Slieve Gullion Forest Park has been revealed as the most popular tourist destination in the Newry, Mourne & Down District Council area, with approximately 400,000 visitors stopping by the south Armagh facility last year.

Council Chairperson Roisin Mulgrew says the park’s dramatic increase in popularity is largely due to substantial Council and external investment in the site, transforming facilities available for local residents, families and mountain trekkers.

Welcoming the news, Mrs Mulgrew says additional development of the site “could further unlock the potential” of the historic Ring of Gullion area.

“Slieve Gullion Forest Park is now a community hub that attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, with something for everyone,” Councillor Mulgrew said.

“For the fourth year running the Forest Park has been received the Green Flag award, the only one in the council area.  Not only does continued development bring tourists in from far and wide to enjoy the natural splendour and new facilities in the area, it has also resurrected the vibrant ancient history of the Ring of Gullion area and boosted tourism across South Armagh.”

The Sinn Fein councillor says her party has “pushed hard” for further development

and the Council has secured investment in recent years that has transformed the site as a tourist destination.

“New parking and exercise facilities have been a success, while the ‘Fairy Trail’ captures the local myths and legends of the mountain area, bringing to life for children their local heritage

“As the Killeavy Castle development continues to progress, there is even greater potential for touristic and economic development. Our local community can only benefit as a result,” she added.

Sinn Féin Newry and Armagh MP Mickey Brady has refuted accusations of being complicit in vote-rigging after he acted as an observer to the recent disputed election in Venezuela.

Mr Brady was invited by the Venezuelan government to be an observer at the election which took place on Sunday 6th August.  He was part of a delegation invited to oversee the vote in the absence of internationally recognised independent observers.

The vote for a new assembly in the South American country has been branded corrupt around the world and dismissed as a sham by the USA, after the poll gave president Nicolás Maduro powers to abolish Venezuela’s parliament and rewrite the constitution.

Last week, Smartmatic, the voting machine provider, said turnout figures for the election had been manipulated, with at least one million less votes cast than claimed by the government.

Anti-government demonstrations over the last few months have left 120 dead and at least 10 people were killed during violent clashes and demonstrations which took place during the election.

Fianna Fáil TD Darragh O’Brien, condemned Sinn Féin’s involvement in the vote, outlining how the Maduro-led regime in the South American country has caused a dramatic plunge in living standards, food shortages, triple-digit inflation, high crime and “endemic corruption at all levels of the state.”

He said Sinn Féin has continually expressed its support for the “disastrous autocratic administration” through motions at its Ard Fhéis in both 2014 and 2015 and he accused the party of “actively assisting the Venezuelan dictator attain sweeping powers by trying to cover up fraudulent elections such as Sunday’s.”

Calling for the party to recant their support, he urged them to “join the growing number of voices who unreservedly condemn those who are pursuing an anti-democratic agenda in Venezuela.”

Sinn Fein’s Mickey Brady refuted the accusations however, branding Mr O’Brien’s comments “ a disgrace.”

In a statement the Sinn Féin MP said: “I was in Venezuela for four days and I and other international observers went to a number of voting centres.

“The electronic voting system was very efficient and the election system was fair and equitable.

“International reports on the election made me think I was in a different place. The election was fair and turnout was substantial. I thought that the process was fair and transparent.”

A 66-year-old motorcyclist has died following a two vehicle road traffic collision which occurred on the Warrenpoint Road in Newry yesterday afternoon (Sunday, 13 August). The man was the driver of a motorcycle involved in the collision with a Landrover Discovery which was towing a caravan shortly before 12.30 pm. It is understood the man was part of a group of motorcyclists from England who were in the area for the weekend. An eye-witness claimed the motorcylist lost his balance, ending up under the vehicle before being hit by the caravan the jeep was towing. A member of the public who came across the crash scene is believed to have performed CPR on the man before emergency crews arrived. The victim was airlifted by police helicopter to hospital in Belfast where he was pronounced dead. The Warrenpoint Road remained closed from the junction of William Street and Kilmorey Street to the Greenbank roundabout for most of Sunday afternoon and evening while police conducted their investigation into the cause of the collision. SDLP councillor Pete Byrne comment: ‘I would like to offer my deepest heartfelt sympathies to his family and friends following this tragic news, any death on our roads is one too many. The police have appealed to any witnesses to come forward and I would encourage anyone with any information to do so. I’d also like to commend the emergency services including air ambulance who attended the scene.’ Anyone who witnessed the collision or has any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference 664 of 13/08/17.

