Hundreds of demonstrators made their way to the Albert Basin in Newry on Saturday morning to take part in a public rally led by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in support for the retention of services at Daisy Hill hospital.

The rally had been organised by the Council as a follow up to last month’s public meeting which saw up to 1,000 people voice their opposition to plans by the Southern Trust to temporarily close the local Emergency Department at night due to a shortage of senior medical staff.  Public pressure subsequently led the Trust to call for a regional summit, during which a u-turn decision was made to retain the emergency department.

The decision received a cautious welcome throughout the district with the public urged to continue to support the campaign for a long term solution to the A&E recruitment crisis and wider health service provision issues at the hospital.

It seems the people of Newry and Mourne heeded that call with hundreds taking to the streets on Saturday, just hours after Unite the Union also kicked off their dedicated campaign with the unveiling of a “Hands off Daisy Hill” mural in Canal Street and plans to “keep the pressure on” with a banner and car sticker initiative.

Addressing the huge crowd gathered, UNISON representative, Catherine Farrell, who describes herself as “a proud member of staff in Daisy Hill Hospital” for the last 40 years, recalled many situations over the past four decades which had put Daisy Hill and its services at risk and she urged people “not to be fooled” by the idea that the push to downgrade the A and E department at Daisy Hill is part of some overall grand plan to transform the Health Service and make it better.

“This has happened because of poor planning and the public should never pay the price for that,” she said.

Ms Farrell said the trade unions she represented would not accept any attempts to simply cut services “and harm the health of the local community and the livelihoods of our members” and she stressed  that “shutting local people out of the decisions that are made about their services is wrong and will always be strongly opposed”.

Pledging Unison’s support for the campaign, the trade union representative concluded,

“This community is saying loud and clear that the reduction of emergency department services in Daisy Hill is a definite no go.  I can assure you all that anything my own union, UNISON, and that of my sister unions can do to ensure the continued delivery of a 24/7 emergency service at Daisy Hill will be done.”

Unite Newry officially unveiled its eye-catching “Hands Off Daisy Hill” mural in Canal Street in the city on Friday evening.  The ceremony marked the launch of the union’s dedicated campaign to keep public pressure on the Southern Health and Social Care Trust to guarantee delivery on promises to retain services in Daisy Hill.

The unveiling took place ahead of a council-led public rally to show support for the retention of acute services at the Newry hospital, which took place in the Albert Basin at 11am on Saturday morning. Unite called on the public to reiterate their support for Daisy Hill by attending Saturday’s rally.

Speaking to The Examiner ahead of the unveiling of his community branch’s latest contribution to the ‘Hands Off Daisy Hill’ campaign, Martin McKeown, branch secretary of Unite’s Newry Community branch – who played a lead role in the campaign, said

“The campaign to defend services at Daisy Hill Hospital has secured a commitment from the Southern Trust for the continuation of A&E services at the hospital. This was a direct result of the powerful people power campaign which demonstrated our complete opposition to any threat to downgrade the service.

“Despite this success, we cannot take anything for granted. Words of assurance can easily be undermined by decisions behind the scenes. The Southern Trust must now underpin its promises with adequate resources.

“The Trust also needs to come clean with a full and open response to the serious allegations raised by Dr Duffin at the last Trust Board meeting – these cut to the heart of widespread fears that there are some who have a long-term agenda of downgrading Daisy Hill. We also need clarity on the future of the hospital’s Fracture Clinic.”

Mr McKeown added that Unite in the community and its industrial branches “are committed to maintaining pressure on the Trust and our politicians to deliver” and are proud of the mural promoting the ‘Hands Off Daisy Hill’ message.

“This mural has been produced by local street artist Conor McGinley whose mother works as a nurse in Daisy Hill. It’s great to have such talent and commitment in the local community behind this campaign,” he said.

The Unite Branch Secretary revealed that Unite intends to spread its message to communities from Annalong to Warrenpoint, from Crossmaglen to Newry via banners and the launch of an innovative car sticker campaign.

In the coming days, car stickers will be included in local newspapers throughout the district with Unite asking people to put the stickers up in their vehicles to demonstrate their support for Daisy Hill Hospital.

A car sticker will be provided with each edition of next week’s Examiner and will also be available for collection from The Examiner office in Crossmaglen.

Despite assurances from the Southern Trust that the Emergency Department in Daisy Hill will be retained for the foreseeable future the public have been urged to continue to support the campaign for a long term solution to the A&E recruitment crisis and the retention of services throughout the hospital. Staff shortages had led Southern Trust health chiefs to announce proposals to reduce the local A & E opening hours and refer patients to Craigavon Area hospital which was to undergo a £1m expansion as a “contingency” measure.

