Police are investigating two robberies believed to have been carried out by a female gang who targeted a vehicle and a baby accessories shop in south Armagh on Wednesday evening last.   

First to fall victim to the gang was an unsuspecting parent collecting her child from Happy Faces nursery in Silverbridge.  CCTV footage (pictured) captured the audacious robbery taking place after the parent had pulled up to the front door of the nursery at around 5.10pm and left her car unlocked as she hurried in to collect her child.  

Once inside, the thieves struck, with one of the gang entering the car park on foot after leaving a vehicle which was parked across the road from the busy nursery.  The woman, dressed in a white coat and matching white bobble hat, can be seen looting the parent’s vehicle during the 90 seconds she is inside,  making off to the waiting car with a handbag and other valuables. 

Approximately an hour later, the female trio were once again captured on CCTV when they brazenly walked into King’s Baby Shop just outside Keady shortly before 7pm.  

The women are believed to have pulled up in a silver saloon southern registered vehicle before three of them exited vehicle and entered the store, while a fourth woman, described as blonde and middle-aged, waited in the car.  The women made off from King’s with over £2,000 worth of baby goods, including an EGG Jurassic black limited edition pram.

Both King’s Baby Shop and Happy Days shared the CCTV images on their Facebook pages in an appeal for information, and to warn potential victims about the gang. 

Just days later, around lunchtime on Sunday afternoon, two of the gang were spotted in the same southern registered Silver Saloon vehicle after being thwarted in the attempted robbery of a house in rural Carnally.  The women were seen in the front of the car with a male in the back seat along with another vehicle, an English registration white Transit van with two men inside. The gang are understood to have approached a rural home in the area before been scared off the property by the owners. 

Sharing the sighting on social media on Sunday, Sinn Fein councillor Barra O’Muiri urged people to stay vigilant.  He warned that the gang, who he said were involved in the Happy Faces and King’s robberies, were targeting rural dwellings, striking once the occupier leaves.  

Police have confirmed they are investigating a link between both robberies with enquiries continuing. They have appealed to anyone who saw anything suspicious or who saw a silver Saloon style car at both incidents or any further sightings to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 1052 7/11/18.

The owner of a pet dog who died from suspected intentional poisoning has spoken of her family’s shock and sadness at the “senseless act of cruelty” which robbed them of their much loved Jack Russell terrier, Noodles. 

The family pet fell ill on Thursday morning after coming in from playing in the garden of his Bessbrook home with his terrier brother.  Noodles was later found unresponsive in his dog house, with an extremely swollen stomach, appearing lethargic and ill. 

Owner Fiona McKeown, rushed him to a vet who confirmed that Noodles had been poisoned and gave him a 50-50 chance of survival. The stricken animal sadly passed away later that day after a great deal of suffering. Thankfully for the local family, Noodles’ terrier companion does not seem to have ingested any poison..

It is understood the adored family pet is the fourth in the area to have been killed by poisoning and concerns are high that the cruel practice may be a precursor to robbery, with would-be burglars suspected of poisoning animals who may raise the alarm to intruders.

Heartbroken owner Fiona told The Examiner words could not describe her family’s devastation at the loss of Noodles and she called on pet owners to be vigilant and aware of the threat of poisoning pets before a burglary, especially as the festive season approaches.

“No words can describe how we feel about this depraved senseless act of cruelty, we are shocked and saddened; we cannot fathom what would make someone poison a sweet inoffensive little dog,” said Fiona.

“To us, Noodles was a much loved member of our family, she was a placid, gentle little dog, who loved to be around children.

“I had the unenviable task of telling my children that their wee pet was so cruelly killed, for my youngest it was deeply upsetting as she left Noodles to her pen that morning, before settling off to school.”

Calling on all dog owners to be extra vigilant, she said her family believe the poisoning was  “premeditated”.

“There are twisted people out there, who think nothing of poisoning a dog before robbing your home or a neighbours home, ” she added. 

