Newry based waste management company Re-Gen Waste Ltd has confirmed that it is withdrawing a controversial application to operate a waste management facility in Warrenpoint Harbour.

A statement issued by the company on Tuesday last confirmed that it would be notifying the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) that it intended to withdraw its Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) permit application for the operation of a waste management facility, which would have been used to store up to 1,000 tonnes of hazardous waste at a time. If granted, the licence would have permitted the company to “operate an installation involving the treatment, transfer and temporary storage of hazardous waste.” The proposed development sparked anger amongst local residents and politicians on both sides of Carlingford Lough opposed the idea.  A protest group – No Toxic Lough – had also been set up in the wake of the proposal.

Last week, the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) released a statement which stressed that such a facility did not feature in the Warrenpoint Harbour Plan and respectfully requested that Regen withdrew its current licence application to the NIEA.

The Newry waste management company had moved to assure local stakeholders that it was aware its PPC permit application had raised concerns and it vowed to discuss the proposal further with the No Toxic Lough group and to “seriously consider” the views of the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and the wider community on both sides of the lough before making any further decisions regarding the progress of the application.

Revealing the u-turn decision last week, Re-Gen Waste Ltd Managing Director Joseph Doherty said that the company had taken into consideration the WHA’s withdrawal of support for the Permit application and the concerns of local stakeholders. Mr Doherty reiterated in his statement that any proposed facility “would not have had a detrimental impact on the environment, health and wellbeing of the community in the local area” and that the operation of the facility would have been in accordance with NIEA regulations and Re-Gen’s “comprehensive quality and environmental management system.”

The Managing Director admitted however that, upon speaking with various concerned parties, including politicians and councillors, they had “seriously considered their views along with those of the wider community on both sides of the lough and despite our confidence that the facility would not have had any negative impact, we have concluded that we do not wish to cause them any further distress or concern.”

“As a result we have decided to withdraw our Pollution, Prevention and Control (PPC) permit application for the operation of a waste management facility at this location.”

It is understood Re-Gen are currently considering the next steps for the development of a hazardous waste facility for the region and that once an alternative proposal has been identified, it will undertake a pre-application discussion process with the NIEA.

Two hikers were taken to hospital on Saturday night after they were rescued by a Coastguard helicopter from the Mourne mountains.  The men were part of a group of four men, believed to be in their 20s, who were descending Slieve Bearnagh at around 4.30pm on Saturday.

One man is understood to have fallen near granite slabs on the mountain, suffering head and back injuries, while a second man was hurt as he tried to help the injured man.

The Mourne Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) responded to the group’s call for help, sending 18 volunteers to assist with the rescue.

According to the MMRT, the HM Coastguard helicopter from Holyhead in Wales was called for the first faller “due to the severity of the casualty’s injuries” while an Irish Coast Guard helicopter from Dublin flew in for the second man when his condition deteriorated as he was being taken from the mountain.

Neville Watson, who co-ordinated the rescue for the MMRT, said the group had found themselves in steep, rocky terrain which is popular with rock-climbers and the first man had stumbled and fallen some distance. The second man was injured when he went to help his friend.

“He was suffering from pain in his hip area and leg area and we were concerned that there may have been additional internal injuries along with that,” said Mr Watson.

The men were taken to hospital in Belfast, where they are recovering from their ordeal.

A new cross border ferry service linking Co Louth and Co Down finally made its maiden voyage on Friday after severe weather conditions threatened to scupper any hopes of it setting sail.   The Scenic Carlingford Ferry had been due to set off at 12 noon on Friday however operators, Frazer Ferries, called it off with less than 40 minutes notice due to gale force weather.  Improved weather conditions saw the first one mile journey from Greenore to Greencastle finally take place shortly after lunchtime. 

The project – which has been discussed for the last 50 years – has been beset by setbacks and has faced years of opposition from campaigners. Last month Appeal judges in Belfast upheld a High Court dismissal of a case challenging the granting of planning permission and a marine licence for the new service. 

The ferry’s inaugural sailing had been due to take place last month but was postponed due to an “unforeseen delay” in taking delivery of specialised technical products which needed to be installed before operations could begin.

Locals hope the €10 million project – entirely privately financed and operated by Shannon-based company Frazer Ferries Group – will boost tourism and the economy on both sides of the border.  Whilst boats have been ferrying passengers across the lough for several years, the new ferry is the first vehicular service, with the 44-car vessel taking just 15 to 20 minutes to traverse the lough, meaning commuters will be able to cut out a 35-mile route drive around the lough, taking 90 minutes off their journey by road.

