Scaling down in south Armagh

For years south Armagh was IRA heartland. Now, the UK government has started to scale down military activity in light of republican decomissioning. BBC News Online's Jonathan Duffy hears three points of view.

While the political landscape has been moving towards peace in Northern Ireland for some years, in south Armagh the physical landscape still speaks of conflict.

The countryside along the border with the republic may be some of the most beautiful in Ireland, but the army watchtowers that are prevalent in this area destroy any sense of serenity.

Over the years, south Armagh became infamous for being the most violent area of Northern Ireland, outside of Belfast and Londonderry, because of the IRA's scale of activities along the border.

In three decades of troubles, more than 200 security force members were killed by paramilitaries in the county of Armagh, and most of those would have been in the south.

'Bandit country'

It is no wonder that for a time south Armagh came to be known as "bandit country," though the term is rarely used now.

To counter the threat posed by paramilitaries, the British army erected fortress-like garrisons and looming watchtowers among the winding roads and green rolling hills.

Unsurprisingly, the presence of these daunting structures has been resented by most of the locals. But with news that the IRA has begun to decommission weapons, the pressure is now on for the demilitarisation of south Armagh.

Here we find out what three people think:

If the watchtowers were torn down today it wouldn't be soon enough for Toni Carragher, an activist with the South Armagh Farmers and Residents Committee (SAFRC).

Why they should go is simple: "Three years ago in south Armagh 98.9% voted yes to the Good Friday Agreement and the people of south Armagh expected demilitarisation to happen then.

Toni Carragher: Towers must go

"Instead, the British authorities have done the exact opposite. They have expanded and refurbished their bases. Because of the infrastructure, everyone is conscious of being observed and spied upon."

The effect is not just psychological. South Armagh has missed out on much of the economic development in Northern Ireland in the 1990s.

"The potential for tourism cannot be realised because nobody wants to go on holiday in a war zone. The towers are a blight on our beautiful country."

SAFRC has been working hard to end military activity, by lobbying politicians and pressing the interests of locals.

Roar of rotor blades

One of its major grievances is the noise caused by the helicopters, which account for most troop movements in the area.

The roar of rotor blades traumatises farm animals, says Ms Carragher, and that affects productivity.

Now, following a recent landmark court ruling in London, where residents living close to Heathrow airport established that aircraft noise infringed their human rights, SAFRC is hoping to apply the judgement to its case.

Paddy Short can remember a lot about south Armagh. At 82 he was born before Ireland's partition and has witnessed the area change from peaceful farming country to a de-facto war zone.

"I remember how it all started. On August 7th, 1971 a young father who lived around here stopped at the lights in his car and, the story is, it backfired.

Paddy Short: "We just want to see the Brits out"

"Next thing he was shot in the head by a soldier," says Paddy, landlord of Shorts Bar.

That night trouble erupted on the streets of Crossmaglen, and it has never totally left. As tensions mounted, more and more locals signed up with the IRA and the town of about 1,900 residents became one of the most notorious for conflict.

Today, British troops from the local garrison still patrol regularly. Their presence is deeply offensive to Mr Short.

"It's an unnatural atmosphere. You can well imagine the effect on any village if a crowd of armed foreigners came in and imposed their will on you.

"To be honest, we want to see the back of the Brits as soon as possible."

As Willie Frazer stands in the centre of Newtownhamilton, he looks at the watchtower for perhaps the last time. It is one of three in the area that the UK government said, on Wednesday, that it will dismantle.

Mr Frazer thinks that will be a grave mistake. The tower overlooks a helicopter landing pad and was erected after several troops were shot by the IRA as they landed.

Willie Frazer: "Bases are our protection"

Although close to the border, there is a sizeable Protestant population in Newtownhamilton and the outlying areas.

"It's just stupid. What if there is a hold up in a house down on the border and they need to call out a helicopter? Without the sangar [the hut that sits on top of the tower] it would be too dangerous."

The IRA may be on ceasefire, but Mr Frazer, a Protestant, says that doesn't mean the terror has stopped. The same people who fought with the IRA are now simply working under the cover of dissident republican groups, he says.

"I'm used to being threatened because I've chosen to be outspoken about this," says Mr Frazer, whose father was shot dead by the IRA in 1975.

"I've been told that if I come back to Newtownhamilton I'd have my throat slit. But I have to ignore that.

"The fear is still here in the community. People know what these terrorists are capable of. The army shouldn't be pulling out, they need to be here to give Protestants confidence."