Sharing the news of the incident on its Facebook page, Pet Connection in Newry warned all dog owners to be alert to the dangers of intentional poisoning of pets to make way for house robberies. 

“Noodles did not bark repetitively, upsetting neighbours or causing trouble around his home,” the post began.

“Instead, Noodles would kindly bark to alert his owners only if someone approached their home. Due to this, and the fact that their other dog remains unharmed, his owners have been left in fear that their brave little dog may have been killed to make way for burglaries in the local area without a dog alerting homeowners to the presence of intruders,” said Emma from Pet Connection. 

“If you have a dog that is likely to be of ‘interest’ to burglars, whether that would be for alerting homeowners, or for the theft of the actual dog, we would highly recommend supervising them at all times when outdoors.

“Every year we hear of a spate of burglaries and pet thefts as we approach Christmas, so home security and protection of ourselves and our pets should be at the forefront of our minds.”

Police Ombudsman investigators were in Downpatrick last week as part of a witness appeal into the circumstances surrounding the controversial RUC shooting of Newry IRA volunteer, Colum Marks. 

The 29 year old Derrybeg man was fatally wounded when police opened fire during an attempted mortar attack by the IRA on security forces in Downpatrick on April 10 1991.  Mr Marks was shot three times and died later that night in hospital.

His family have maintained that the RUC was aware of a planned IRA operation more than eight hours before the attempted mortar attack and should have been able to arrest the suspects beforehand.  The Marks family also claimed there was evidence to suggest a state agent was involved in the shooting.

The controversial killing in a field near the Folly Lane area was investigated by the RUC at the time but key eyewitness accounts taken during a ‘community inquiry’ into the shooting were not taken into evidence. The Marks family pursued the case for disclosure through the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) in 1999  and in November 2015, the Police Ombudsman said that it could not re-investigate Mr Marks’ death due to domestic legislation. The emergence of a new eyewitness however prompted the police watchdog to re-open the case in 2016. 

Ombudsman Investigators carried out their witness appeal in the South East Regional College from 10 am to 6pm on Wednesday asking for anyone with information about the incident to come and speak to to them.   Alternatively, anyone with any information on the shooting can contact the freephone witness appeal line on 0800 345 7106. 

The trial of a former Newry primary school principal and Christian Brother accused of 41  charges of historical sexual abuse will begin in March next year, a court has ruled. 

Eighty two year old Brother Paul Dunleavy, whose address was given as the Christian Brothers Province Centre on Dublin’s Griffith Avenue, is the former teacher and principal of the now closed St Colman’s Abbey primary school in Newry.

In June this year, Dunleavy pleaded not guilty to 30 counts of indecently assaulting a male, eight counts of gross indecency with or towards a child, two counts of inciting gross indecency with a child and one attempted serious sexual assault of a boy under 16.

The charges relate to nine complainants and cover a period spanning from 1969 to 1974. The court heard that one of the complainants is now deceased.

The ex-principal did not attend Thursday’s hearing at Belfast Crown Court where Judge Geoffrey Miller QC fixed the trial date for March 4 2019. The trial is expected to last four weeks.

Defence barrister Bobbie-Leigh Herdman told the judge she was still awaiting material from third party applications to be disclosed, with one premises in Newry already examined and the barrister awaiting police approval to examine a second building in the city.

Ordering all third party material to be disclosed by November 23,  Judge Miller warned that if the material is not disclosed by that date, “the addressee must attend court in person on Monday, November 26.” 

The judge also ruled that if a response to the defence request to examine the second building had not been received by November 23 “an officer will be before this court on Monday, November 26”.

A 44-year-old man has been remanded in custody, charged with causing damage to the Narrow Water memorial near Warrenpoint.

Robert James McKeegan (44), a lorry driver from Beech Drive, Bleary, Craigavon appeared in Banbridge Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, on Thursday, accused of causing criminal damage to a memorial belonging to Royal British Legion, intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

It was alleged in court that around 7.30am on 4th October, McKeegan stopped his lorry beside the memorial and while talking in his phone, destroyed the memorial before driving off.

