One of Northern Ireland's best known British army watchtowers is being dismantled this week.
The heavily fortified armoured guard post in the south Armagh republican heartland of Crossmaglen is being knocked down.
The tower was built in 1992 to protect British soldiers in one of the areas most hostile to their presence during the Troubles.
The decision to knock it down is part of the British government's security normalisation moves that followed the July 2005 IRA declaration of an end to its armed campaign.
The fortified post will be lifted from the tower tomorrow by a crane, and the rest of the structure will then be dismantled.
Its disappearance will mean plans to withdraw soldiers from Crossmaglen police station by March 31st remain on course. The Crossmaglen site will only be used as a police station.
PA
