A former British Army and police base in the heart of Crossmaglen – once among the most heavily fortified and disputed security sites in Northern Ireland – is to be formally disposed of.
The former base was for years one of the most reinforced security compounds in the area and came under sustained attack by republicans throughout the Troubles.
A since removed high-rise sangar overlooked the main square and became an enduring symbol of the conflict.
The sangar itself was repeatedly targeted by the IRA, including attacks using improvised flame-throwing devices in the early 1990s. It was eventually dismantled in 2000 as political negotiations progressed and security measures were gradually scaled back.
Because of the heightened risk to security force patrols, the RUC and British Army moved away from using ground convoys in south Armagh during the 1970s. Travel to and from Crossmaglen base was instead largely carried out by helicopter. In the years that followed, IRA units mounted numerous gun attacks on military aircraft across the district, with several incidents involving helicopters operating in the immediate vicinity of Crossmaglen.
Although military use ceased, the site continued to function as a police station under the PSNI. It returned to the centre of public debate in 2019 when then Chief Constable Simon Byrne posted an image on social media of himself with heavily armed officers at the location.
The photograph drew strong criticism locally and led to a comprehensive review of policing in south Armagh.
That review recommended that Crossmaglen station should be shut down. At the time, Mr Byrne described the site as “an emblem of the past” which he said had “no place in modern policing”.
The Policing Board’s decision last month to approve the disposal of Crossmaglen and six other PSNI properties came against a backdrop of concerns about the financial burden and operational value of maintaining the portfolio. Board members had earlier been advised that the combined annual running and upkeep costs for the seven locations amounted to £1.24 million.
Sinn Féin MLA Aoife Finnegan has welcomed the move and insisted any redevelopment must deliver “lasting social and economic benefits” for the local community.
“For decades this heavily fortified site stood as a symbol of conflict, militarisation and division in the heart of our community. Its closure and now its proposed disposal marks another important step away from that past,” Ms Finnegan said
“The priority now must be ensuring that this site is transferred and developed in a way that delivers real benefits for local people.
“That means working with the local community, local council, and relevant agencies to identify opportunities that will create jobs, provide community facilities, support housing needs, or encourage investment in south Armagh.
“The people of Crossmaglen have endured the legacy of conflict for generations. They deserve to see this prominent site transformed into an asset that reflects the ambitions and potential of the community rather than its past.
“I will continue to engage with the PSNI, the Policing Board and all relevant bodies to ensure local voices are central to decisions about the site’s future and that any redevelopment delivers lasting social and economic benefits.”
