A farmer from Cookstown, Co Tyrone, whose lands were invaded by hundreds of British soldiers following an explosives find in the locality, was awarded damages of £874 against the British Ministry of Defence at Cookstown Court yesterday.
Mr Bartley McGurk, of Teebane Road, Dunamore, told the court the noise of the helicopters accompanying the soldiers sent his livestock mad.
As a result they stampeded around his 200 acre farm, breaking down fences. Mr McGurk said the army had occupied his lands for about a week.