The proposal prompted public outcry across the district, and led to a public meeting last month which was attended by more than 1,000 people, including medical staff from the hospital, all voicing their opposition to the Trust’s plans.

The eleventh hour u-turn by the Trust, following a regional summit on the issue, has done little to quell the concerns of the public and the campaign to maintain emergency care round the clock and retain all life-saving acute services at the hospital continued unabated over the weekend with Unite Newry branch unveiling its “Hands Off Daisy Hill” mural in Canal Street on Friday evening.  The event marked the official launch of the Union’s push to maintain pressure on the Trust to guarantee delivery on promises to protect services in Daisy Hill.

In the coming days Unite intends to spread the Hands Off Daisy Hill message to rural communities via banners and the launch of an innovative car sticker campaign.  Car stickers will be distributed free inside local newspapers throughout the district with Unite encouraging the public to put the stickers up in their vehicles to demonstrate their support for Daisy Hill Hospital.

The Unite launch was followed by a Council-led public rally on Saturday, where hundreds turned out in a mammoth show of support for the local hospital.

Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said the rally, which took place at 11am at the Middlebank in Newry, built “on the excellent work of the community campaign which has ensured that the Southern Trust has acknowledged the clinical need for this service.”

Supporters were urged to remain committed to the ongoing campaign to ensure the issues with Daisy Hill continue to remain in the public domain until all services within the local hospital are secured.

A student florist from Camlough is set to blossom at this year’s world famous Chelsea Flower Show, having secured a final place in the Young Chelsea Florist of the Year competition.

Eilis Quinn, who is studying for a Level 2 diploma in Floristry at the College of Agriculture Food & Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Greenmount campus, will be joined by her fellow college student Clare McAuley (22) as they vie for the prestigious prize.

Both girls crafted hand-tied presentation bouquets to secure their places in the competition final.

Seventeen-year-old Eilis says she is delighted to have made it to the final.

“I’m really excited to be taking part in such a prestigious horticultural show and have started to work on my final piece for the competition,” she revealed.

“It’s a floral kite and we will be judged on colour, technique, idea and composition – so there has been lots of designing and trying out different techniques over recent weeks to get it right. We are so lucky to have fantastic facilities at Greenmount and great staff supporting us.”

Clare (22), said to get this far in the competition is “incredible” and she is really looking forward to the event.

“I love the whole process of deciding on what flowers, colours and fresh foliage I’ll use to represent my interpretation of the design brief. But we’ve only a few days left to prepare and create our designs, which must have visually dominant fresh flowers, before showcasing them to a worldwide audience,” she said.

Head of Horticulture at CAFRE, Paul Mooney, said Greenmount florists have an amazing track record of design competition success at the show, with a current student or floristry graduate winning a Chelsea Medal in each of the last five years.

Slieve Gullion Forest Park looks set to receive a new amenity building consisting of showers and public toilets, with a planning application submitted for the new facility recommended for approval at this Wednesday’s Planning Committee meeting.

Proposals include the erection of a building immediately beside the existing play and car park facilities at Slieve Gullion to facilitate tourist / attendant’s offices as well as public toilets and showers and a store for a four wheel drive utility vehicle.  The amenity building is expected to be constructed 120m north of the existing courtyard buildings at Slieve Gullion Park.

The associated report for the proposal outlines that whilst there will be some loss of car parking in the short term, the Council are actively pursuing alternative car parking throughout the park and will be later compensated in future plans.

The plans have been recommended for approval with the report stating that overall the plans are acceptable “and can be readily absorbed into the landscape without adverse consequence.”

The Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade has developed a three point plan to assist in the recruitment of senior medical staff for Daisy Hill Emergency Department. In a statement released last week the Newry Chamber reiterated that the presence of a secure Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital “is vital to the wellbeing of all our employees across all the business sectors.”

The statement added that following a meeting with officials from the Southern Trust, the Chamber Executive has unanimously agreed that Newry Chamber of Commerce should pledge its assistance in the recruitment efforts of Emergency Department Consultants to Daisy Hill Hospital.

“We recognise that both short-term and long term measures are needed and through our newly formed Daisy Hill Sub-group, we have formulated a 3 point plan,” added the chamber spokesperson, outlining that the first step of the plan is the short term execution of a marketing campaign to attract ED Consultants to work in Newry.

