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EDITIONS
 Sunday, 19 January, 2003, 18:17 GMT
Phone mast is vandalised
It is the second such attack in County Tyrone
It is the second such attack in County Tyrone
A mobile phone mast has been cut down in County Tyrone.

It happened on the Ballyrea Road in Ballygawley on Saturday night.

Damage put at more than �20,000 was caused to the mast.

The mast belongs to a mobile phone company.
Anthony McGonnell
Anthony McGonnell: "Genuine concerns in the community"

Last month, vandals destroyed an NIE mast at nearby Cran Lome.

Local people said they believed the masts posed a health risk and in recent weeks, hundreds of people have attended public meetings in the area.

'Suspicious activity'

The identity of those behind the latest attack is unknown, but local SDLP councillor Anthony McGonnell said there were genuine concerns in the community.

"While I would not condone people taking the law into their own hands... the reason why these acts are taking place is because people are panicking," he said.

The police want to hear from anyone who noticed suspicious activity at Ballyrea Road before the damage was reported at about 2230 GMT on Saturday.

The previous attack involved a mast which formed part of Northern Ireland Electricity's (NIE) communication system.

It was also used by several mobile telephone companies.

A spokeswoman for the company said the vandals had put themselves at risk and left the company's communication system vulnerable.

Local residents claimed the mast was responsible for cancer-related illnesses in the area.

Many communities across Northern Ireland have campaigned against phone masts over fears that low level radiation could pose a health risk to people living near the installations.

  WATCH/LISTEN
  ON THIS STORY
  BBC NI's Kevin Sharkey:
"More than �20,000 worth of damage was caused"
See also:

15 Dec 02 | N Ireland
11 Apr 02 | N Ireland
15 Jun 01 | N Ireland
Links to more N Ireland stories are at the foot of the page.


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