The lorry driver was further charged with having an indecent image of a child on November 14 this year.  Although defence solicitor Conor Downey claimed that alleged indecent image was more akin to a “vulgar joke,” Detective Sergeant Connolly told the Court he believed he could connect McKeegan to both offences.

He was remanded into custody to appear again via videolink on December 12th.

A 25 year old man accused of raping and causing brain injuries to a two week old baby has claimed he may have unwittingly hit the infant boy’s head off a wall while carrying him downstairs – admitting that he was “tired and frustrated” whilst looking after the newborn.

The defendant, who cannot be identified, denies the charges of grievous bodily harm with intent and sexual assault of a child at an address in the Annalong area on September 29 this year. 

Prosecutors at the High Court in Belfast on Friday argued that the serious injuries inflicted on the baby, which include broken ribs and thigh bones were so severe that they could not have been accidental.  Crown counsel Samuel Magee told the court that police were alerted to the incident after the baby was brought to Daisy Hill Hospital with a string of unexplained injuries.

The newborn had sustained a brain haemorrhage, broken ribs and thigh bones, traumatic bruising and was bleeding when admitted to the hospital, with medical professionals believing the fractures occurred due to the use of significant force, such as through the tugging or twisting of limbs. 

According to the prosecutor, a consultant paediatrician provided an opinion that the baby had been sexually assaulted.

As the infant’s horrific catalogue of injuries were disclosed, it proved too much for some in the public gallery, with three women leaving the courtroom gasping as the tot’s ordeal was revealed.

Crown prosecutor, Mr Magee said the defendant told police of his attempts to wind the child while in his care, but he offered no explanation for the bruising and categorically denies any sexual assault. 

“The only explanation he proffered was that he was tired and frustrated, and may have hit the baby’s head on the wall as he was going downstairs,” said the barrister.

Although the baby’s condition is said to be improving, Mr Magee underlined that the child’s future prognosis “is significantly unknown.” 

The court also heard that extreme pornographic material and indecent images of children had been discovered by police on a phone linked to the accused.

Refusing bail, Mr Justice McAlinden said it would be “wholly inappropriate” to release the defendant from custody, citing a potential risk to his own safety as well as the risks of further offending and interference with witnesses.

Crown Prosecution in the case of a Crossmaglen man charged with a litany of sexual abuse offences is awaiting receipt of a full file against the accused before the case can proceed, Newry Magistrates’ Court heard on Wednesday.

Fifty-eight-year-old Thomas McKenna appeared via videolink from Maghaberry Prison where he is on remand, charged with a total of 17 offences against children and young men, committed over a 30-year period.

The string of charges against McKenna, a former treasurer of Crossmaglen Rangers GAA club include voyeurism; buggery of a male over the age of 16 between January 15 of 1998 and January 15 of 2000; along with gross indecency and multiple indecent assaults towards the same child between similar dates.

He was also charged with indecent assault on two other males between the dates of December 16 of 1998 and December 31 of 2001.  The seventh charge relates to buggery of a second male between the dates of December 31 of 1993 and December 31 of 2002, as well as allegations of gross indecency and indecent assault of the same male during the same period.

There are a further three accusations of indecent assault alleged to have occurred between December 18 of 1988 and August 13 of 2000.

More recent alleged offences included the sexual assault of another male between March 3 of 2009 and March 3 of 2011 and a charge of indecent assault on a male between January 1 of 2009 and July 31 of 2010.

Two of the remaining three charges relate to the making and possession of indecent photographs, while the final charge relates to McKenna being a postal operator and interfering with post.  The court heard that this final charge related to the opening of a postal package whilst employed as a postman.

McKenna was remanded back into custody at Maghaberry until 12th December when an update will be presented to Newry Court.

The chief executive of Sport NI, Antoinette McKeown, has settled a fair employment dispute with the sporting body. 

Ms McKeown, from Silverbridge, had been suspended in 2014 and was sacked two years later following a disciplinary process.  In September 2017 she was reinstated after an independent appeals panel upheld her challenge to each of the seven grounds of her dismissal, saying it had found flaws within the organisation’s disciplinary procedures. 