Paul O’Sullivan, founder and managing director of Scenic Carlingford Ferry said he hoped that the service would “act as a catalyst for economic development in the south Down north Louth region”.

In a statement, Mr O’Sullivan added: “We are delighted to announce the ferry’s first passenger sailing today and look forward to welcoming visitors on board to experience everything that this service has to offer.

“Carlingford Lough is located midway between the two major population centres of Dublin and Belfast.

“This corridor encompasses a resident population of almost 2.2 million people.

“Scenic Carlingford Ferry will act as a catalyst for economic development in the south Down/north Louth region and will become an essential infrastructural link which will stimulate economic growth in a range of sectors, including the tourism industry.”

Prices for the cross border crossing are starting at €2.25 for a single foot passenger journey when booked online (€3 normally). A single car journey (including passengers) currently costs €11.25 one way when booked online (€15 normally).

The service will run from 7am to 9.30pm during the summer, and from 7am to 7pm from October to March.

An Art student who has embarked on a 200 mile run along the border to protest against the effects of Brexit on the Irish border will arrive in Crossmaglen this Thursday evening (27th July) before setting off on the final leg of her gruelling long durational run on Friday morning. 

Polish native Aleks Stanek, who has lived in the North since 2005, set off on her intrepid endeavour from Muff in Donegal on Saturday and will pass through Crossmaglen, Creggan, Skyhill, Forkhill, Drumintee, Meigh, Cloughoge and Newry en route to her final stop in Warrenpoint on Friday.

The Fine Art graduate, who is commencing her Masters Degree in Sculpture at the Royal College of Art in London in September, will engage in visible and invisible art throughout her run, “to highlight the invisible border and the potential visible Hard Border with Brexit.”

The run forms part of Miss Stanek’s project, entitled “The Search for Miraculous”, which she says aims to defy restrictions of movement and “remembers the border’s turbulent past, as well as the communities for whom change in its status would bring unwanted consequences.”

The project borrows its name from a work of the same title by artist Bas Jan Ader who became lost at sea while attempting to single-handedly sail around the world in a search for the undefined ‘miraculous’.

Throughout the long durational run, the art student will bury the rubble of Belfast and ash tree seeds at unmarked intersections to create invisible monuments.

“The broken bricks symbolise uncertainty faced by Northern Irish industries following last year’s referendum result. The permanence of borders, whether physical or imaginary, will be reflected by the budding growth of ash tree seeds,” says Miss Stanek.

“Being a Polish national, I hope the run can draw attention to the importance of an open border while leaving out the usual presumptions of bias and tribalism. I also aim to portray freedom of movement as an essential part of the human experience and a birthright rather than privilege of class or statue.”

The Border Communities Against Brexit group, who are supporting the unique protest and assisting Miss Stanek in the logistics of her journey,  are calling on all runners, joggers, cyclists and those who live in the towns and village along the route to come out and show their support for this tough endeavour.

Aleks’ progress can be followed at aleksstanek.com and on facebook.com/aleksstanekva.

Police investigating a recent spate of horrific attacks on sheep in the Ballyholland area say they are examining a possible link with similar attacks carried out in County Armagh two years ago.

A manhunt was launched earlier this month to find the perpetrator(s) behind the slaughter of a number of sheep in two separate attacks near Newry.

The incidents, which occurred just days apart in fields on the Temple Hill Road, Ballyholland, shocked the community and left farmers fearful for the safety of their livestock. Several animals were viciously attacked and had their throats cut and ears sliced off, while others had injuries so severe, they had to be humanely put down by a vet.  In June, six pedigree sheep were killed in the Mass Rock area of Ballyholland – some of them also had their ears removed.

 The attacks bear a striking resemblance to those carried out in Armagh in May 2015 when a number of lambs were stabbed to death and had their ears cut off in two separate incidents at a farm on the Battleford Road outside Armagh city.

According to PSNI District Commander Paul Reid, police are investigating a correlation between the brutal attacks.  He said they had initially ruled out a link between the two latest attacks and the Mass Rock attack but that officers are now reexamining June’s incident and are working with the Department of Agriculture during their investigation.

The District Commander believes someone may have key evidence about the shocking attacks and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.  

A new multi-million pound contract extension has been agreed between Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) and Dublin-based freight specialist Seatruck Ferries.  The 10 year deal follows extensive investment in the port facilities in the seaside town, including a recent £1.3m capital dredging campaign.   The harbour authority hope the new freight contract will secure its position as the north’s second busiest port for freight.

Seatruck is now the largest tonnage operator in Warrenpoint and it recorded the fastest percentage freight growth of any Northern Ireland ferry service during 2016.