A respite unit in Newry for children with special needs must receive adequate resources to fulfill commitments previously agreed with parents and carers, SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has said.

Concerns were raised over the service provided at Carrickore Respite Unit when several parents were told their long-standing bookings for the weekend respite at the facility could not be honoured.  Some were not informed “until the last minute”, Mr McNulty claimed.

A hastily arranged meeting was convened on Friday to address the situation and was attended by members of the Carrickore Parents Group, Assistant Director of Carrickore, Ms Geraldine Maguire and Southern Trust representatives Josephine McKinley and Mark Irwin, Operational Manager of Short Breaks Services for Children with Disabilities.

Mr McNulty was also present at the meeting and said afterwards that the reduced level of short-break services provided by the Trust has led to “major distress” for affected families.

“Some parents have weekend breaks booked, whilst other parents had a family wedding to attend. The lack of access to Carrickore Respite Unit has jeopardised the time spent organising breaks, significant financial costs with hotels and flights, and most importantly, the needed downtime for the families,” he said.

“The summer is a very stressful time for the families who depend on the respite provided by Carrickore, as children are out of their normal routine, so the parents are their full time carers on a 24 hour, 7 days a week basis.  The respite provided by Carrickore is really treasured by the families.”

Describing the meeting as “lengthy and constructive”, Mr McNulty says it was agreed that the Southern Trust must ensure “open and regular channels of communication so that parents are not left in the dark”.

The Parents Group requested that a ‘go-between’ or an ‘outlet’ be provided by the Trust with whom parents can consult, share information, ideas and emotional support on a regular basis.

Referring to the situation at Carrickore as “a crisis”, Ms. Maguire revealed that a supported living facility is being processed for two young people “with complex and difficult behavioural challenges”, currently under the care of Carrickore and, when completed, is expected to relieve some of the pressure on the unit.

A community is in mourning this week after a toddler was killed in a tragic accident which has sent shockwaves throughout the locality. Three year old Christopher Ward was knocked down outside his home in Dobson’s Way on Friday morning.  Heartbreakingly, it is believed the vehicle was being driven by a relative. 

The tot’s distraught family rushed him to Daisy Hill Hospital for emergency treatment but he later died from his injuries.  A member of the Travelling community, dozens of extended family and friends joined Christopher’s relatives at the hospital desperately hoping the toddler would pull through and there were emotional scenes as news of his tragic death filtered through.

An onlooker at the hospital said the community was in shock at the news and described it as “any family’s, any parent’s, any community’s worst nightmare.”

Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Roisin Mulgrew, says the tragedy has sent shockwaves throughout the close-knit community in the village.

“The loss will be felt in every home in the area, but not least with the grieving family,” she said. “My thoughts are with his family and friends over the coming weeks and months as they come to terms with this tragedy.”

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty says the tragedy “will be felt by the entire community”.

“Our thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences are with the deceased, his family and community at this very difficult time,” he added.

Ulster Unionist councillor David Taylor also offered his thoughts and prayers to the family after the “heartbreaking incident” and said he hoped they

A suspected rogue trader who is accused of masterminding a scam where the home of an elderly Warrenpoint lady was deliberately damaged in an attempt to get her to hand over £6,000 for roof repairs, has been ordered to remain in custody.

Twenty three year old Charles Ward, from County Tyrone, denies charges of fraud by false representation, possessing leaflets, identity badges and invoices in connection with fraud, and acting as a pedlar without a certificate.  He also faces further charges of failing to give a consumer notice of their right to cancel, and engaging in aggressive and misleading commercial practice.