The south Armagh woman became the first female to be appointed chief executive of Sport NI in 2013.  The publicly-funded body has an annual budget of around £30m and is aimed at encouraging participation in sport.

A fair employment tribunal was scheduled to begin on Monday last (12th November), but a spokesman for Ms McKeown revealed that she had settled the tribunal with Sport NI just days before.

“From the outset this tribunal was not Ms McKeown’s preferred choice, however the board of Sport NI have now accepted the harm and injury caused to Ms McKeown by events including her inappropriate suspension and dismissal,” the spokesman told the BBC.

“This whole episode has placed Ms McKeown under huge personal and professional pressure, and whilst she remains CEO of Sport NI since returning to her position in July 2017, this acknowledgement ends an exceptionally difficult period for her.”

The statement did not disclose whether the settlement of the dispute involved financial compensation. Stormont’s Department for Communities, which is responsible for Sport NI, said it welcomed the settlement of the dispute but added that it would be “inappropriate” to provide further comment on the matter as Sport NI staff are employed by the board of Sport NI. 

Confirming the settlement of the case, a spokesperson for Sport NI said the organisation would not be releasing a statement adding that, “Sport NI do not comment on personnel matters.”

Detectives are appealing for information following a burglary at the home of an elderly man in the Millvale Park area of Bessbrook on Saturday evening last (17th November).

At around 7.50pm two men forced entry to the property and confronted the occupant, a man in his eighties. The pair left the premises a short time later empty-handed. Although not physically injured, the elderly man has been left badly shaken by the incident.

Both males are described as approximately 5’ 8” in height. One was wearing a light-coloured hooded top, tracksuit bottoms and white trainers and the other had on a black beanie-style hat, a short-sleeved shirt, blue jeans and white trainers. The men made off in a dark hatchback-type vehicle, similarly sized to an Audi A3 or Volkswagen Golf. 

Police are appealing to anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference number 1203 of 16/11/18.

The Kernan family from Crosssmaglen is actively getting behind this year’s Trócaire Christmas campaign with father and son, Joe and Aaron, encouraging local people to support the charity.

Last year, people across county Armagh spent almost £25,000 on the Trócaire gift range, enabling the charity to bring support to almost 1,000 families living in some of the world’s poorest countries.  This support provided families in the developing world with clean water, essential tools, livestock and help with education, the charity said.

Calling on people to support this year’s Christmas ‘Gifts of Love’ campaign, Armagh’s 2002 All-Ireland winning manager Joe was joined by his son, former Young Footballer of the Year Aaron, and grandson James (4) at their native Crossmaglen Rangers GAA club.  

Speaking at the event, Joe said: “My family and I are absolutely delighted to support Trócaire’s great work and their Christmas Gifts. This year’s gifts include a ‘Help for Grandparents’ sponsorship, which allows people to support grandparents raising children who have lost their parents to illness, accident or war. I feel this is a great way to try to help families who are living in such testing circumstances.”

Since it was first launched in 2000 Trócaire’s Christmas Gifts campaign has sold more than 920,000 gifts and raised almost £33m for Trócaire’s work supporting families affected by long-term poverty overseas. 

Trócaire CEO Caoimhe de Barra welcomed the support from one of the country’s most well-known GAA families.  

He said: “We are delighted that the Kernan family have helped us to launch Trócaire’s Christmas Gifts for 2018 and we hope the Irish public and our supporters continue to provide such tremendous support for our work in over 20 developing countries.

 “We would like to thank all of our generous supporters who have bought Trócaire Gifts over the years. The gifts, ranging from soap and chicks through to shelter and water wells, have a huge impact right across the world. This vital support helps families living in some of the poorest areas, including regions in South Sudan, Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Honduras and Guatemala.

