BY MARK MCKELVEY
Police in Clogher have rejected allegations that an officer was wielding an automatic rifle in a "careless fashion" when entering a shop in the village.
Making the complaint, Councillor and District Policing Partnership member, Colla McMahon, criticised what he felt was unnecessary actions by a number of PSNI officers in the Clogher area on Good Friday evening.
The Dungannon South Tyrone councillor made reference to an incident where a PSNI vehicle was parked in a disabled parking space outside a local store, and then an officer who apparently went into the shop armed with an automatic rifle.
Speaking of the incident, Councillor McMahon said: "Obviously this cavalier attitude shown by the PSNI officer is of deep concern to the community in Clogher. I would question why this officer felt the need to, firstly, park his PSNI vehicle in a disabled space and secondly, proceed into a small, local shop, brandishing an automatic rifle in a very careless fashion," he asked.
"This type of behaviour raises serious questions regarding the conduct of PSNI officers in the area, and I will certainly be raising the matter with the local district commander.
"The actions of this particular officer are unacceptable, and it must be made absolutely clear that this type of conduct will not be accepted by the local PSNI command. The community certainly will not accept it."
Responding to these comments, a police spokesperson outlined its policy for parking in restricted areas, adding that, 'unfortunately due to the increased dissident republican threat at present, armed police are an essential necessity'.
The police spokesperson added: "Our policy is that officers should not park police vehicles in disabled bays unless there is a need for access to them or equipment in them.
"We would prefer it if officers did not need to carry rifles, but most people in the community will be aware of the current security situation that makes this a regrettable necessity. We would reject any suggestion that any firearms were carried in a careless fashion."