A twice-daily Seatruck ferry has been in operation between Warrenpoint and Heysham port in Lancashire for 21 years.  As part of the agreement, the WHA has pledged to provide more terminal space as necessary for future growth predictions.

Commenting on the multi-million pound deal, Alistair Eagles, chief executive of Seatruck Ferries, said,

“Warrenpoint is where the Seatruck story began, and we are absolutely delighted to extend our agreement with the port and in turn our commitment to the local area.

“The wider financial benefits of having a successful port in this area should not be underestimated.

“Warrenpoint Harbour is the economic heartbeat of Newry and the Mournes and more widely on both sides of the border.”

“We now need to ensure that we have the arteries clear to ensure that the blood can flow freely and we welcome the progress being made on the Newry Southern Relief Road,” he added.

WHA chief executive Peter Conway said, “Seatruck is a fast-growing innovative ferry operator with a long and successful history at Warrenpoint.

“Together, both companies hope to continue to grow the business and to provide and develop this modern, cross-channel roll-on-roll-off service. Seatruck is the port’s largest customer and this new deal demonstrated its commitment to the port and the region for the long term.”

Echoing Mr Eagles’ sentiments, Mr Conway added that north-south connectivity in a post-Brexit era will be all the more important and he said that the WHA would continue to lobby for the construction of the Newry southern relief road “to further improve access to the major road networks across both parts of this island.”

Art student Aleks Stanek set off from Crossmaglen on Friday morning for the final leg of her 200 mile run along the border to protest against the effects of Brexit on the Irish border. 

The Polish native, who has lived in the north since 2005, had already completed the lion’s share of her gruelling endeavour after setting off from Muff in Donegal on Saturday 22nd July and weaving her way along the border across Ireland passing through Crossmaglen on Friday towards Creggan, Skyhill, Forkhill, Drumintee, Meigh, Cloughoge and Newry en route to her final stop in Warrenpoint.

The intrepid protest run formed part of Miss Stanek’s project, entitled “The Search for Miraculous”, which she says aims to defy restrictions of movement and “remembers the border’s turbulent past, as well as the communities for whom change in its status would bring unwanted consequences.”

Throughout the long durational run, the art student buried the rubble of Belfast brick and ash tree seeds at unmarked intersections along the way to create invisible monuments.

“The broken bricks symbolise uncertainty faced by Northern Irish industries following last year’s referendum result. The permanence of borders, whether physical or imaginary, will be reflected by the budding growth of ash tree seeds,” says Miss Stanek.

Joshua Muckian, James Muckian, Aleks Stanek, Ciara Conway, Oliver Short and Gerard Murray.

“Being a Polish national, I hope the run can draw attention to the importance of an open border while leaving out the usual presumptions of bias and tribalism. I also aim to portray freedom of movement as an essential part of the human experience and a birthright rather than privilege of class or statue.”

Aleks was joined on her run by joggers, runners and cyclists from border counties along the way, who turned up in force to support the adventurous student’s protest.  Her 200 mile journey came to an end in Warrenpoint on Friday evening where the polish art student received a heroes welcome for undertaking a unique demonstration of opposition against the effects of Brexit for Ireland North and South.

The Thomas D’Arcy McGee Summer School in Carlingford,  which runs from 21-23 Aug, is set to help Canada celebrate its 150th birthday. Canadian Confederation & Irish Fenianism is the theme of the 6th annual Summer School dedicated to D’Arcy McGee, whose inspirational speeches played a key role in the establishment of the Canadian confederation in 1867.

And this year’s special guest, General John de Chastelain, former Chairman of the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning, was one of the key players in the confidence-building process that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.

The year 2017 marks the 150th Anniversary of Confederation in Canada and of a Fenian Rising in Ireland. Thomas D’Arcy McGee was deeply involved in both events — as a Father of Confederation, and as an implacable opponent of Fenianism.   “The best argument we can make here for Ireland,” he said on St Patrick’s Day 1868, three weeks before his assassination, “is to enable friendly observers at home to say: ‘See how well Irishmen get on together in Canada. There they have equal civil and religious rights; there they cheerfully enjoy just laws, and are ready to die for the rights they enjoy, and the country that is so governed.’  Let us put that into the hands of the friends of Ireland at home, and it will be worth all the revolvers that were stolen from a Cork gunshop.” He might have added that those revolvers had been stolen by William Mackey Lomasney, a Fenian who had been raised in Toronto.

“The 2017 D’Arcy McGee Summer School explores the hidden connections between constitutional change in Canada and revolutionary movements in Ireland, and their significance for both countries,” according to David Wilson, biographer of two volumes on the Carlingford-born politician, poet and patriot. Professor Wilson will deliver a much-anticipated talk on the Irish roots of Canadian confederation

Leading academics, politicians and community activists from Canada and Ireland will provide an informative, engaging and enjoyable 3-day birthday party. Early booking is advisable.