A copy of the consultant job description can be downloaded from the Newry Chamber website:

(https://newrychamber.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/recruitment-pac) as well as a copy of the prospectus. These can then be disseminated through wider business contacts using their own marketing channels and Diaspora contacts.  The #workinnewry logo is to be used for a twitter campaign to ensure consistency of message and a short 90 second promotional video will be produced to supplement marketing efforts – this will be made available by the end of May.

In the second point of the plan, Chamber members are asked to consider if any of the products and/or services that they supply would complement an attractive relocation package. A list of benefits will be pooled into a relocation package and will also supplement the recruitment drive. Chamber members are asked to respond to mary@newry.com by 31st May with ideas or suggestions.

Finally, a small sub-group has been established by Newry Chamber to prepare a plan for a “Master Hospital and Centre of Excellence.” According to the plan, the sub group will “consider the longer-term aspirations of what is required to service a growing and ageing population and the cross border demand for health provision. In doing so, this group will consider the policy and lobbying pathways that are required as well as delivery of visual concepts and costings.”

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie MC has called on Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill to use her position to help bring closure to the families of the remaining ‘Disappeared.’

Speaking on the 40th Anniversary of the disappearance of SAS Captain Robert Nairac, who was abducted from the Three Steps pub in Dromintee in May 1977, his murder later claimed by the IRA, Mr Beattie claims the soldier’s body continues to be hidden as a “macabre revenge”.

“I would again ask Michelle O’Neill to use her position as the leader of Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland to appeal to former members of the Provisional IRA to demonstrate respect for the remains of Captain Nairac and his family by directing the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims’ Remains to where they buried his body,” he said.

“Someone in the republican movement knows.  The IRA continue to hide his body in some sort of macabre revenge just because he was a British soldier. He was a son and brother whose life was cruelly ended at the age of 28. It’s time to bring this to an end.

“It would demonstrate respect for others if republicans could finally tell the truth about what they did and help bring some long overdue and much needed closure to the families of the Disappeared. Sinn Fein demand respect – it’s time that they and the wider republican movement demonstrated respect to others.

“I make no apology for repeating what I have said previously. The families have suffered for a very long time and simply want to be able to give their loved ones a Christian burial. It is the very least they deserve,” he added.

As the inquest into the Kingsmill massacre resumed last week, the family of one of the victims has appealed to those responsible to contact them.

The ten Protestant victims were shot dead while returning from work in January 1976, while Alan Black was the sole survivor of the attack despite being shot 18 times.  Now relatives of one of the victims – John McConville – have joined with Mr Black in an appeal to those behind the killings to contact them.  John McConville’s sisters Karen, Mandy and Tania have set up a confidential address where information can be sent, and say they just want the truth of what happened to their brother and are not interested in any potential prosecutions.

Making the appeal through the Irish News, Karen Armstrong said: “Maybe when people get older, as we all do, and we only have a certain amount of years, this changes attitudes, there are maybe regrets.

“Since the inquest started last week it’s amazing how many witnesses have spoken that have never been interviewed.  With the passing of time maybe someone will come forward with information.  No matter how small the pieces, there are people who can come forward and it’s anonymous as well.

“We are more interested in getting to the truth.  As far as prosecutions are concerned we think that basically too much time has gone by at this stage, so it’s mostly the truth we are hoping for,” she added.

To make contact with the family, all correspondence can be sent in confidence to: Suite 216, 21 Botanic Avenue, Belfast, BT71JJ; or alternatively, the Coroners Service can be contacted by emailing legacy@courtsni.gov.uk.

Meanwhile, DUP leader and former First Minister Arlene Foster met with some of the bereaved families.

Speaking afterwards she said the victims’ families had “endured over forty years of trauma” and deserve to know the truth about the killings.

Criticising the Irish government for the delay in releasing files on the killings, which has hampered the inquest process, she added: “Later this month it will be two years since Enda Kenny gave an undertaking that his government would cooperate fully and relevant documentation would be shared.  The DUP has demanded full disclosure and transparency from the Irish government in the talks process and will persist when they resume.”

Earlier in the week, the inquest heard details of the killings which caused distress to some of the families present in court and led to a short suspension of the hearing.

The court was also told that the IRA, using the cover name of South Armagh Republican Action Force, was responsible for the attack and the names of 13 suspects detailed in intelligence reports were revealed.  One report identified one of the suspects – referred to as S91 – to be connected to 46 murders.

Plans for a new glasshouse and external facilities at the new four star Killeavy Castle Hotel are expected to be approved when they come before the Council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday.

