnThomas09


    DoireNod wrote: »
    There aren't any rural places in England, Scotland or Wales?

    The presence of the British Army in Ireland has never really been welcomed, so to bring their soldiers over here in relative force for 'training exercises' is bound to unsettle a few people.
    Northern Ireland is still part of Britain.Why would the Irish government bother with an issue like this??


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    DoireNod wrote: »
    Pretty much, to put it crudely. People are much more sensitive to the British Army presence in Ireland than they are in Scotland, England and Wales. Can you not understand that?

    Sure I understand it. But they train where they train and if they move everytime someone complains nothing would ever get down. Plus the OP indicates that this would be ok over a loyalist area... To me it's irrelevant what allegiance the farmer has. It's a pain in the arse but that's life.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 16,637 Mod ✭✭✭✭Manic Moran


    A sheet of plywood, some corrigated metal, and I think some insulating material is what separates me from from a very active helicopter LZ about 150m from where I sleep. CH-47s and Mi-17s are about the loudest sort of helicopters one can find and I have little trouble sleeping through it. I can only wonder what level of aggrandisation is being used.

    NTM


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭DoireNod


    Northern Ireland is still part of Britain.Why would the Irish government bother with an issue like this??
    Ask those who asked the Irish government for help?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Actually, my dear chap, that is justice.


    My point has been proven. Thanks.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    neil_hosey wrote: »
    no.. by the majority of people :confused:

    Its not one comment, its your general attitude ive noticed towards anything republican or in ANY way related to people in northern ireland and the british army. Maybe I shouldnt be taking this into a/c in this thread..

    You dont find this inappropriate??? no?? i dont get it...

    yes it's not appropriate, but it's not exactly an issue that needs the involvement of the Irish government.

    I have no problems with republicans, only idiots.
    DoireNod wrote: »
    The point is, that British Army forces are supposed to have been withdrawn from Ireland. This activity will unsettle residents and other more suspicious souls. It's silly of the British Army to think that it's ok to do this in Ireland, because they're preparing for another imperialist war in Afghanistan. They could easily have carried out this training exercise elsewhere.

    Do you not understand that? Or do you think that people are stupid for feeling that way?

    yes.

    the BA have withdrawn from Northern Ireland. The united Kingdom does, however, have regiments based all it's country, as does every other country in the world.

    They are preparing to go on a UN sanctioned mission, a mission that the Irish government supports along with 42 other world government.

    Please explain how this is an imperial war?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    A sheet of plywood, some corrigated metal, and I think some insulating material is what separates me from from a very active helicopter LZ about 150m from where I sleep. CH-47s and Mi-17s are about the loudest sort of helicopters one can find and I have little trouble sleeping through it. I can only wonder what level of aggrandisation is being used.

    NTM

    the British Army use extra loud helicoptors in NI just to scare the cows.:D


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    by you maybe, but the large numbers of people, north and south of the border who join up would make me think otherwise

    This is quite hilarious. The "large numbers"? Are they like the hope of the British recruitment officer in the latest British Army recruitment drive (June 2009), which would like to see 'up to 100 people from the Republic' (all undereducated, barely literate types, as usual) enlisting?


    http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2009/0626/1224249575210.html


    With such "large numbers", China's Red Army would want to be on its guard.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 863 ✭✭✭DoireNod


    Please explain how this is an imperial war?
    That's a matter of opinion I suppose.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    prinz wrote: »
    My point has been proven. Thanks.


    Yes, in the world according to Prinz the loyalists who want the British presence in Ireland should be spared having to deal with that presence, but the nationalists who do not want that occupation should have to deal with it.

    That is sheer and arrant bigotry on your part. You're an apologist if ever there were one.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    DoireNod wrote: »
    That's a matter of opinion I suppose.

    you know what they say about opinions.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    you know what they say about opinions.


    You know what they say about the British making wars under the pretence of "civilisation", "democracy" and selflessness.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    Northern Ireland is still part of Britain.