There are 14 Trócaire gifts to choose from, ranging in price from £5 to £1000 such as chicks, beehives and solar lamps. This year, there are also a number of new additions including ‘Help for Grandparents’, which will support those who are raising their grandchildren in the developing world, and ‘School Kits’ to send a child to school.  You can purchase Trócaire gifts online at www.trocaire.org/gifts or by calling 0800 912 1200.

Police in Newry are urging residents to remain vigilant after a spate of vehicle break-ins and robberies at a number of locations across the city in recent days. 

Speaking to The Examiner about the crime spree, Sergeant Gracey revealed that police have received eight reports since Tuesday last (13th November) of vehicles throughout Newry being entered and items stolen.  He said the majority of the incidents involved unlocked cars and added that police believe the break-ins are linked.  

Reinforcing crime prevention advice, the police Sergeant urged members of the public to “lock their cars, remove valuables from their cars to a safe place and report any suspicious activity in their area to police immediately.”

Residents of the Hennessy Park area are also on high alert after a property was burgled sometime between Friday 9th and Monday 12th November.  Police say the thieves made off with a sum of cash.   

A resident from the nearby Loughview Park told The Examiner people in the area are very concerned at the recent increase in break-ins and she revealed that a neighbour had captured CCTV footage of a gang of five men tampering with vehicles parked in residential driveways in the area in an effort to gain easy access to them.  

“From what he saw, he told me it looked like a professional operation, with the gang spending just seconds attempting to gain access to vehicles before moving on to the next one.  

“The number of break-ins recently has really unnerved the local community and we will all have to look out for each other, especially in the run up to Christmas when properties are potentially filled with valuable Christmas gifts.”

Newry City Sinn Féin councillor Valerie Harte has also appealed for people to be wary of suspicious activity following the recent crime wave.

She branded the break-ins “completely unacceptable for the community and for those affected.”

“The individuals who carried out these anti community acts have no place within our community. I would urge all residents and the wider communities to be extra cautious and to protect their property and vehicles.

“I would advise all to be alert to suspicious activity or behaviour and to contact the PSNI.”

Police have appealed to anyone with any information which could assist them with their enquiries into these recent thefts to contact officers at Ardmore station on 101.

Local traditional group Soilse will feature on thousands of television screens across the country this Friday night as viewers tune into RTÉ for its annual broadcast of the Late Late Toy Show.

Having successfully auditioned to appear on the show, which is traditionally the most-watched programme of the year on RTÉ, the five-piece group, made up of sisters Clare [banjo and whistle], Ellen [bodhran] and Dearbhla [vocals, guitar, whistle and accordion] Casey, Aodh Murphy [fiddle], Eoghan Murphy [guitar] and Jude Quigg [accordion] are relishing the opportunity to perform to a global audience, as the programme is viewed in more than 100 countries worldwide. 

The youngsters are all members of the Ring of Gullion Comhaltas and the Traditional Arts Partnership (TAP), Mullaghbawn. 

The group will be joined by another local up and coming band who successfully made it onto this year’s show.  Newry four-piece rock band, The Jammy Dodgers, made up of Donal McEvoy (12) on guitar and vocals, 11 year old Luke Morgan on guitar, Dermot Og Winters (13) on drums and Rudi Fallone (12) on bass have come back with a bang after failing to secure a slot with their audition last year.  The group of talented musicians will take to the Dublin stage on Friday night to perform their version of the George Ezra hit ‘Shotgun’.

The Late Late Toy Show broadcasts this Friday 30th November on RTÉ One at 9.35pm.

A Portadown man who has been arrested several times by police in connection with the disappearance and murder of a Newry teenager almost 30 years ago, has insisted he does not know what happened to the 19 year old. 

Police believe Caroline Graham, who disappeared in Portadown in 1989, was murdered.  Originally from Newry, the teenager had been living between a hostel and an address at Hanover Street in the Portadown area for two years before her disappearance. 

Caroline had been on a night out in Banbridge with a girlfriend on the night she disappeared.  She is believed to have spent part of the night with her friend in a hostel in Portadown, and later went to a house in Hanover Street to collect some things. Police believe she was murdered some time later.