In February 2015, planning permission was granted to owner Mick Boyle of Jarasmas Investments Ltd to convert the historic castle into a 40 bed boutique hotel and spa which will also feature a spa and wellness centre.  In March this year Invest NI pledged almost £1m to the “exciting south Armagh investment” which it said would provide “a valuable boost to the tourism infrastructure in the region.”

The development of the castle is expected to create around 80 jobs in addition to generating  a raft of construction jobs during the two year building phase.

Mr Boyle, who owns a construction company in Australia, said he wants to create  “a distinct visitor attraction that maximises the heritage and beauty of the Killeavy Castle Estate and makes a positive contribution to the local community.

“Support from Invest NI and Newry, Mourne and Down District will make a vital contribution in enabling us to undertake the extensive building and restoration works,” he added.

Mick Boyle with Alastair Hamilton of Invest NI and Mark Donohoe, project manager for the planned hotel.

“Progress on the project is well under way and the hotel, spa and wellness centre is on track to be operational by late 2018.”

The project will involve restoring the Grade A-listed castle and converting it into a guest house and meeting venue. It will also feature outbuildings, a permanent marquee and a walled garden.  Mr Boyle will use the castle’s close proximity to Slieve Gullion Forest Park to offer nature treks and walks to guests.

Following the unveiling of Unite’s “Hands off Daisy Hill” mural in Newry last week, the local branch of the union has stepped up its campaign to retain all life-saving acute services at Daisy Hill Hospital with a car sticker drive to highlight the cause.

The recent eleventh hour u-turn by the Trust to retain a 24 hour Emergency Department at Daisy Hill Hospital has done little to quell the concerns of the public and the campaign to maintain emergency care round the clock and retain all life-saving acute services at the hospital continues unabated.

Car stickers have been distributed free inside several newspapers throughout the district (including this week’s The Examiner), with Unite encouraging the public to put the stickers up in their vehicles to demonstrate their support for Daisy Hill Hospital.

Unite has also spread the “Hands Off” message to rural communities which will be most affected by any stripping of services at the local hospital, with the erection of banners in key locations throughout the region.

Newry Unite Community Branch Secretary, Martin McKeown, has called on the people of Newry, south Armagh and Mourne to get behind the campaign to maintain pressure on the Trust to guarantee delivery on promises to protect all services in Daisy Hill.

“We as a community need to send a clear message to the Southern Trust- that while the threat to services at Daisy Hill remains, our commitment to stop the cuts is steadfast and unyielding,” said Mr McKeown.

“The ‘Hands off Daisy Hill’ message has been spread throughout the district with a mural, banners and thousands of car stickers.

“Over the coming weeks, Unite, will be stepping up the campaign with a number of community projects, that will Keep Daisy Hill to the fore. I ask everyone to please display a sticker and show your support. The message is loud and crystal clear ” HANDS OFF DAISY HILL!”

Car stickers are included free with this week’s edition of The Examiner and are also available to pick up from The Examiner Office in Crossmaglen.

Members of a local rowing club are set to appear before Newry Magistrates’ Court today (Monday) to face allegations of theft in relation to boats and a storage container they had retrieved from a derelict site on the Fathom Line in Newry.

According to a spokesperson for the Carlingford Lough Currach Club (CLCC), club members had moved rowing boats and a container that had been lying in a run-down site known locally as ‘the former oil tanks’ on the canal at Fathom Line, to save them from further disrepair as they were “open to the elements”.  However, soon afterwards, the club was informed by the PSNI that moving the items constituted theft and that they would have to be returned.  The club members consequently did so, however the owner requested that the container be delivered to an address in Co. Louth, instead of being returned to the original site.  Refusing this request as it was “outside of the area of benefit”, the club members were duly charged with theft and will appear in court this morning to protest their innocence.

The CLCC spokesperson contacted The Examiner ahead of the hearing to outline the issue with the following statement: “Carlingford Lough Currach in addition to running the annual International Currach Championships in Warrenpoint now in its 13th year, also deliver a number of outreach programmes with community groups in Newry city, mainly in the water courses of Newry, including the Albert Basin and the Fathom Line.  In one given year it took out over 100 children from areas of multiple deprivation in conjunction with the community associations, assistance from local government and with the support of Newry Maritime Association.

Regrettably when asked, almost two thirds of the children said it was their first time on the water courses of Newry city

“The Club were dismayed that rowing boats were lying in a derelict site known locally as the Former Oil Tanks on The Fathom Line, with boats and containers open to the elements.  When the Club contacted the governing body of rowing they were advised that the nearest club in the area available for rowing was Portadown. This situation seemed to prevail for a number of years and finally at the AGM of Carlingford Lough Currach Club held on 15/3/16 the following was agreed – ‘The redundant rowing boats at The Fathom Line be taken into safe storage to Warrenpoint as there is no club in Newry and there is a danger of theft or damage’.

