Call to close gun range to aid tourism

County Donegal man James McLaughlin spoke to the Sentinel this week after witnessing a 550 international tourists dock on Lough Foyle's Greencastle port. Mr McLaughlin said "deafening" gun fire could be heard from the Magilligan MoD firing range, used to train British army soldiers. The local man said that, in the interests of tourism, the British Army should be asked to refrain from target practise when cruise ships are anchored in Lough Foyle.

Mr McLaughlin said: "I am used to the sound, all local people are, but the worry would be the tourists who are coming off the many cruise liners that come into the area. I'm sure the sound of gun fire isn't something they would expect or want when they dock off at a place they are going to visit.

"If I were on a cruise liner anchored off the coast of Israel or Gaza and I heard similar sounds, I would be very reluctant to go ashore," added Mr McLaughlin. Greencastle is one of the disembarkation ports for a high volume of cruise ships visiting Londonderry. Due to the tidal nature of the Foyle Estuary, it is sometimes too shallow for cruise ships to make their way to Lisahally docks in city and docking on Lough Foyle close to the village saves five hour round sailing trips. Many tourists also travel on the Lough Foyle Ferry to Magilligan.Last week Limavady SDLP councillor Gerry Mullan called for complete closure of the army training base after the International Princess Daphne ship docked on September 3. The ship, which is a regular visitor to the area, docked to allow passengers on a number of excursions around County Donegal. Councillor Mullan said last week: "This type of activity is detrimental to our tourism,"

An MoD spokesman last week defended the practice, and said that any concern on activity at the Limavady firing range could be raised through a civil representative.

He said: "We have strict procedures in place regarding training at Magilligan and remain amenable to concerns and issues. These can be raised through the civil representative."