Following the runaway success of The Trial of Pádraig Pearse (it has played to packed audiences in 18 locations in Canada and Ireland since last year’s Summer School), which was commissioned for the 2016 Summer School, playwright Anthony Russell  has accepted a commission to write a follow-up, entitled The Trial of the Orange Order.

Gerry O’Connor, Colum Sands and friends will provide the music, which is always popular with visitors and locals.

Book now at http://www.carlingfordheritagecentre.com/events/thomas-darcy-mcgee-summer-school-2017/

A surprise inspection carried out by Newry council health officials uncovered a Europe-wide conspiracy to pass off 30 tonnes of horsemeat as beef, the London Inner Crown Court heard last week.

Fifty-five year old businessman Andronicos Sideras, one of the owners of meat manufacturer Dinos & Sons, was found guilty by a jury of five men and seven women of being part of a £200k plot in which beef and horsemeat were mixed together before being sold on to other companies as pure beef.

Two other men – Ulrik Nielsen (58), owner of FlexiFoods, and Alex Beech (44), who is described as a “right hand man” in the operation, had already pleaded guilty to their part in the plan, which deceived consumers and food processors throughout Europe. 

On Tuesday last, following a four week trial, Mr Sideras was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud between January 1 and November 30, 2012. 

During the trial it was revealed that Danish-owned company FlexiFoods purchased horsemeat and beef from suppliers across Europe which were then delivered to Dinos & Sons’ premises in Tottenham, north London.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the trial that fake labels and paperwork were produced to make the mixed meat appear like pure beef, before it was sold on to food manufacturers making products for a “vast range of well-known companies.”

He said the plot was “motivated by greed” and that it could not have happened without Mr Sideras’ complicity.  Sideras, of Southgate in London, claimed he had only stored the meat for Flexifoods and was not part of the conspiracy.

At the time the stomach-turning plan was carried out, beef could be sold at a wholesale price of €3 per kilo, while horsemeat sold at €2.

The scheme finally unravelled in 2012 when one of the mixed meat loads was delivered to the Freeza Meat store in Newry’s Greenbank Industrial Estate.  The pallets were subjected to a surprise health inspection by Newry and Mourne District Council, which revealed that a third of the pallets contained horsemeat. Horse ID chips, roughly the size of a grain of rice, were also found in the meat.

Commenting on Tuesday’s verdict, FSA chair Heather Hancock said: “This guilty verdict is welcome. It sends a strong message that we will not tolerate fraudulent activity and I hope today’s conviction is a major deterrent.”

All three men will be sentenced today (Monday 31st July).

A Newtownhamilton family has been reunited with their beloved lost dog after he was discovered an astonishing 40 miles away, in Annalong. 

One year old ‘Jug’ pup, Isaac –  a cross between a Jack Russell and a Pug –  had gone missing from the Convery family home around the 11th/12th July.  Eighteen year old owner Emma Convery told The Examiner that initially the family felt sure Isaac had not strayed too far and that he would find his way home.  They became increasingly concerned however when he failed to make an appearance after a few days.

Unbeknownst to Emma, Isaac had been found 40 miles away in Annalong on Saturday 14th July by staff working in the Galley restaurant.  They generously took the bewildered pooch in, feeding and looking after him until his owners could be traced.

Unionist Councillor Henry Reilly, an Annalong resident, was asked to post Isaac’s photo on Facebook.  His appeal was shared more than 150 times, eventually catching the attention of Emma’s mother, who was astounded that the pup had ended up so far away!  The Convery’s were reunited with Isaac on Saturday 22nd July, 10 days after he is thought to have gone missing.

Cara and Laura are delighted to have Isaac home safely from his adventures.

Speaking to The Examiner about Isaac’s ordeal, Emma said the family are delighted to be reunited with him, especially four year old Laura, for whom the dog was bought to help her through the grief of losing her beloved godfather last year. 

“We are so grateful to the staff in the Galley Restaurant who looked after Isaac so well for us and to Henry Reilly for sharing his picture – without them all we don’t know if we would have seen him again.

“The death of my sister Laura’s godfather hit our family hard – especially Laura. We bought Isaac to help her through her grief and she was so upset that he was missing.  We believe Isaac was taken and dropped so far away in a malicious act. He would not have made it so far on foot.”

As for Isaac, Emma says that although he was initially fearful and frightened after his ordeal,   he is now back to his old playful self.