In August 2012, police launched a murder inquiry and in 2014, police carried out further searches for Caroline’s body in Portadown using sniffer dogs, but found nothing. At that time, officers said they believed her remains were “somewhere in Portadown.”

Speaking to the BBC for the first time about the investigation, the chief suspect, who is in his late fifties, said while he knew the teenager in 1989, he does not know what happened to her and added, “there is no evidence to connect me to anything”.

The man revealed that he had been arrested and questioned five or six times and that police  “accused me of murdering her… I did not,” he told the BBC.

“I am telling you what I told them, I don’t know what happened to her.

“I am sick of the police coming to my door about this. There is no evidence to connect me to anything.

“If she was murdered like they say she was, where is the body?”

Each time the suspect has been questioned by the police, he has been released without charge.The man declined to record an interview with the BBC or make a  public appeal for information about Caroline’s murder.

He spoke out as the teenager’s heartbroken mother issued a fresh appeal for information about her daughter’s disappearance.

Caroline’s mother Barbara, who decided to make the fresh appeal after she survived serious illness earlier this year, said her own parents had passed away without knowing what happened to their granddaughter and she did not want the same thing to happen to her. 

The 65 year old said she “definitely” believes Caroline’s killer is “alive and well.” 

“They have had a good life for the past 30 years, while I have had a horrible life, and Caroline had no life. She’s not alive and hasn’t been all these years,” said Ms Graham.

“Someone, somewhere knows something.

“You just can’t go out and murder someone and no-one knows nothing.

“Someone has done something to her. For what reason I don’t know, but I would love to know.”

Mrs Graham appealed to anyone who knew Caroline, or what happened to her, to come forward and added that she was “not looking for a prosecution, I am just looking for her.”.

The grieving mum says she believes an inquest might help establish what happened to her daughter and added that she feels “Caroline has been forgotten.” 

“I can show her birth certificate, but I cannot show a death certificate.

“I need something to prove she is either alive or dead.”

A Keady man has been handed a nine year jail sentence after being found in possession of a handgun, 2.5 kilos of cocaine, a handgun and almost £200k in cash,  following a raid on his home in February.

Forty one  year old David Agnew of Carbry Heights was convicted of ten charges including possession of cocaine with intent to supply, a handgun, ammunition and two silencers following an intensive three-day trial last month. Agnew did not take to the stand and no witnesses were offered up by the defence during the trial.

The court previously heard how police officers entered Agnew’s house in Keady with a warrant before asking him if there was anything they needed to know about.  Mr Agnew replied, “you’ll have to find it”.

During the search, officers found €150,000 in a footstool in the living room as well as approximately £40,000 sterling wrapped in bundles of £1,000 in a bedroom.  2.5kg of cocaine was discovered in the roof space of the property, alongside a handgun, bullets and a silencer.

On Tuesday last, Agnew received a total of nine years imprisonment – half to be served in custody and half to be served on licence.

Detective Inspector Gawley from PSNI’s Organised Crime Unit said he welcomed Agnew’s  jail term. 

“I hope this acts as a deterrent and sends a clear message that we will continue to aggressively and proactively pursue those who are intent on damaging our communities by supplying illegal drugs,” said DI Gawley.

“I am pleased that we have prevented a significant amount of cocaine from being supplied within our communities and that a dangerous weapon has been taken off the streets.

“Drug dealers set out to make money for their own personal gain and do not care about the damage caused to their local communities.

“I would ask anyone who has any information about the use of illegal drugs to contact police on the non-emergency number 101.”

A Newtownhamilton family whose dog was rehomed after going missing earlier this month are appealing to the new owner to return the much-loved pet to them.

German Shepherd, Bruno, went missing from his home in Newtownhamilton on 7th November.  His owners say that despite “searching everywhere for him, knocking on doors, driving the roads” and contacting several lost and found pages as well as the USPCA, “nobody knew anything about his whereabouts.” Unknown to his desperate family, Bruno – who unfortunately was not microchipped – had been handed in to a Downpatrick kennels and rehomed – and now owner, Gavin Kelly, cannot be reunited with his beloved dog. 

