REAL IRA STAGE ROAD BLOCK IN SOUTH ARMAGH

Volunteers from the Irish Republican Army setup a checkpoint in the Republican village of Meigh last month.

The volunteers distributed leaflets calling on locals not to co-operate with the British occupying forces as well as pro British political parties. They have also sent out a stern warning to drug dealers and other anti-social elements, that their actions will not be tolerated and that they will be eliminated from society by their local IRA Brigades.

The IRA checkpoint has sent shock waves through the British security forces rank and file officers! An RUC/PSNI officer has warned of a serious breakdown in police intelligence after officers were allowed to drive into the IRA checkpoint without prior knowledge.

Three masked men carrying rifles were seen stopping vehicles at railway road on the outskirts of Meigh in county Armagh at 9pm on Friday. It is understood that an RUC/PSNI patrol car had driven to within 100 meters of the IRA checkpoint before turning back.

Last night one RUC/PSNI officer based in South Armagh said that his colleagues were relieved to have escaped being attacked but were furious that they had no prior warning of IRA activity in the area.

"We are getting vague briefings every single day that terrorists are highly active in and around Newry and South Armagh," he said. "But surely in intelligence circles should be fit to warn us if illegal vehicle checkpoints are being carried out in our patrol area.

"There were only three gunmen on the road but we know there would have been at least a dozen in the fields and hedges. "It doesn't bare thinking about what would have happened if the officers had driven straight into the trap."

The officer also spoke of the frustration at police intelligence failure to locate a heavy calibre tripod-mounted machine gun, which is known to be in the hands of the dissident republicans.

"We know they have a DShK machine gun and if they are out in daylight doing vehicle checkpoints then they would probably feel confident enough to bring out the big stuff and take us on," he said.

"They must think the intelligence services have taken their eye off the ball and no doubt someone will have to be killed before the proper resources are brought in to sort this out."

The Soviet made DShK fires 600 12.7mm rounds a minute and is capable of piercing armoured vehicles. SDLP assemble member Dominic Bradley condemned the IRA activity as a propaganda stunt.

A PSNI spokesman confirmed that a police patrol had encountered a number of armed men illegally stopping vehicles.