Two British army helicopters are alleged to have flown one and a half miles into Co Louth shortly before 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon, before returning to Co Armagh. A Louth Fianna Fail county councillor, Mr Micheal O'Donnell said they flew at between 100 and 150 feet, by the hill of Carrickanena and as far as the graveyard at Faughert lower. He insisted both landmarks were obvious, and were clearly on the southern side of the Border on ordnance survey maps.
He reported the incursions to the Garda and the Department of Foreign Affairs. It was the 149th such incursion by the British army "on land, by sea and air", he has witnessed and reported since becoming a councillor in 1979.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said they were investigating the reports and would be taking up the matter with the British government.