“The removal took three days over three consecutive Saturdays.  The PSNI contacted our Secretary and advised that this constituted theft and that the boats and the container had to be returned.  The Club reluctantly agreed to the boats being returned but were relieved and delighted that they were not taken back to the original site. In relation to the container, the Club refused to return the container to the original site and were also advised that the owner of the site did not want the boats or container returned to his site because of the liabilities they offered.  The Club would commend the owner for taking this view. The Club were then instructed to deliver the container to an address in Louth in RoI. The Club refused as it was away from Newry and outside of the area of benefit.

“Our Chairman Tom Mc Cann and Secretary Dermot Russell] made voluntary statements on this matter. PPS have agreed to take action and a hearing is scheduled for (today) 22/5/17 at 10.30am.  Although this has been an unwelcome distraction to the Club if this acts as a catalyst for the provision of rowing for old and young in the city of Newry, we will be content.  This water course, a linear path of 7km from the Albert Basin to Victoria Loch on the Fathom Line offers up the best rowing conditions possible and would be the envy of any city or town in Ireland. The opportunities are limitles , such as a schools’ cup sponsored by the private sector, competitions for the 12 community associations in Newry city, summer schemes for all and winter programmes for coaching.”

Members of the rowing club plan gather outside Newry Court House on Monday morning in protest.

Following a year of closure and some £3m investment, Camlough Lake will officially open for business later this week with the launch of ‘A Giant of a Weekend’ festival taking place on 3rd and 4th June.

The festival, supported by Newry Mourne and Down District Council, will get underway with the return of the Crooked Lake Triathalon on Saturday at 2pm.  The popular sporting event is gearing up to be the biggest yet with over 400 local and international competitors registered.

Lake side activities on Saturday include ‘Giant’ arts & crafts, face painting and other family activities based on Cowan’s Yard, while entertainment, BBQ and Spit Roast Pig take place in The Yellow Heifer, Doyle’s and Trainor’s back in the village that evening.

Sunday is a Giant Family fun day from 11-4pm with lake side swims for adults and juniors, free water based activities, giant climbing wall, puzzle zone and archery with BBQ, trad sessions, music and entertainment in Camlough village that night.

The weekend is the combined effort of Camlough Lake Water Festival and Feile Chamlocha and hopes to see visitors flock to the area to join in the fun.

Congratulating the organisers, Chair of Newry Mourne and Down District Council, Gillian Fitzpatrick said she was thrilled to see the lake reopened following essential repairs.

“Camlough Lake is one of our region’s fantastic resources and is a great hub for sport and community – attracting thousands of international swimmers annually. Newry Mourne and Down District Council are very proud to support this event to officially reopen the lake,” she said.

One of the organisers, Catherine Murphy, expressed gratitude to Newry Mourne and Down Council, to event sponsors First Derivatives, Synge and Byrne and Cathedral Eye Clinic, and all the local business and the community for their continued support..

“The improvements to the lake have been finished so well and with great care for the beauty of the area.  The new raised viewing areas and the walkway around the lake will significantly enhance spectator and competitor experience. The lake has always been a real focal point for the local community so this ‘Giant’ family focused weekend is a very apt way to celebrate its reopening,” Catherine said.

For more information on events, to register for the Triathlon or Sunday Swim session, see Camlough Lake on Facebook and Visit the Mournes andwww.clwf.eu.

Relatives of the Kingsmill victims’ have angrily criticised the RUC investigation in the aftermath of the murders following evidence revealed at the ongoing inquest in Belfast.

In recent days the inquest has heard how police were denied permission to question a number of alleged suspects, by orders from the RUC Special Branch, while an IRA informer named a number of high profile republicans, some of whom are now deceased, as having been involved in the killings of the ten Protestant workmen near Whitecross in January 1976.

The inquest was told the original RUC investigation was short of manpower as Detective Chief Inspector James Mitchell, who led the investigation, faced questions over failures to interview potentially vital witnesses.

Giving evidence, Mr Mitchell said that he arrived at the scene of the murders within 20 minutes of receiving the emergency call and was greeted with what he described in court as “one of the most gruesome murder scenes of the Troubles”.