“We are so, so happy to have him back and Laura has been smothering him with love since being reunited with him!  There are definitely some good people out there and we are so thankful to them for helping us get Isaac back.”

Police have urged the public to be vigilant to cold-callers after a gang attempted to con a “substantial” amount of money from a Warrenpoint pensioner for incomplete and shoddy work.

Three men, aged 42, 23 and 22, were arrested on suspicion of fraudulent behaviour following the incident.  Following questioning, two of the men were charged with a number of offences while the 42-year-old was released on bail pending further enquiries.

The pair, aged 22 and 23, appeared before Newry Magistrates’ Court on Thursday to face charges including fraud by false representation, failing to give notice of the right to cancel a contract and acting as a pedlar without a contract.

Outlining the incident, Detective Sergeant Mark Crothers explained: “On the morning of Saturday 29th July three males called at a house offering to power wash the roof of an elderly resident for a substantial fee. The men are believed to have been using a large white van with red writing on it. After completing half a day’s work, the males returned on Monday, 31 July to finish this job and requested extra money whilst there.

“Luckily on both occasions no monies were exchanged,” he said and asked that anyone with information contact police.

Pointing out that the elderly or vulnerable are mainly the victims of incidents of this nature, Det Sgt Crothers advised anyone who has been targeted to contact police.

“Most callers at your door will be genuine but someone could be trying to gain access to look around your property or charge you far too much for shoddy or non-existent work,” he said.

He advised householder to use the Quick Check service (0800 013 12 90) to check if callers to your door, such as meter readers, are genuine.

No Cold Calling Zone stickers are available on request from your local Crime Prevention Officer by calling 101 or from the Policing and Community Safety Partnership by calling 0300 0300 900.

Anyone with concerns in relation to rogue traders, current scams and how to avoid becoming a victim of a scam, can visit Scamwise NI at www.nidirect.gov.uk/campaigns/scamwiseni.

 Almost 70 people, including children, were rescued from an expedition in the Mourne Mountains on Wednesday when they got into difficulty as a result of increasingly bad weather conditions.

The group of army cadets – aged from 12 to 17 – and their mentors from the Cleveland Army Cadet Force in Middlesbrough were on an adventure training exercise near Annalong when the emergency services were alerted shortly after 11am.

A major incident was declared by the Ambulance Service, who tasked almost 20 crews to the scene.  Assistance was also provided by the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team, PSNI, Irish Coastguard Rescue 116 helicopter and Coastguard rescue teams from Newcastle, Bangor and Kilkeel.  The Coastguards helicopters based at Caernarfon and Prestwick attended although were grounded for a time due to the bad conditions.

Five casualties suffered minor leg injuries while a number were treated for the effects of exposure, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) said.

All members of the group were safely removed off the mountain and the MoD said it was “exceptionally grateful” for the assistance of all the emergency services.

SDLP MLA Colin McGrath said the incident “will surely highlight the need for extreme caution” when walking in the mountains, particularly when weather conditions “have been atrocious on street/town level never mind up in the mountains”.

Organisers of a series of fundraising events held last month to commemorate the 21st birthday of Ciaran Caraher have offered their appreciation to everyone who helped make the occasion a success.

Ciaran, from Cullyhanna was just 22 months old when he died from meningitis in April 1998.  Since then, his family circle and friends have undertaken countless fundraising projects in his memory to raise money for the Children’s Ward at Daisy Hill Hospital, where little Ciaran was treated.

In July a family fun weekend was held in Cullyhanna, which featured a Tractor and Toyota Run, a kids’ Tractor Run and a Country and Jive night, and on Friday last, the organizing committee handed over the weekend’s proceeds of £5,045 to Daisy Hill’s Hospital Children’s Ward Manager Sr Bronagh Corr.

Accepting the donation, Sr Corr said: “On behalf of all of our staff and patients I would like to thank the Carahers and everyone who contributed to their amazing fundraising efforts for such generosity. This very welcome donation will be used to buy equipment for our new Paediatric Unit which will be opening early next year.”

The Caraher family takes this opportunity to thank everyone who took part and supported the events and their generous sponsors: Peter Keenan, Aidy and Colleen Swift, Fane Valley Stores, Mary Deery, Caitlin’s Cottage, Raymond Watters, Cosy Cafe Castleblayney, Superbites, Face Painters, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Peppa Pig and Minnion, S & C Party Entertainment, Tommy Trickster, Sally Lennon, Anthony Donnelly, Aine Woods, Shionnainn McArdle, St Patrick’s GFC, Jean Rushe, Fr Cullen, Cross Examiner for promoting the event, all tractor and car drivers.  Best of luck also to Red Owen Conlon for getting his tractor back on the road – good luck Tom Joe – and to all the children involved in the kids’ tractor run.

