THE PSNI is investigating an illegal checkpoint set up by armed men in Meigh, Co Armagh, and is asking witnesses to come forward.
Amid growing alarm the DUP said last night it was seeking urgent talks with the chief constable to address allegations that dissident republican groups were importing arms and recruiting.
According to one local source, a small number of men carrying rifles stopped motorists in the mainly nationalist Border village between Newry and Dundalk on Friday and distributed leaflets. It is believed locally that the men were dissident republicans. An unknown number of others were said “to be in the background” where the checkpoint was operated and the leaflets handed out.
The leaflets, which were also handed out in the locality, advised locals not to co-operate with the PSNI, the Garda, Sinn Féin or MI5 British intelligence agents.
The leaflets are also believed to contain warnings against anti-social activity and drugs offences.
PSNI officers who were patrolling the area at the time of the incident said they deliberately did not intervene and evaluated the situation from a distance.
Police headquarters said last night an investigation was ongoing, while the SDLP said it suspected the men were from a dissident republican group.
Newry and Armagh Assembly member Dominic Bradley said last night he was “waiting to see how police deal with it”.
He called the incident “an unwelcome development, and harks back to a time which most people here have moved on from and want to leave firmly in the past”.
“I am confident that people in the area will not allow this type of activity, which was never welcome, to deter them from moving forward into a better future.
“I would ask anyone who has any information regarding this incident to convey it to the police without delay.”
He said the behaviour by the armed men was most likely designed to make them appear visible to the local nationalist population. “This was an attempt by this group to make themselves relevant. But most of the people in this area have no tolerance for that type of activity – they didn’t in the past and they certainly don’t now.”
Chief constable Sir Hugh Orde, who leaves the PSNI next month, has warned of the threat posed by dissident republican groups which have been responsible for the deaths of two British soldiers and a PSNI officer this year.
However, he has also claimed intelligence successes against them.
“They are well infiltrated, both north and south of the Border, and are paranoid about their activity because we keep disrupting it.
“We keep arresting people, we have good coverage, but the harsh reality is we never have and have never had a full intelligence picture.”
Meanwhile, Policing Board member Ian Paisley jnr has called for an urgent report to be presented to the board following reports that dissident republicans could have recently purchased £90,000 worth of weaponry.
Mr Paisley said last night: “I am horrified by reports that dissidents have purchased tens of thousands of pounds worth of weaponry said to include Barrett rifles, two anti-aircraft missiles, 20 AK47s, 40 hand guns and 200lbs of Semtex explosive.
“Such reports demand a number of serious questions be answered by the PSNI. I would like to know if the reports are true or if the PSNI have any knowledge of dissidents’ capacity.
“The chief constable has previously said that dissidents were high on intent but low on capability. However, if these reports are accurate then the situation is dramatically different.”
He asked how such weapons, if acquired, could have been imported without the PSNI knowing.
“The DUP will also be seeking an early discussion with the chief constable for an update about how the police is addressing the dissident threat and also raising some concerns. It is particularly baffling that at a time when dissidents seemed to be re-arming and recruiting that the police is actually downing resources and closing stations in key areas.”