He told the court that he required between 40 and 50 detectives to work on such a huge murder investigation, but the maximum he was given was 12 detectives and two sergeants.  The former officer also confirmed that the RUC had planned to interview a suspected IRA man but the force’s Special Branch officers denied them access to the suspect, while reported sightings of the hijacked van used in the attack were also not followed up.

The inquest also heard that the RUC failed to trace or question several eyewitnesses who came across the scene in the aftermath of the attack.

Speaking outside court, Colin Wharton – who lost his brother in the Kingsmills attack – criticised the RUC investigation, describimg the failures as “staggering”.

Newry-based software firm, First Derivatives, will take on 400 graduate recruits this year, in what is being hailed as the largest graduate hiring spree in Ireland.

The positions, which are being created in Newry and internationally, come after the company reported a 30% rise in sales in the year to the end of February. Revenue in the period was £151.7m,  up from £117m over the same period a year earlier, while pre-tax profits were also up by a fifth to £12.5m. A full year dividend of 20 pence per share is up 20% from last year.

Last year, the company acquired QuantumKDB, the London-based big data company of Irish man Kieran Lucid, for £2.2m. This followed previous acquisitions of Prelytix, ActivateClients and Affinity Systems.

The financial and technology giant, founded by Newry-born Brian Conlon, provides software, consulting and data analytics products and services, initially to the investment banking sector but increasingly to non-financial sectors where demand for real-time data analytics is rising – including precision engineering, and the defence and space sectors.

First Derivatives counts 19 out of 20 of the world’s biggest investment banks as customers.

The global player,which employs more than 1,750 people worldwide at offices in its Newry headquarters, Dublin, London, New York and Stockholm, is initiating two new programmes to cater for talented graduates – with the 400 graduate intake up from 300 last year.

Recruitment and Resource Manager Liz O’Hanlon says there are vacancies for applicants from various educational backgrounds who want to stay local or who want travel or work abroad and who may have “narrowly missed out” on fulfilling the entry requirements for the company’s Options programme.

“In recent years, we’ve opened a lot of new roles so traditionally we’ve always hired mathematicians, engineers, finance graduates of quite a high academic standard,” explained the Recruitment Manager.

“That is still the case but we’ve also launched a number of new graduate programmes.  This year we’ve launched our Futures programme and the exciting part of that is it’s a Newry based graduate programme, so hopefully it helps us target local graduates who may have narrowly missed out on our entrance criteria for our Options programme – which has been traditionally quite difficult to get into.

“We want those graduates who may have missed out to have an opportunity to contribute to the business,” added Liz.

“We have growing areas of the business based in Newry in the Applications Support team, so we’ve had a number of top global banks who have requested operations in our Headquarters office and the Futures graduates will provide a vital area of support to the global banking world that they operate in.”

For more information on First Derivatives graduate programmes visit www.firstderivatives.com.

A man arrested in connection with the murder of an elderly couple in Craigavon on Friday afternoon, is being linked to an incident in which a man manifesting “erratic behaviour” was detained in Newry earlier in the day.

The bodies of husband and wife Michael and Marjorie Cawdery, both aged 83, were discovered by a family member in their Upper Ramone Park home shortly before 4pm on Friday.  It is believed they suffered stab wounds in what has been described as “a burglary gone wrong”.  Mr Cawdery’s van was also stolen in the incident.  Within hours of the killings being reported, a 40-year-old man was arrested in the nearby Springfields area of Portadown.

It has been reported that the suspect is the same individual who had been detained by police in Newry on Friday morning after he was found walking naked on the Camlough Road.  Alerted by concerned witnesses, police detained the man and he was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital.  However, it emerged that he subsequently left the hospital without having been assessed by medics.  The victims’ home is located a short distance away from the hospital.

The man was not arrested under mental health legislation and remains in custody, The Examiner understands.

In a statement the Cawdery family said “the awful and incomprehensible events” have deprived them of “two wonderful people”.

“We thank the police for their prompt response and professional actions. We also thank everyone who has expressed sympathy in whatever way and offered help.”

Investigating detectives have appealed for anyone with information to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.

The Crossmaglen and District Community First Responders (CDCFR) team are delighted to have been nominated for a Shining Light Award in this year’s Community Volunteering Awards, which take place this Friday 2nd June.

The ‘Shining Light’ Awards were established by the Confederation of Community Groups (CCG) in memory of Patricia Graham, a dedicated member of the CCG who sadly passed away in 2009. They acknowledge and celebrate the commitment and dedication of organisations and individuals to community life throughout the district.

Speaking to The Examiner about the nomination, CDCFR Chairperson Aoibheann Byrne said the group were “extremely honoured” to have been nominated in the Community Services category of the awards alongside such worthy organisations as the renowned Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.