Proceeds from the charity weekend have boosted the overall total that has been raised by the Caraher family in Ciaran’s name to more than £112,000, a tremendous sum that has helped further meningitis research and provide comfort to many patients of Daisy Hill’s Children’s Ward since his tragic passing.

Ciaran’s parents, Francis and Sheila, say none of this would have been possible without the support they have received.

“We are overwhelmed by the support of the local community, celebrating what would have been Ciaran’s 21st birthday and raising £5,045stg,” they said.

“Since Ciaran’s sudden death to meningitis in 1998, our committee have raised over £112,000 stg, a staggering amount to say the least, going towards meningitis research, Belfast and Dublin, Daisy Hill Hospital and local charitable causes.

“This would not be possible only for our family and friends sticking together and helping out at our time of need.  This money has gone to help many sick children and helped create a new vaccine in the fight against meningitis.”

Urging parents to be vigilant for the signs of meningitis, they added: Please be aware of the symptoms of the deadly disease because it acts so quickly and, as we know, 24 hours is all it takes.”

New legislation that came into effect last week means driving bans are now recognized on both sides of the border, regardless of the jurisdiction in which the motorist has been disqualified.

The move is the implementation of a road safety agreement between the British and Irish governments, signed in 2015, and which became law on August 1st.

Motorists who have been banned from driving on the other side of the border from where they live will now also be automatically disqualified in their home jurisdiction.

The Chief Inspector of Criminal Justice in Northern Ireland, Brendan McGuigan said the move will help improve road safety: “I welcome the announcement that motorists who choose to flout the laws of the road and commit offences that lead to their prosecution and disqualification in Northern Ireland or another part of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, will have their driving bans recognised in either jurisdiction.

“Motorists who choose to drive recklessly or a manner which creates a danger and places other road users at risk cannot be tolerated.”

Irish Transport Minister Shane Ross said the new law is aimed at targeting dangerous drivers on the roads.

“The disqualifications relate to drivers disqualified for reckless or dangerous driving, hit-and-run driving, and driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs,” he said.

“Mutual recognition of driving disqualifications is an important road safety measure for both Ireland and the UK.  Maintaining the common travel area and our economic links with the UK are important priorities for Ireland, and this agreement will make a contribution towards that objective, as well as making an important contribution to road safety,” Mr Ross added.

A campaign group set up to prevent any closure of Daisy Hill hospital’s A&E department has responded positively to recent Pathfinder Project public meetings, aimed at finding a permanent solution to the issue.

On Friday last, Dr. Anne Marie Telford, head of the DHH Pathfinder Project (PFP), met with committee representatives of the Save Our Emergency Department (SOED) campaign group, relevant agencies and concerned members of the public, at a public engagement meeting in Crossmaglen.

Speaking afterwards, a spokesperson for SOED said the meeting was “a very positive initial step”.

“We were informed by the panel about the various work streams/platforms that are planned and were glad to hear that feedback and consultation will take place frequently with both the public and also staff members the future,” the spokesperson said.

“The SOED committee relayed the huge level of concern amongst the community about any night time closure of the emergency department. We committed to fully working with the Pathfinder group to ensure that this does not happen. We also reiterated our belief that Daisy Hill is facing issues that affect every hospital in every Trust, and that it is only by coming to a solution that helps every hospital, that a sustainable solution to the problem will be reached.

“The Pathfinder group members were very engaging and listened to these concerns, we felt that they fully recognised the magnitude of the support behind Daisy Hill’s ED as well as the clinical need for it being maintained as a 24/7 service.”

Although unable to address “specific concerns” at the meeting, it’s expected these will be addressed at future meetings, the spokesperson said.

“In the coming weeks and months we plan to fully inform the public of our involvement with every aspect of the group and encourage them to get in touch with any specific concerns or issues they would like us to raise throughout this process.  We remain committed to ensuring that the acute services in Daisy Hill are not only sustained but that they are also invested in and developed, and are glad to be part of this project aimed at achieving these aims.”

Two men involved in a Europe-wide horsemeat scandal, which was uncovered by health officials at Newry Mourne and Down District Council, have been jailed for their part in the conspiracy, while a third was given a suspended sentence.

The scam involved 30 tonnes of horsemeat, most of which entered the food chain.

Andronicos Sideras (55), one of the owners of Tottenham-based meat manufacturer Dinos & Sons, mixed horsemeat with beef before selling it to other firms in a plot that deceived both consumers and food processors.

Ulrik Nielsen (58), the Danish owner of FlexiFoods, bought horsemeat and beef from suppliers across Europe and had it delivered to Dinos, while Nielsen’s “right-hand man”, Alex Beech (44) arranged for the shipments to be transferred and handled the accounting.