The family say they only discovered on Tuesday last (20th November) that Bruno had been taken to Corran Kennels in Downpatrick and rehomed. 

Sharing their devastation over the loss of Bruno, Gavin’s sister Aideen told The Examiner,

“The whole family is absolutely heartbroken as Bruno will be missing his home and wondering when he is going to see his family again. The kennels can’t give out the new owner’s details due to their privacy policy, so our last resort is to ask everyone to share our social media posts and we’ve gone to the local media so that we might get the attention of the new owner.”

Aideen said the “biggest regret of our lives” is that Bruno was not microchipped and she urged all pet owners to microchip their dogs “because I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.”

Explaining that the family pet was missing for 12 days before they discovered he had been rehomed, Aideen says “we never in a million years thought he would end up in Downpatrick – almost two hours from where we live.” 

The family say that when they realised Bruno was at Corran Kennels, they immediately contacted the kennel owners, only to find out he had been rehomed.  They claim that Corran Kennels refused to contact Bruno’s new owner and they accused the kennels of rehoming their missing pet “too quickly.”

The Examiner spoke to the owner of Corran rehoming centre, Helen Marks, who advised us that they had acted “completely within the law” with regards to how long they kept Bruno before allowing him to be rehomed. The kennels owner told The Examiner she has been subjected to a “shocking level of online abuse” over the incident and reiterated that the German Shepherd had been admitted to the kennels as a stray on 12th November after being held at the Newry Mourne and Down Council holding facility in Meigh where he was initially taken when picked up by the dog warden on Wednesday 7th November. 

“We are not hiding from the fact that this dog was admitted to the kennels as a stray and that as he was not microchipped, he spent his statutory 6 days with us and was luckily rehomed on day 11 following several visits from his new owner.”

Helen said she was contacted by Bruno’s previous owner for the first time on Tuesday last and, as requested, contacted the new owners to ask if they would return the missing pet.  

“For reasons we cannot disclose, Bruno’s new owners have refused to return him,” she revealed.  

“We have to act within the law and we have done that. Other than forcibly remove the dog from his new owner, we cannot do anything else,” insisted Helen, who added that whilst she felt for the previous owners plight, “the new owner has refused and the law is very clear where we and they stand on this.” 

“The abuse the kennels is receiving for something we can do nothing about has become ridiculous and we do not deserve the hassle and distress this is causing us. We have done everything we can and everything the law asks us to do so it is completely out of our hands.” said the kennel owner.”

Millvale Animal Sanctuary posted a message of support for Corran Kennels and its owner in the wake of the online abuse. The post, issued on their Facebook page, outlined how “Helen at all times carried out her duties to the letter of the law. Once rehomed, the details of the new owner cannot, by law, be revealed. The new owner is the lawful owner and that is unquestionable. Helen, at this point, is out of the loop.”

The post went on to describe Helen as “a woman of integrity and honesty and most certainly does not deserve what she has had to endure for the last few days.”  

“Helen has Millvale’s full support in this matter,” it added.

Meanwhile, Bruno’s family hope their pleas for his return will reach his new owners and are asking people to continue to share their appeal in the hope they can be reunited with the beloved family pet. 

Pupils of St. Brigid’s Primary School, Glassdrummond beat off stiff competition from dozens of other schools across the north to scoop top prizes in this year’s creative arts competition, which marked Anti-Bullying Week earlier this month.

Adam Hearty claimed the Runner up spot in the Primary P1 to P4 art category while a number of his fellow pupils won the movie/performance category (anti-bullying song) on the theme of this year’s Anti-Bullying Week, respect.

The campaign encouraged children and young people to think about what respect means to them, while the important initiative explored how respect for others can build an anti-bullying culture in local schools and communities.

The successful pupils received their prizes at a special awards ceremony held recently at Belfast Harbour Commissioners.