Ward is alleged to have been part of a three-man gang who called at the Warrenpoint home of  the 81-year-old dementia sufferer and her 95 year old husband on July 29th.

The prosecution claimed Ward tried to pressure the pensioner into having roof tiles replaced and power-washing carried out, increasing the price from £1600 to £3000 initially, before adding another £3,000 to the costs, claiming that further damage had been found on the roof.

The woman then allegedly received a series of phone calls seeking payment for the power-washing services.

Ward and one of his co-accused were arrested when they returned to her home on August 1, after being alerted by the woman’s son.

The High Court in Belfast was told that an independent evaluator assessed the work carried out as coming nowhere near the prices quoted.

The prosecution also claimed CCTV footage appeared to show men physically removing roof tiles.

Bail was opposed on the grounds that Ward had just been released from custody on July 27 for the same type of alleged fraud offences against an elderly woman in Bangor.

Ward strenuously denies the charges, with his defence counsel suggesting the case could come down to a contractual dispute.

Refusing bail, Mr Justice O’Hara held there was a risk of further offending and cited the need to “protect the vulnerable and elderly”.

Newry could be in line for a jobs boost if plans for a huge new £6 million Maxol service station near the Carnbane Road are approved.

Plans for the development – which would cover an area in excess of 1,000 sq metres at the proposed location almost 200 metres west of the Tandragee Road, Carnbane Road, Shepherd’s Way Roundabout –  have been submitted to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for consideration.

The new build would also include five food franchise restaurants and cafes and a drive-thru, a petrol station, shop, children’s play area, picnic area and parking for more than 100 cars, as well as coach, lorry, and caravan bays. Public toilets and indoor and outdoor seating for restaurant facilities are featured as well as an ATM machine. In addition there will be drive-thru car washes and electrical car charging points

The project also includes landscaping, as well as access roads and associated highway and site construction/excavation works.

The major application by Maxol Oil Limited is expected to create 80 jobs during construction and a further 60 full time jobs upon completion.  Work on the project is expected to take around nine months.

The developer has mooted the scheme as providing a “significant boost to the local economy through salaries, local supplies and rates revenue to the local council”.

A traffic impact statement included in the planning documents describes the roadside facility as “similar” to the Mulhuddart Services Station, north of Dublin, which has eight filling bays/pumps for cars, together with two HGV filling bays and a number of franchise food stands.

A planning statement highlights the fact that the nearest roadside services in the Republic of Ireland are 22 miles away at the Applegreen between Dundalk and Drogheda and that the Centra and Topaz station 15 miles north of the proposed site, is not open 24 hours and is on the north side of the carriageway.

A formal planning proposal for the major new development has now been submitted and will be publicly advertised next week.

A British Brexit paper published last week has called for an “unprecedented solution” for the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Whitehall’s “Northern Ireland and Ireland” position paper, published by the British Government on Wednesday last, focuses on the need to avoid a hard border or any sort of physical infrastructure dividing north and south.

Critics say the proposals lack any credible detail with many describing the paper as “aspirational.”

The document is the second to be published by the British Government and it outlines how the border will operate and how trade between Ireland and Britain will be carried out post-Brexit. 

Central to the paper’s proposals is the government’s desire to uphold the Good Friday Agreement and safeguard the Common Travel Area, which enables free movement between Ireland and Britain.  It also advocates continued peace funding for the north and border counties,

The government’s paper does not envisage CCTV cameras or number plate recognition technology at the border and it sets out the case for a wide-ranging exemption under which small and medium-sized businesses will not have to comply with any new customs tariffs. For larger firms, the paper suggests a new ‘streamlined’ customs regime that would see declarations completed retrospectively either online or at the company’s premises.

The document again rejects the idea of a ‘sea border’ around Ireland, that would likely lead to immigration checks for people travelling between the north and Britain, and it proffers a transition period “linked to the implementation of the arrangements, to allow a smooth and orderly transition”.

Locally, businesses and residents have expressed concern as to what the documents actually means for a post-Brexit Northern Ireland.

