The Government has asked the British authorities to review their investigation of an alleged incursion by up to 20 British soldiers and PSNI officers across the border, after the Garda confirmed seven detailed witness statements that there had been an incursion in Omeath, Co Louth.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dick Roche, said that the British authorities had reiterated that there was no incursion last Wednesday evening, February 11th.
But he said the Garda Síochána had yesterday confirmed they had received detailed statements from seven witnesses that the joint patrol, all of whom were armed, had travelled between 400 metres and 800 metres south of the border At Carnamocklock, Omeath, near Davey's public house.
The British authorities had twice stated that while there had been a patrol in the area that evening, there had been no incursion across the border.
The issue was raised by the chairman of Fianna Fáil, Mr Seamus Kirk, a Louth TD who expressed concern given the sensitivities of the situation,.
Mr Roche said the Government considered unauthorised incursions a serious matter and raised them with the British authorities, and sought explanations.
He said most reported cases involved a relatively small number of personnel, but this incident was not a typical one because of the relatively large number of personnel.
He was very aware of the concerns of local people and "unless thoroughly convincing, the subsequent explanations for these incidents are often viewed with distrust and scepticism".
