Online claims of sensational crimes being committed by foreigners in Mullaghbawn have not been corroborated by locals or emergency services on the ground.
Social media has been awash with unsubstantiated claims following an incident involving a young woman in the south Armagh village on Tuesday night.
There have been various voice recordings and WhatsApp messages also circulating sharing several versions of events.
People Before Profit’s Newry and Armagh representative, Marc Mac Seáin, commented: “There’s been a frenzy of sensational rumours going around about an incident in Mullaghbawn on Tuesday evening.
“Emergency services responded to the matter and police have been investigating it.”
Police have since confirmed that no complaint was made by the woman.
However, it is understood the woman appeared in a state of distress and has been assessed in hospital and since released.
It is further understood, from sources in the area, that a man who arrived on the scene a short time later was not a foreign national, did not bang on any doors, and he has not been arrested for any alleged crime.
Mr Mac Seáin continued: “Allegations made across social media of sensational crimes being committed by ‘foreigners’ in Mullaghbawn have not been corroborated by locals nor emergency services.
“With sensitive incidents we urge people to be careful with what they see shared or post on social media, particularly when concerning an ongoing matter.
“Those attempting to leverage this incident for their own gain and brand, those eager to encourage paranoia and bigotry have nothing to offer our community but division.
“This division won’t fix the long-standing issues of austerity and exploitation which hurt all working class people in a society crippled by neoliberalism and artificial resource scarcity.”