Newry Chamber of Commerce member and local business owner Declan McChesney told Channel 5 News last week that he fears the introduction of any kind of border controls would be “disastrous.” Mr McChesney, owner of Cahill Brothers shoes shop in Newry which has been in business in the city for over a century, says he thinks any post-Brexit border will turn the city into a “wasteland”.

“I think it will be the equivalent of Trump’s wall,” he said.  “I think it will cut us off from our hinterland.”

For some, the Whitehall paper failed to deliver any concrete answers on how trade and travel in post-Brexit Northern Ireland will operate. Well-known photographer Mark Pearce, called for reassurance and real answers from the government.

“Give us answers, let us know what’s happening,” he said.

“We’re up in the air. We don’t know what’s going on or how it’s going to affect us,” he said

A group formed to lobby against Brexit has described last week’s government paper as “very poorly thought out,” and insist any European Border should be placed in the Irish Sea.

“Ireland has progressed economically in the past 20 years to an open, thriving economy. Business has reshaped itself to become an all -Island entity,” said Declan Fearon from Border Communities Against Brexit.

“The looming threat of a new border puts those businesses and their workers in serious jeopardy.”

Mr Fearon said the British Government proposals contained in the document do not address the fundamental issues of regulating manufacturing and trade between North and South.

“These proposals would mean that No Border would exist in Ireland but all products going across the Border into the EU would be made and certified to EU standards to prevent customs checks.

“Why then would we leave the EU?”

“Food is of crucial importance in these talks. The EU are not going to allow a situation where Britain goes shopping in the US as British Cabinet Minister Liam Fox wants, with the risk of hormone beef or GM crops entering the EU across the Irish Border,” added the group spokesperson.

“So, effectively this week’s proposals prevent the British Government doing trade deals with the rest of the world as the EU will not tolerate a risk of substandard food entering the EU from Ireland.

“In leaving the EU the North and border counties currently receive €7 billion from 2007 – 2020 in EU supports, these are mainly Peace Funds and CAP payments, but in maintaining our EU standards outside of the EU for the purposes of trade and open borders we will not have access to these funds and have no say in the EU regulations created in the future which we would have to follow to export to the EU.”

Describing the proposals as “deeply flawed”, Mr Fearon added,

“Thousands of jobs in Ireland depend upon trade remaining as it is now, keeping access to EU structural supports and protecting everyone’s rights under the EU convention of Human rights.

“The simplest and most effective way to do this is place our EU border into the Irish Sea, those who wish to remain British on this Island can, as can those who wish to remain Irish.

“It is imperative that the Irish government continue to argue against these proposals, the population of the North 1.8 million are entitled to an Irish Passport, therefore potentially the EU and Ireland could have 1.8 million of their citizens not protected by EU law. The Irish government must ask the EU to include in the Brexit Guidelines that a Special case is made for Ireland and the EU’s border be placed into the Irish Sea.”

A Crossmaglen family whose son is a “different child” after becoming involved with a US based special needs programme say they owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Family Hope Centre team who “gave us our life back.” 

Michelle and Paul McKeever’s son, Ronan, was diagnosed with autism four years ago, when he was three years old.   The couple told The Examiner they felt like prisoners in their own home struggling to cope with their son’s complex needs. Little Ronan was completely non-verbal, not toilet trained and suffered devastating sensory overload “meltdowns” any time he went outside his house.

Describing him at that time as “completely closed off,” Michelle says their situation was “soul destroying.”

“What is the point of life if your child doesn’t want to kiss you or hug you?” asked the devoted mum.

The McKeevers say they sensed Ronan had issues since he was about five months old but before his diagnosis, they were without any services or support. After the diagnosis of Autism in 2013, Michelle says the couple did not receive a lot of hope from medical professionals about how to improve their son’s life.

That bleak outlook changed when a reflexologist Michelle was attending drew her attention to a seminar in Dublin being hosted by the Family Hope Centre (FHC), which is based in Philadelphia.

