25/4/01
Taoiseach's condemnation of new "more lethal" plastic bullets welcomed by victims Clara Reilly, chairperson of the Campaign Against Plastic Bullets has welcomed the statement on plastic bullets by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. He said:
"The Government have grave reservations about the proposed introduction of a new form of plastic bullet, which can be even more lethal to certain vulnerable parts of the body like the head. We do not rely on such methods of control here.
The clear spirit of the Good Friday Agreement and the Patten Report is that they should be phased out, not renewed or replaced in a different form."
This clear and unambiguous statement from the Irish government is a very encouraging development in what has been a very difficult number of weeks following the announcement of the introduction of a new plastic bullet.
We are dismayed that Security forces are still resorting to plastic bullets as an option of first resort when dealing with crowds such as in Lurgan last night. (Tuesday) The introduction of a new bullet must be seen in that light. It has not escaped the notice of people we work with that last week riots in England, on a far larger and more destructive scale than what was witnessed in Lurgan last night went policed without plastic bullets. Quite rightly no one's life was put at risk in England by these weapons.
We would encourage the British government and in particular Secretary of State
John Reid to listen to the Irish Taoiseach's advice and start phasing these
bullets out immediately.
Andree Murphy
Relatives for Justice
Website: www.relativesforjustice.com
email: andree.murphy@relativesforjustice.com
United Campaign Against Plastic Bullets
235a Falls Road, Belfast, BT12 4PE
Tel: 028 90220100; Fax: 02890220101
Email: clara.reilly@relativesforjustice.com