Row erupts over use of British soldiers to fight IRA

PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde has defended his decision to call in British Army special forces to obtain information on dissident republican paramilitaries.

Plain-clothes soldiers have been drafted in to take part in surveillance operations against dissidents whom Mr Orde says pose a serious threat to security.

The chief constable is insisting that they soldiers are only be used as support for the police and their deployment is not "operational".

He is due to meet members of the Policing Board next week to discuss the issue.

Taken from the Belfast Telegraph