    Is it now? So, pray tell, when did this ice age happen? Last night?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Yes, in the world according to Prinz the loyalists who want the British presence in Ireland should be spared having to deal with that presence, but the nationalists who do not want that occupation should have to deal with it.

    That is sheer and arrant bigotry on your part. You're an apologist if ever there were one.

    As opposed to the opening post which seemed more than happy if the situation was reversed..... hmm but you're not a bigot right? :confused:


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    the British Army use extra loud helicoptors in NI just to scare the cows.:D

    Oh hilarious altogether.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    prinz wrote: »
    As opposed to the opening post which seemed more than happy if the situation was reversed

    Er, yes: it's called justice. If the loyalists want the British state in Ireland, then they should suffer from it. Nationalists do not want that state in Ireland so accordingly they should not suffer from it.

    Duh.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 491 ✭✭nowuckenfurries


    The BA have been "Training" :pac: in the Ardboe area for years, once in the 90's I remember sitting at a dinner table in a house I was staying in when a chinook landed in the field behind the house & a dozen or so BA soldiers came tearing out and through the back garden of the house! :eek:

    The airfield in Adrboe is & has been deserted for a few decades, the runway is unuseable due to the very large potholes / craters...

    http://www.28dayslater.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=26584

    Most of the locals when I stayed there pretty much ignored any BA activity, I don't think even the cows took much notice either!:cool:


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    prinz wrote: »
    .... hmm but you're not a bigot right? :confused:

    Quite clearly and unmistakably you are the bigot, attempting to justify the British military occupation of nationalist areas, where that force is deeply unwelcome, distrusted and illegitimate in the eyes of the community, and defend its absence from loyalist areas, where that force has legitimacy (apparently).


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    You know what they say about the British making wars under the pretence of "civilisation", "democracy" and selflessness.

    I ask again, why is the war in Afghanistan an imperial war and why, if it is just the "British making wars under the pretence of "civilisation", "democracy" and selflessness" is it supported by the UN, 42 world governments and, more relevant to this thread, the Irish government?

    Here is the list, Ireland can be found under the heading Non-Nato countries (14) in case you have trouble finding it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,598 ✭✭✭✭prinz


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Quite clearly and unmistakably you are the bigot, attempting to justify the British military occupation of nationalist areas, where that force is deeply unwelcome, distrusted and illegitimate in the eyes of the community.....

    How did I attempt to justify anything? :pac:. It's not military occupation btw whatever your own feelings are. You can call it what you like but the BA has an inalienable right to train anywhere in the UK... and yes the UK includes Northern Ireland.
    Rebelheart wrote: »
    ....and defend its absence from loyalist areas, where that force has legitimacy (apparently).

    Again I did no such thing :pac:. What I said was it wouldn't bother me either way. I don't care who they fly over. Nationalist or loyalist. You think it's ok to fly over one and not over the other... that's a bigot. I couldn't care less what those up in the UK get up to at night.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 657 ✭✭✭Benster


    Odd to hear so many people get disgusted on behalf of others over such an insignificant event (in NI terms). I don't hear any howls of protest over the constant rattling of machine-gun target practice at Ballykinler army base or the continuing deployment of heavily-armed police, which also make this so-called normalised society abnormal. Guys, there are much worse things happening up here that you could get vexed about, so less of the fake bluster over a few helicopters.

    If you're going to give out about this, I hope your letter of complaint to the British govt is in the same pile as your letters of complaint to the Chinese govt over their treatment of Tibetans, Iran over it's torture of it's own people, etc, etc, etc, because this is NOTHING.

    I grew up with helicopters for the first 25 years of my life. They gave me less reason to fear for my life than the time I was nearly killed by joy-riders on the Andytown road in Belfast. (and that's still going on, btw, complain about that instead, will ye?)

    B.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    jmayo wrote: »
    When can people get this through their heads, you are living in a dfiferent country


    I suppose for the really outrageous reason that it's not a "different country", no more than Dublin or Cork were in a "different country" prior to 6 December 1922.


    It may be under the rule of a different state at present, but to say it is no longer part of Ireland because of that current situation is akin to saying that all of Ireland stopped being a country and no longer existed when it was under British rule.




