ARMY DENY CHOPPER PATROL NEAR BORDER; Frazer claim after dissident roadblock.

Byline: MAURICE FITZMAURICE

THE Army last night dismissed reports a helicopter was patrolling South Armagh in the wake of dissident activity.

Victims campaigner Willie Frazer said he and a number of members of the Fair group had spotted a Gazelle aircraft over the Camlough area at around 4pm yesterday.

The claim came in the wake of an illegal checkpoint being set by masked and heavily-armed men in the village of Meigh last Friday.

Mr Frazer said he "welcomes the fact the British Army is now back in South Armagh".

He added: "Sources have verified an operation in the area. It is encouraging to see Army helicopters once more deployed to provide intelligence after the latest republican activity."

An Army spokesman said they do not comment on "operational matters". However, a source dismissed the claim as "rubbish".

Meanwhile, PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie met with some of the officers who saw the dissident republican gang.

She said the force will now "review" how the area is patrolled.