“We are delighted to be nominated for such an accolade,” said Aoibheann.

“It’s great for the group as a whole and for us as individuals to be recognised for the work being done in Crossmaglen and the surrounding areas.

“We feel it’s irrelevant whether we win the award or not as the nomination itself is a fantastic accolade for us.”

Aoibheann revealed the group has grown since the First Responders initiative was first launched in November 2015 and negotiations are underway with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to expand and extend the area that is covered by the team. Currently, First Responders are  dispatched to emergency calls throughout Crossmaglen, Culloville, Creggan, Glassdrummond, Silverbridge and Cullyhanna,  providing treatment to those in need of emergency medical assistance as they await the arrival of appropriate emergency services.

In rural areas the existence of such an initiative can mean the difference between life and death, given the inadequate ambulance response times throughout the district, and the scheme has been heralded as a vital lifeline for health services in south Armagh.

New training dates for volunteers are set for this coming September and the CDCFR welcome interest from any prospective volunteers who feel they would like to become part of the First Responders Team.

The Shining Light Awards ceremony will take place in the Canal Court Hotel, Newry this Friday 2nd June as part of Celebrating Volunteers Week in the area.

Ulster Unionist Councillor David Taylor and Harold McKee, the Ulster Unionist Party`s Westminster candidate for South Down, have expressed their disgust at the desecration of poppy wreaths placed at Narrow Water, Warrenpoint.

Councillor Taylor said: “I am disgusted that poppy wreaths placed at Narrow Water, Warrenpoint have been desecrated once again.

“These attacks never stop. It is just endless. The people that commit these crimes are full of hate,” said Councillor Taylor.

“Given the events of this week when we have seen terrorists bring death and destruction to the people of Manchester, it is appalling that there are still people in Northern Ireland who have learnt nothing from our past and are so full of hatred that they want to destroy memorials to the victims of terrorism from Northern Ireland’s Troubles.”

Party colleague Harold McKee, described the vandalism as a “sickening attack” which he said “only serves to compound the pain of the families of the service personnel who lost their lives at Narrow Water.”

“All right thinking people should condemn this hate crime and I would appeal to anyone with information on this incident to report it to the PSNI immediately. The police need help to bring the criminals responsible before the courts.”

Police are treating the incident as a hate crime after being alerted to the damage last Thursday morning. They have appealed for anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the vicinity recently, or anyone who may have information that could assist in their enquiries, to contact police in Newry on 101 quoting reference 264 of 25/05/17.

A young pupil of St. Joseph’s Primary School in Meigh has been crowned the 2017 Primary School Musician of the Year.

Harpist Paige McDonald emerged victorious, having been chosen as the overall winner by adjudicator Mr Michael McCracken from a panel of 15 finalists.

The Rotary Club of North Down is delighted to announce that harpist Paige McDonald of St. Joseph’s Primary School, Meigh, Newry is the 2017 Primary School Musician of the Year. Paige was selected by adjudicator Mr Michael McCracken from fifteen finalists.

Commenting on Paige’s performance, Mr McCracken, the Director of Music at Down Cathedral, said that it was “well beyond her years and displayed a high level of both skill and artistry”.

Commenting on the value of  the competition to all who had taken part, Mr  McCracken thanked the Rotary Club of North Down for organising the event which year by year was helping to raise the standard of musical performance across Northern Ireland.  He praised the teachers and parents who nurtured such amazing talent. All participants were winners because in taking part they developed skills of self-discipline, time management, self-criticism and teamwork which will be of great use to them in many aspects of their later lives, he said.

The man who inflicted ‘life-changing injuries’ on a Bessbrook toddler three years ago will be sentenced next month after he admitted the attack ahead of a hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Darren Eamonn Fagan (29) was told he faces a jail sentence after admitting to a probation officer that he had punched the two year old girl to her head “as she would not stop crying” and he claimed he wanted peace to watch the X Factor on TV.

The court also heard how Fagan has a previous conviction for assaulting the 20-month-old child of a former partner.

He had originally been due to stand trial for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent but had recently pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of GBH with intent.

During his re-arraignment, his guilty plea was accepted by the prosecution but they asked that the attempted murder charge be “left on the books in the usual terms”. Friday’s hearing revealed Fagan’s violent history and “extensive criminal record” which included further convictions for violence, including a conviction for assaulting an infant.

The assault of the two year old daughter of his Bessbrook girlfriend – which took place on 19 October 2014 – sent shockwaves throughout the local community and there was widespread revulsion when it was confirmed that the attack had left the child with permanent brain damage.