    Homework for tonight: learn the difference between 'state' and 'country'. All the Protestant churches and the Orange Order, which are all based on an all-Ireland framework, clearly appreciate this difference.


  • Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 28,830 Mod ✭✭✭✭oscarBravo


    If I have to lock this thread because of handbaggery, there will be bannings.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    Benster wrote: »
    Odd to hear so many people get disgusted on behalf of others over such an insignificant event (in NI terms). I don't hear any howls of protest over the constant rattling of machine-gun target practice at Ballykinler army base or the continuing deployment of heavily-armed police, which also make this so-called normalised society abnormal. Guys, there are much worse things happening up here that you could get vexed about, so less of the fake bluster over a few helicopters.

    If you're going to give out about this, I hope your letter of complaint to the British govt is in the same pile as your letters of complaint to the Chinese govt over their treatment of Tibetans, Iran over it's torture of it's own people, etc, etc, etc, because this is NOTHING.

    I grew up with helicopters for the first 25 years of my life. They gave me less reason to fear for my life than the time I was nearly killed by joy-riders on the Andytown road in Belfast. (and that's still going on, btw, complain about that instead, will ye?)

    B.


    Oh I'm so sorry for not thinking and feeling exactly as you do about things that are important to you. Wow, imagine that. Perhaps you can go around all the forums and tell everybody to think as you do about issues that matter to you because otherwise they are just not as enlightened as you.

    PS: And if you really gave a damn about the Tibetans, you'd be doing more than sitting on your arse here. You're not exactly a Tibetan Caoimhe Butterly, are you.

    PPS: Then there's world hunger ....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31 jonoliver28


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    From yesterday's Sunday Tribune (available online today here: http://www.tribune.ie/news/home-news/article/2009/aug/09/tyrone-village-driven-mad-by-british-army-helicopt/):

    Suzanne Breen, Northern Editor
    AFGHANISTAN_Troops_10125901_display.jpg
    Afghanistan: not Tyrone

    Residents are demanding that the British army stop using a Co Tyrone village as a training centre for its war in Afghanistan. They say that family life and farming activity are being destroyed by low-flying helicopters late at night.


    The Irish government has been asked to raise the issue with Downing Street.


    "Two nights this week, my family's sleep has been disrupted and my children terrified," said Ardboe farmer Dermott McKenna (35).


    "A helicopter hovered about 100 feet above our house at 11.45pm on Monday. The noise was deafening. I have three young children – aged between two and eight. They were terrified. They awoke crying – they didn't know what was happening.


    "The following night, the helicopter began hovering overhead at 12.40am. It stayed there about half an hour. My cows were so frightened they ran through a fence. Thankfully, they ended up in another field and not on the road.


    "The cattle were spooked by the whole experience and have been difficult to handle."


    A local second world war aerodrome, near the shores of Lough Neagh, is used by the British army. SDLP assembly member Patsy McGlone said: "People had enough of military activity in this area during the Troubles.


    "They thought a decent night's sleep would be part of the peace dividend. They don't want low-flying helicopters nor anything to do with a war which they don't support.


    "British military spokesmen tell us how important this training is for operations in Afghanistan. There are very few Arabs and no sand in Ardboe. We have no connection with this war and no interest in being connected to it.


    "These helicopters are intruding on a quiet, rural community. All Ardboe wants is to be able to sleep at night so the British army should find somewhere else to do its training."


    McGlone has contacted the Northern Ireland Office about the issue and also asked the Irish government to intervene.


    Dermott McKenna said he had spoken to the British Ministry of Defence after heavy helicopter activity last year. "I've already explained to the MoD that my children are terrified because they hear this horrendous noise in the dark and don't know where it's coming from.


    "At night, that's impossible. The British military are doing this to piss us off. There are plenty of less populated places in Britain for them do their training where they would be wanted and wouldn't be disturbing anybody."


    August 9, 2009








    Where is Sinn Féin in all this? Is the SDLP the only political party in the community opposing it? Where has all that talk about demilitarisation gone now when British troops are organising and training here (and Sinn Féin is the largest nationalist party in government)?


