Sinn Féin will continue to challenge PSNI over Castlederg station decision

Sinn Féin says it will continue to challenge the PSNI over its decision to keep Castlederg barracks open. Last week, a Sinn Féin delegation which included Michaela Boyle MLA and Derg Councillors Ruairí Mc Hugh and Maolíosa Mc Hugh met with PSNI G District Commander C\Supt Stephen Martin and a number of the areas other senior officers to highlight the flawed nature of the decision and to press for demilitarisation pending final closure.

A post-meeting statement issued by the delegation said,
“Given that this heavily fortified structure in the centre of Castlederg serves little or no practical purpose we strongly put the view that this so-called ‘operational decision’ was based more on political expediency rather than anything else.

“While the senior PSNI officers present agreed that the station was not ‘fit for purpose’ in terms of providing a normal community policing service they cited security and financial considerations as reasons why they could not begin a process of demilitarization.

“We totally rejected these excuses and as well as demanding that a beginning now be made to demilitarise the station we also made known our intention to continue to campaign for the stations final closure.