Michelle went along to the seminar and says she “was blown away” by what she learned about the different areas of the brain, their functions and how stimulating damaged pathways could lead to improvements.  She signed up for a three-day parent-training programme with the FHC and was so happy with the progress she saw in Ronan after using some of the techniques that the family committed to a six-month programme, which included an initial assessment by Family Hope’s multidisciplinary team and was supported with ongoing and unlimited access to the centre online or by telephone.

“Family Hope educated me on how to cope with the child but also to try to help him,” says Michelle. “So it wasn’t just coping mechanisms to keep him the way he was but ways to stimulate him and bring him to the best of his ability.”

Central to the Family Hope programme is the theory that the more an affected part of the brain is stimulated, the more function a patient will get. Michelle reveals that Ronan had no sense of smell until the family started to work on it using techniques they were learning in the programme.

“Our sense of smell is believed to be closely linked to the part of the brain that processes emotion and memory,” she explains.

“Once I started to encourage Ronan to sniff a range of foods, from salmon and broccoli to lavender, honey and cloves, he seemed to start to develop a sense of smell and engaged more with the process as a result,” says Michelle.

“His eye contact became more, he was showing affection, he starting speaking – all these things came naturally just by giving him a couple of smells, every day, five times a day.

Michelle, Paul, Ronan and Ryan McKeever.

In fact Ronan’s progress over the last four years has been nothing short of “incredible” according to Michelle.

Giving an insight into just how far he has come with the help of the Family Hope programme, Michelle explains,

“When we started Ronan only slept 2 hours every night and cried for hours each night but didn’t want any kind of affection or comfort to calm him. He only ate 2 foods – custard creams and rich tea biscuits – and he couldn’t sit still for a minute.  He was completely non-verbal and had no control over his bowel movements and was completely closed off from the world with no bond or connection to Paul or Ryan ( his older brother).

“His only connection to me was subject to need, whenever he wanted food or to use as a punch bag to vent his frustration.  He would only wear certain types of clothes and shoes in particular had to be a specific type.”

Leaving the house was extremely difficult for the family, “Even just going to the shop for milk was an absolute no no,” adds Michelle.

“We could never go anywhere on our own with Ronan as he was so strong that if he had a meltdown one of us couldn’t cope on our own.”

“But that was the old Ronan,” says the delighted mum who reveals that her 7 year old son now sleeps for twelve hours every night.

“He sits and enjoys his bedtime story, kisses us goodnight and says love you. He now runs to see Paul coming home with excitement and just adores his big brother Ryan. Ronan interacts with his cousins and extended family now and eats a very healthy diet which is still getting better.  He is completely toilet trained, will wear any type of clothes or shoes with no issues and he can say over 150 words, using them in 5 or more worded sentences with meaning –  a huge step for him!”

Michelle says shopping trips with Ronan are a breeze now “except when I say no to him getting biscuits!”

“We have no meltdowns anymore and although we still deal with behaviour it is nothing like before.  Ronan is a different child and our quality of life has changed so much.”

The proud mum also expressed her gratitude to local Physiotherapist Phelim O’Neill who invited the Family Hope Centre to Ireland 4 years ago.

“At the time FHC only travelled to Denmark, where they have helped hundreds of families – all fully funded by the Danish government.

“Phelim wasn’t aware of Ronan or us at the time but he has become a big part of our journey with the Family Hope Centre,” says Michelle who says she is sharing her incredible story of hope and happiness to help other families and parents of children with special needs who feel there is no hope for them.

“I never want anyone to feel as low and hopeless as we felt, that’s why I want to share the fantastic work being done by the Family Hope Centre.  Ronan’s life and ours have been completely transformed with the help of FHC, there are no words to express our gratitude.”

To find out more about the innovative Family Hope Centre visit www.familyhopecenter.com

The Tory government’s latest Brexit proposals “are not compatible with the Good Friday Agreement, the economic interests of Ireland north and south or the democratically expressed wishes of the people”, says Newry and Armagh MLA Conor Murphy.

Mr Murphy also branded the papers, which were published on Wednesday, a cynical attempt to use Ireland and its peace agreements as a bargaining chip in a wider EU negotiation.

