Warning to hoaxers

That’s the message to those responsible for this week’s road and rail disruption.

The M1 motorway re-opened between Lurgan and Moira on Tuesday morning after a suspicious object was declared a hoax.

A few hours later train services were resumed between Portadown and Lisburn following a security alert at Lake Street. It’s understood a hoax device was planted in the signal box.

Sinn Fin Councillor Noel McGeown said: “Those responsible for the hoax device at the Lake Street railway crossing and the M1 roundabout need to catch themselves on.”

Mr McGeown added: “The people suffering most from these hoax devices are the nationalist residents of north Lurgan whose daily lives are being seriously disrupted. There is nothing to be gained from this behaviour and it certainly cannot be construed as a part of a military campaign unless that campaign is being waged against the people of north Lurgan.”

He warned: “Translink have wanted to close the Bells Row and Lake Street crossing for years now and have only kept them open because of petitions from the general public and representations from local elected representatives. Planting hoax device in the signal box and disrupting rail traffic does nothing to support the case for manned crossing. In fact it seriously weakens it.”