Sideras, of Southgate, north London, was found guilty of one count of conspiracy to defraud between January 1 and November 30, 2012, and was jailed at Inner London Crown Court for four years and six months.

Nielsen and Beech, who had already pleaded guilty to the same charge, were sentenced, Nielsen to three years and six months in jail, and Beech to 18 months suspended for 12 months.

The trio’s plot was discovered in September 2012 when Newry and Mourne District Council health inspectors made an unannounced visit to a Freeza Meat store in Newry and found a third of the pallets contained horsemeat.

While later examining around 12 tonnes of meat by hand, police found horse ID chips, roughly the size of a grain of rice.  They belonged to two horses named Trak and Wiktor from the Lodz region of Poland, and a third Irish horse called Carnesella Lady, from rural Galway.

With products labelled as beef and other meats found to contain varying amounts of horse flesh, the contamination crisis rocked UK supermarkets.  And although the face value of the fraud was £177,869, police said the true cost had probably run into millions of pounds.

In a statement, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said the horsemeat scandal had affected consumer confidence in food.

“While there is no risk to public health, this case has shown that Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Environmental Health Officers have the legal powers and ability to investigate these serious types of food fraud,” a spokesman said.

“This goes towards helping to restore consumer confidence and protecting the consumer from being misled, whilst at the same time providing fairness for all the other businesses within the district and beyond who are operating with responsible and legitimate practices.”

The official launch of the Northern Ireland Air Ambulance service last week is “a watershed moment” for emergency response care in Northern Ireland that will undoubtedly save lives, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has said.

Describing the campaign to establish the air ambulance service as “long and grueling”, Mr McNulty says the determination of people behind the project has ensured emergency services will now reach isolated areas in a fraction of the time, resulting in better patient outcomes.

“Journeys with patients facing acute medical conditions or trauma that would otherwise have taken over an hour can now be completed in minutes, giving those in need of care the best chance of recovery,” he said.

Calling for sustainable funding for the service to be secured, he added: “What’s vital now is that we ensure funding for the service is sustainable and not reliant on public donations to continue. This must be a priority for all parties and underscores the critical need to establish power sharing institutions in the North.”

The air ambulance was called into service during Wednesday’s official launch ceremony when almost 70 people, both adults and children, got into difficulties while rambling in the Mourne mountains.

The air ambulance was among more than a dozen emergency crews, which included ten A&E teams, Mountain Rescue and the Coastguard, that responded to the major incident.

The Irish government hopes to meet with families of the Kingsmill massacre before the end of this month, former First Minister Arlene Foster has said.

The announcement was made following a meeting between the DUP leader and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Belfast on Friday.

Mrs Foster used the opportunity to seek assurances from the Taoiseach regarding his government’s commitment to assisting the Kingsmill inquest, which restarted May, having been suspended last year to allow the investigation of a palm print found on a van used by the gunmen.

Ten Protestant factory workers were returning from work when they were shot dead by gunmen who stopped their bus at Kingsmill, near Whitecross in January 1976.

Despite assurances from former Taoiseach Enda Kenny during a meeting with the victims’ families in 2015, authorities in Dublin have failed to hand over Garda documents to the inquest and some of the bereaved relatives have threatened to boycott the inquest proceedings if the evidence is not produced.

The Irish government, however, insists it is prevented from doing so by current legislation and Garda commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan cannot direct an officer to give evidence without a change in the law.

Following her meeting with Leo Varadkar, Mrs Foster said: “We spoke about Kingsmill and the need to bring justice to those families.  We are working with the Taoiseach in relation to those issues.  They are looking at legislation and they are hoping to meet with the Kingsmill families before the end of the month.”

Meanwhile victims’ campaigner Willie Frazer says he is organizing a rally in Dublin next month in a bid to put pressure on the Irish government to hand over documents relating to the inquest.

The ‘Victims March for Justice” event is being planned for the end of September and will include bands which have lost members during the Troubles, he said.

Mr Frazer was responsible for the ‘Love Ulster’ rally in Dublin in 2006 which was abandoned after rioting broke out.

All the world’s a stage for Whitecross dancer Aine Malone who is set to embark on a global tour with Michael Flatley’s Irish dance spectacular, Lord of the Dance “Dangerous Games”. The World Champion Irish dancer will be jetting off to Russia in October as part of the renowned dance extravaganza which has now been running for over 20 years.

Featuring groundbreaking new technology including holographs, special effects lighting, dancing robots and world champion acrobats,  the production tells the story of the battle between the Lord of the Dance – originally played by Michael Flatley – and the evil Dark Lord against a backdrop of live music, song and dance.