The court heard that at the time of the attack, the child’s mother had met Fagan about “eight to 10 times”. He had stayed over at the Bessbrook property on the night before the assault and it was alleged that Fagan started drinking cider around 1.30pm on the day of the attack.

According to an account the child’s mother gave to police, her daughter had arrived home from her father’s care that evening in “good form” but became unsettled after going to bed.  She said the toddler’s face was “red and sweating” when she went to check on her and she decided to go to the kitchen to look for medicine.  After doing so, she said she noticed that Fagan was not in the living room any more.

As she went back upstairs to her daughter, the mum alleges that her daughter “stopped crying” and she heard a “sudden noise… like a thud”.

A prosecution barrister explained that within three seconds of hearing the thud, the mother was in the room and saw the defendant “standing up, crouched over her daughter’s bed” and noticed “a large lump on the left side of her head.”

The barrister added that she shouted at him: ‘Oh my God, you’ve hit her!’ to which the defendant replied that it was “not what it looks like”.

After running down the stairs with her daughter, the mum said Fagan would not let her out through the front door saying he could explain what happened. After managing to escape with the toddler, she carried her up the street to a neighbour’s house.

The senior prosecutor told the judge that the child was “violently vomiting at this stage” with the distraught mother telling people at her neighbour’s home to ring for an ambulance.

The court heard that police officers on the scene performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on the child, before she was transferred by ambulance to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry. The toddler had sustained severe head injuries, including multiple fractures and a brain haemorrhage which have resulted in permanent brain damage requiring “intervention and support in the future”. The young victim also has a significant risk of developing epilepsy, the judge was told.

The prosecution said that when police eventually apprehended Fagan, he admitted he was the one they were looking for in connection with the attack but he later tried to blame the child’s injuries on her mother.

It was revealed that Fagan became violent after his arrest “and started head-butting the inside of the car” en route to the police station.

A defence barrister described the attack as an “explosive incident” which was carried out with “no premeditation” by his client.

Underlining Fagan’s “absolutely wretched” upbringing in foster accommodation, the defence told the court how he was forced into taking heroin by his mother at a young age and that he had taken a “cocktail of drink and drugs” on the night of the attack.

A letter in which Fagan expressed his remorse for the attack was also handed to the judge by the defence barrister and is to be passed on to the victim’s family.

The judge remanded the 29 year old back into custody ahead of sentencing on 9th June.

The family of a seriously ill baby will host a fundraising night this Friday 9th June in the Lisdoo, Dundalk to raise money to fund medical care that they hope will save their little girl’s life.

Tiny May Rose Gibney is just 12 weeks old and since birth has battled the rare brain condition Encephalocele.  Her mum Analee and extended family members are spearheading an ambitious fundraising campaign that might enable May Rose to avail of any consultancy appointments or treatment in the field of expertise associated with the rare and potential fatal condition.

Annalee (24) is originally from Newtownhamilton and now lives in the village of Moy.  She says when her daughter was born on 9th March, she was given just a limited chance of survival – months at best – however, little May Rose has battled against all the odds and consistently defied doctors’ opinions.

Now her family are frantically trying to raise enough money that May Rose can avail of expert care that will offer her the best hope for the future.

Analee says she is living her life “hour-by-hour, day by day”.

“The doctors have been unable to do anything because of May Rose’s condition.  We have been going up and down to Belfast every week for scans, seeking to reverse the opinions we have already been given,” she explained.  “She’s not strong enough for surgery at the minute; we’ve been told to wait a few months but I can’t wait that long for you never know what tomorrow brings,” she added fearfully.

Pledging to continue her efforts to raise awareness of Encephalocele, Annalee added: “I can’t thank the staff in the Belfast Health and Social Trust enough for what they have done for us. They really are a God-send from above and I will always be thankful for the service they have offered.  But I am adamant that more can be done, and I will continue to fight for my daughter. The funds that have been raised so far will go towards getting second opinions on neurosurgery, and third opinions, if that’s what it’s going to take. I can’t imagine my life without my daughter, I really am blessed to be her mother.”

This Friday the Lisdoo Arms in Dundalk will host ‘It’s Elvis’, a top class entertaining show by award-winning Elvis tribute artist, Liam Murphy.

Doors open at 9pm and ticket price/admission is £8/€10.

An online Go Fund Me page has also been set up to aid the fundraising campaign and is now more than halfway towards its £10,000 goal.  Donations can be made online at https://www.gofundme.com/encephalocele-on-the-brain.