    At the very least, if the British want to impose more of their war machine in Ireland, it would only be fair that loyalist villages and the loyalist community are kept up night after night by this product of their self-confessed British "loyalty". But that would ruin the "fun", wouldn't it. Making Irish people suffer for yet another British occupation of a foreign land is simply a massive two fingers to the entire constituency that Sinn Féin claims to represent.


    Yet again, Irish-Ireland is the dumping ground for the most despicable elements of British society, the plebian underclass that serve as its footsoldiers in foreign lands. This is deliberate provocation of the native Irish community by a foreign force which is, obviously, deeply resented in the community. [font=&quot]Plus ça change, plus c'est la même.[/font]


    So, how do Britain's apologists here justify this one, and how do Sinn Féin voters justify the party's silence on it? I've already written to Mícheál Martin about it.








    Personally, I am british and i think there is more underlying issues with you, i think this is just giving you an oppertunity to sprout off more of your nonesense, i dont believe the british army or the raf where hovering over your house at 100 foot, in fact you most likely making it up.

    There is a legal requirement for all military aircraft to maintain a certain amount of feet from the ground over residential propertys and let me tell you, its certainly more then 100ft, the only time this goes ignored is if we are at war or on operations and then its justified by the british government.

    However what the hell has military operations got to do with training in ireland, especially when its part of the british isles:)

    I liver in Lincolnshire all my life and moved within the last 5 years, night after night the sound of military jets, jaguars, tornados, eurofighters, its part of our armed forces and i for one are proud of them and can even train over my back garden as i have no problems, its extremley rare the raf or the british army to break the law, whilst mouthing off here, why dont you do something constructive and contact the air authority or local authority and log an official complaint over the airspace violations they have commited, all training flights are logged and certain height is mandatory for any pilot, so with regards to a 100foot, i dont believe you


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 26,567 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    Oh I'm so sorry for not thinking and feeling exactly as you do about things that are important to you. Wow, imagine that. Perhaps you can go around all the forums and tell everybody to think as you do about issues that matter to you because otherwise they are just not as enlightened as you.

    excellent advice. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,188 ✭✭✭✭jmayo


    Rebelheart wrote: »
    I suppose for the really outrageous reason that it's not a "different country", no more than Dublin or Cork were in a "different country" prior to 6 December 1922.


    It may be under the rule of a different state at present, but to say it is no longer part of Ireland because of that current situation is akin to saying that all of Ireland stopped being a country and no longer existed when it was under British rule.

    Homework for tonight: learn the difference between 'state' and 'country'. All the Protestant churches and the Orange Order, which are all based on an all-Ireland framework, clearly appreciate this difference.

    State, country, whatever :rolleyes:
    What has it got to do with the government in Dublin or any of us that happen to live in this "state" ?

    Using your argument maybe someone should complain to Gordon Brown about the Gardaí present in Rossport :rolleyes:
    Afterall they are seen as an oppressive occupying force by some locals :rolleyes:

    PS someone will have to tell the sports commentators to refer to the teams as playing for a state rather than a country at the next world cup.

    I am not allowed discuss …



  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 3,077 ✭✭✭Rebelheart


    prinz wrote: »
    How did I attempt to justify anything? :pac:. It's not military occupation btw whatever your own feelings are.

    The British military is occupying the area but it's not a "military occupation". Wow, I wonder what side you're on.



    prinz wrote: »
    Again I did no such thing :pac:. I don't care who they fly over. Nationalist or loyalist. You think it's ok to fly over one and not over the other... that's a bigot. I couldn't care less what those up in the UK get up to at night.

    Actually you clearly did express your approval for imposing these people on an Irish nationalist community when you know they are deeply resented there. Furthermore, you want the nationalist community to suffer from the loyalist choice to have British rule in this part of Ireland. A person who is not displaying bigotry would ensure that those who want the British presence - loyalists - should pay the price and those who do not want it - nationalists - should not be forced to pay the price.

    It really is that simple to be fair-minded and free from bigotry. Try it.


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