“The document in common with the approach of the British Government thus far is big on rhetoric but thin on actual commitments,” he said.

“The Good Friday Agreement safeguards the human rights of citizens in a European context and provides for access to the ECJ. These are fundamental aspects of our political and policing dispensation. The British government proposal sets aside this obligation.

“The proposals on a Customs Union have been dismissed within hours as deluded, untested and unrealistic.

“They fail to deal with the loss of structural funds and CAP and other critical EU funding streams.”

The Sinn Fein MLA added that the British government’s aspiration to continue with North South co-operation “is completely at odds with their policy of imposing Brexit in the North” and he accused the government of “cynically exploiting the unique circumstances here in order to try and force concessions from the EU.”

“What they are really saying is; agree to our terms on the customs union if you want to protect the Irish peace process,” said Mr Murphy.

“If that is the case, it is a disgraceful attempt to play politics and exploit the EU’s commitment to our peace process in order to further their own ends.

“The onus is now on the Irish Government as a joint guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and a member state of the EU Council to argue the democratically expressed wish of the cross-community majority in the North who voted to Remain within the EU with the rest of Ireland.

“Sinn Féin believes that the best solution to achieve this objective is through designated special status for the North within the EU.”

The Irish government’s Chief Whip Joe McHugh, TD, says he believes many British politicians want to protect the peace process and he insists more bridges need to be built between Irish and British politicians ahead of Brexit.

Speaking after the publication of UK position papers on the border ahead of substantive Brexit negotiations with the EU, the Minister said Ireland has “many friends in Britain and we need to work with them.”

“There are senior politicians in all the main parties in Britain who have had their own input into the peace we enjoy today,” said the Donegal TD.

“Politicians I worked alongside in the British Irish Parliamentary Assembly know the intricacies of the peace process; they know the geography of the Border and they know the politics and decisions needed to maintain and protect the process.”

The Irish Minister has been in contact with several British politicians in recent weeks, including his UK counterpart, the Government Chief Whip in the UK, the Rt Hon Gavin Williamson CBE – who he says is aware of the need to strengthen the ties between Ireland and the UK further in the months ahead.

“I am keen to discuss this further because I believe that through dialogue with politicians who know the issues we are facing ahead of Brexit there will be more opportunities to tell our story,” said Mr McHugh.

“There is a new generation of younger politicians in Britain and we also need to get our message to them; that the peace process was hard won and we cannot throw it away.

“Conor McGinn, a new generation of Labour MP, who is from Armagh, has a unique understanding of how Brexit could impact our border communities,” he added.

Minister McHugh said he will be taking up an offer to meet Chief Whip Williamson and hoped to bring him and other British politicians to border areas in his own Donegal constituency to hear from local people on the possible impacts of a negative Brexit.

“The UK position papers published this week are a basis for negotiation but they are not the final position and we must work on all fronts to get the best possible deal for Ireland,” said McHugh.  He added that he had received a strong message from meeting people from Northern Ireland at Brexit conferences in Ireland.

“Many people feel they don’t have a voice on Brexit in the absence of the Northern Ireland Assembly and political institutions.  I am happy to continue to give those people – Irish Citizens among them – a voice alongside citizens of this State and voice those concerns in London, Brussels and wherever else we need to go to do that.”

SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty MLA has branded the British Government’s Paper on the Border Region as “breathtakingly pointless” and has challenged the Brexit Secretary David Davis to visit the Border Region “to grasp just how ridiculous the Government’s proposals are.”

Speaking after the publication of a second Brexit paper on Wednesday last, Mr McNulty said the British Government “haven’t a clue what they’re doing and are deluded if they think the European Union and it’s 27 other members are going to take them seriously.”

“This week’s proposals are a long way away from meeting the needs of people on this island and this border community. Far from recognising the need for a special dispensation to protect people in the North of Ireland, the British Government seems to want the EU to bend over backwards to accommodate their ambitions, and are willing to give very little in return,” he said, before questioning the government’s “confused and conflicting” opposition to a hard border or customs posts which he said is at odds with their plan “to abandon the Customs Union?”