Speaking to The Examiner as she prepares for her exciting opportunity, the local Irish dancing star says she is finally realising a lifelong dream of being part of one of the world’s most popular dance shows.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do and I’m so excited to finally be part of it!” says the 18 year old, whose legs have been flying and her feet tapping since the tender age of 3 when she joined the Rooney O’Malley Maguire Dance School. 

With 7 back to back Ulster Championship titles and 3 World Champion titles under her belt, Aine is no stranger to new dance routines and hard work.  That wealth of experience and dedication will stand by the dancing champion as her feet will literally hit the ground running with her first performance taking place on 1st November – just 24 hours after she arrives in Russia.

With no time to waste, the dedicated dancer is busy rehearsing her routines with dance teachers Eamonn and Debbie O’Malley, who have also performed in Flatley’s shows over the years.  Aine says their expertise have been crucial in helping her learn and perfect the high octane routines from the famed dance show.

“Debbie and Eamon have both been in the show themselves so they’ve been able to advise me on what to expect and their help with the routines has been fantastic,” says Aine.

Explaining how she came to apply for the role, the outgoing St.Paul’s student says,

“I was finishing school in June after completing my A-Levels and throughout the year I was trying to decide whether to go to University or take a year out to concentrate on dancing.  I decided to apply for Lord of the Dance and take it from there. The production team rang me and asked me to audition in Belfast and I found out in June that I had been accepted!

“I’m thrilled to have such a fantastic opportunity and feel like I should do it now when I am young and fit and just go with it. I’m very excited that I’m realising my dream of dancing in the show and to travel the world with it will be just amazing.”   

In fact, the Whitecross girl will visit four countries in just two months starting in Russia in November then on to Germany and Poland before arriving in China in December.   She says her family and friends are both “excited and apprehensive” for her and, as far as the gruelling and demanding schedule show goes, Aine feels ready to take it on.

“The dance troupes get a break every two months so I’ll be able to come home and recharge, see friends and family before getting back to the show,” she says.

Her dance teachers have also expressed their pride in one of their star pupils.

Eamonn O’Malley from the Rooney O’Malley Maguire school said he and his wife Debbie, along with stalwart dance teacher Mrs Keenan, are “very proud of Aine.” 

“This has always been a dream for her, she’s worked very hard and is dedicated to her dancing and her school.  Aine has always been a pleasure to teach, she listens attentively, works hard and always keen to improve on her performance, these are key to her success.

“It is great to see Aine following in the footsteps of her teachers, myself and Debbie Maguire who also performed in Michael Flatley’s shows.  Aine is an inspiration to all the young Rooney O’Malley Maguire dancers.  We wish Aine every success with this show and for the future.”

The Examiner would like to wish Aine safe travels and the best of luck in her amazing opportunity, living her dream on stages around the globe.

A father of four from Keady has been remanded in custody after allegedly being caught with €700,000 worth of heroin at Dublin airport last month.

Cloverhill District Court heard last week that 40 year old Alan Maginn, from Drumhillery Road in Keady had flown in from Malaga in Spain, where he has been living with his family for the last three years, when the discovery was made at a car park in Dublin Airport.  He is charged with possessing heroin for the purpose of sale or supply on July 19 last and was denied bail after being deemed a serious flight risk.

Det Garda Chris Elliot told Judge Kathryn Hutton during the hearing that it was the State’s case that Mr Maginn was “caught red-handed” in a car with a controlled drug worth €700,000.  He said the accused arrived on a flight from Malaga and was due to make a return trip with Aer Lingus four hours later.

The Detective revealed that Mr McGinn had an “extensive flight history this year between Dublin and Malaga” and he said it was his belief that the defendant was a flight risk.  He accepted that McGinn had offered an address in the Irish Republic where he could stay, however, he added that the property is up for sale and the defendant would have to move out once it is sold. He also accepted Mr Maginn had no previous convictions or a history of bench warrants.

Detective Garda Elliot said a file was being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and that police were awaiting forensic reports which would take four weeks. 

Mr McGinn’s wife Roisin travelled to Dublin for the bail hearing and the court heard she intends to stay in the country pending her husband’s trial. 

The defence team proposed that the accused would obey a curfew and surrender his own and his son’s passport.  It was also noted by Judge Hutton that Mrs Maginn relies heavily on her husband and that one of their children has a medical condition that requires a great level of care.

Refusing bail however, the judge said she found that the accused was within the ambit of the principles of the O’Callaghan Rules and he was a serious flight risk.

The Keady man was remanded in custody to appear again on a date in September.