  “Even the British Government’s starting point – that the Good Friday Agreement is not predicated on the European Union – is a fundamental misread of Irish nationalism. It fails to recognise that a primary selling point of the agreement for our community was greater cooperation and harmonisation across this island and that the people of the island could be united under the banner of our common European identity.”

Offering “an easier answer” to the Irish border question, the SDLP MLA said the British Government could give up its hard Brexit position and negotiate to remain a member of the European customs union.

“David Davis, Teresa May and the London band of Tory Brexiteers haven’t a clue what they are proposing nor do they understand the impact Brexit will have on the lives of our people.  Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator has visited the Border Region, he gets the complex and special relationships on this island. It is abundantly clear that David Davis doesn’t. Maybe he should visit this region and get to grasp of the issues for himself.’

A disturbing assault on two young girls which took place in Newry last Monday night has sent shockwaves throughout the city.

The teenagers were attacked by a gang of 11 boys who threw a bottle of bleach at them during their frightening ordeal, which took place near the Quays Shopping Centre.

Releasing details of the shocking incident for the first time on Friday, PSNI Sergeant Gibson said the group of eleven males carried out the attack in the vicinity of the Quays Shopping Centre car park close to the Drumalane area of the city between 9pm and 9.30pm on Monday 14th August. 

It is understood the bleach was squirted from a bottle at the girls.

The bleach hit one of the victims, who is believed to be 18, making contact with the skin on her stomach but, thankfully, she was not seriously hurt.

Police have appealed to anyone who witnessed the attack or who can help identify those involved to contact police at Ardmore on 101 quoting ref 1269 14/8/17.

Fortunately the two girls did not sustain any serious injuries and are believed to be recovering from their terrifying ordeal.

SDLP Assembly Member for Newry and Armagh Justin McNulty says the reported “black hole” in Translink’s finances must not impact local and cross border rail services. 

Speaking as Chief Executive Chris Conway warned that the transport company would need an additional £12m from the public purse just to retain services at their current level, Mr McNulty said the news is “of deep concern” and says calls to end cuts to the public transport budget must be heeded.

“Public transport is supposed to be a priority for government here and yet it has seen its funding slashed by 20% over the last three years.  This is an appalling indictment of successive Infrasture and Regional Development Ministers in that time,” Mr McNulty said.

“In recent months we have seen services reinstated between Newry and Belfast and these are very much welcome.  However, they cannot be threatened by [these] warnings from Chris Conway.  Instead services should be allowed to grow and expand.  If we are serious about protecting our environment and about improving our public transport provision, then Stormont must invest in rail and bus services. 

“We need to see the development of the transport hub in Belfast, the hourly Enterprise Service and the expansion of the rail network to places like Armagh city,” he added.

The SDLP has named Michael Savage as its new councillor for Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. 

Mr Savage replaces former SDLP-turned-Independent Kevin McAteer who formally resigned his post earlier this month.

Following his selection on Thursday last, Councillor Savage says it is an honour to represent the people of Newry.

“I have a strong background in local politics and I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to step up and represent the people of our city,” he said.

“This is a critical time in our politics. The threat of Brexit will have profound consequences across the North but nowhere more than in communities that have benefitted so much from a border open for trade and free movement like ours. 

Councillor Peter Byrne, Councillor Terry Andrews, newly elected Michael Savage, Councillor Roisin Lynch and Councillor Gary Stokes.

“I care passionately about creating a future for our talented young people and I see job creation as a key issue in our community. We have a young population for whom we want to create good jobs so that we no longer export our best asset.”

Mr Savage promises to be “an outspoken voice” to protect the interests of the people of Newry.

“Whether it’s defending our health services, improving our rail links or fighting a hard Brexit, there’s a lot to fight for here and I intend to be on the front line,” he said, adding “I again want to thank party members for their support and I’m looking forward to getting down to work.”

Police in Newry, Mourne and Down are rolling out a social media campaign entitled Operation Exposure, which will see images of people officers want to identify published on local Facebook pages. 

Explaining the concept, Supt. Paul Reid said: “You will see images of people appear on our local PSNI Facebook pages over the coming weeks who we would like to speak to in relation to various matters. If you know who these individuals are please do not post on our social media but contact us directly by phoning 101and quoting the reference provided.

 “The community response in other policing Districts has been really positive around this initiative and we are confident that the public in Newry, Mourne and Downand beyond will support us in our efforts to solve crime, give victims justice, and keep people safe.”

 Images are only used within a set of stringent guidelines and authorised by the District Commander.  These guidelines include – the prevention and detection of crime, the apprehension of suspects, encouraging victims to come forward, discouraging offenders, reassuring and informing the public and re-enforcing confidence in the criminal justice system.

All other methods of identification must also have been attempted and failed before a photo is used. Each photo is only posted for 24 hours before being deleted and anyone who recognises the person can contact police on the non-emergency number 101. Comments on Facebook naming the person are not permitted. Lawful authority for the use of an image under Op Exposure is through Section 32 of the Police Act (NI) 2000.

SDLP Councillor Pete Byrne has called for openness and transparency in the process of the formation of a Health Committee at Newry, Mourne and Down District Council after new proposals downgraded the proposed Committee to a Health Working Group.

Commenting, Councillor Byrne said: “As Councillors, we have a duty, not only to speak, but to act on behalf of public opinion, to ensure what has been called for following the Daisy Hill protests is delivered.  Council unanimously passed a motion in May to establish a Health Committee, a statutory committee with decision making powers to address the growing concerns regarding the health provision across the district.  Since May, many conversations have been had regarding the new structures, including talk of working groups, which would be presented to Strategy, Policy and Resources Committee for debate.”

However, at a committee meeting held last week, Councillors were asked to agree to the formation of working groups as opposed to a full committee, he claimed.

“While I fully appreciate the arguments put forward for working groups, I do not agree with the reasons given on why a committee is out of the question,” Mr Byrne said.

“How we deviated from the motion passed to form a Health Committee to the tabled proposal needs serious clarification. We certainly can’t be populist with ideas where we are promising the public something and then behind closed doors we’re changing it for unknown reasons. This is why I have called for an open and transparent debate so that we as Councillors can make an informed decision whilst being honest with the public about how we arrived at this decision.”

The councillor says he does not accept that there is any issue with representation on a committee “considering that all parties have agreed to take politics out of health”. “We can negotiate both the political and non-political make-up of a new committee with ease.  A recent statement however, has stated that ‘it was made clear to Councillors that the Health Committee motion passed was beyond the powers of the council’, that certainly is news to me.  At no point during my discussions with officials has this ever been mentioned.  If Councillors are moving to rule out a committee then we must be absolutely sure on the reasons why. To date, I have received no information to convince me of this,” he added.

A brand new Private GP service is set to open in Newry in the coming weeks. Duality Health, situated at 9 Monaghan Street in the city, will be open in the evenings and at weekends and is billed as giving patients “instant access to a GP when you need it.”

With GP surgeries increasingly under pressure from growing patient lists and GPs across Northern Ireland warning that the present system of practice is unsustainable in the long term, the opening of a private service such as Duality Health, could be deemed as somewhat inevitable.

The service will open from 6pm to midnight every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, from 12pm to midnight every Friday, with weekend opening hours of 11am to 6pm on Saturday and 12pm to 8pm on Sunday. 

Patients from North and South of the Border will be accepted at the private practice, with a full range of regular GP services, urgent/out-of-hours care and extended services including family planning, referrals, minor injuries, ear syringing, blood testing and pathology services.

According to the Duality Health website, patients will be offered “quick and easy access to a fully qualified NHS trained GP whenever they wish – including the reassurance of being able to arrange an immediate appointment for the same day or within 24 hours.”

Booking is available online at www.dualityhealth.co.uk or on the Duality Health Facebook page with a credit or debit card payment taken at the time of booking.