Speaking at the awards event, Gillian Cuthbert, Chair, Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF) said: “Anti-Bullying Week, and more specifically the creative arts competition, provides an important way of highlighting the issue of bullying to schools and the wider community. It helps students to understand the nature and complexities of bullying behaviours and explore ways of promoting the positive messages of anti-bullying.

“We have been overwhelmed at the quality of the competition entries this year and the powerful anti-bullying messages that young people have created through the media of art and movie/performance in line with this year’s theme of respect. All of the young people who took part should be congratulated for the fantastic anti-bullying work they created.”

Jacqui Durkin, Director of Inclusion & Wellbeing, Department of Education, added: “The increased awareness and momentum which Anti-Bullying Week generates can be the driving force for good, it changes attitudes for the better and highlights both our continuing need to tackle this problem and our continuing commitment to do so. The entries to this year’s Anti-Bullying competition focused on eradicating bullying by showing “respect” for all and I am very encouraged at the passion and commitment to this aim shown by everyone who entered.”

Translink has been an active supporter of Anti-Bullying Week for the past 10 years and helps to reinforce messages by placing anti-bullying poster displays at train and bus stations across Northern Ireland. Congratulating all of the award recipients, John Thompson, Translink Health and Safety Manager, said:

“Young people across Northern Ireland have shown great awareness of this serious issue and tackled it in expressive and effective ways. They’ve come together with a powerful united voice to say bullying behaviours should not be tolerated in any form and that everyone should be treated with respect. Translink’s pleased to be able to spread this important message across the bus and rail network.” 

A logistics blunder which saw the parking bays in Hill Street in Newry closed off from 7am on Thursday, in anticipation of the annual Christmas Lights Switch-on event which was taking place over 9 hours later – sparked anger and outrage amongst local businesses.

The management of the Supervalu store in the city took to social media upon opening up for business on Thursday morning to slam what was presumed to be a council decision to close off the city centre parking bays for an event that was not happening until 5.30pm.

“Council have hit upon another new and innovative way to put local traders out of business!” the Facebook rant began, before describing the decision to close the main shopping street down from 7am as “absolute genius!!”

“Much needed car parking spaces closed off for………. oh wait, nothing!! Because there is nothing actually happening in the closed off car parking spaces to warrant the car parking spaces being closed off! There’s no denying it, these guys are good!!” continued the post – which appeared along with photos of the closed off parking bays. 

Responding to the outcry over the gaffe, Newry SDLP councillor Michael Savage admitted that officials got it wrong when they closed off the Hill Street parking bays and he insisted the decision to do so was a logistics move made by officials without the knowledge or backing of local councillors.  Councillor Savage explained that once he had been contacted by “justifiably angry” traders, he contacted Council CEO Liam Hannaway and the cones were removed before 1pm.

“I am not in the habit of criticising Council Officials publicly but I think in this instance they simply got it wrong,” said Mr Savage.

“Councillors did not make this decision, it was a logistics decision made by officials. The first I and my councillor colleagues knew of it was when traders contacted me to complain that the parking bays were coned off from 7am for an event that was taking place at 5.30pm.

“Traders were facing a major hit to their day’s trading and were justifiably angry. I contacted Council CEO Liam Hannaway before lunchtime to see if action could be taken and the cones were moved before 1pm.”

The SDLP councillor added that whilst he understood the need to prepare for the Christmas switch-on event and to ensure all health and safety and access considerations were met, he did not believe this required closing off on-street parking access for a full trading day in one of the busiest retail weeks of the year leading up to Black Friday.

“Traders complained that they received no notice and Newry BID were also not informed so it was understandable that when traders arrived to open up and saw the parking bays coned off they were very angry,” he added, calling for a review of the decision that was made “to ensure that it doesn’t happen again and all stakeholders are informed and consulted going forward.”

“We are very proud of Newry’s place as a top retail destination and we all need to work together to ensure that we do not do anything to damage that.”

Musicians Stephen Travers and Jackie McAuley, along with their great friend, special guest Tommy Sands, will get together this Saturday (1st December) for a unique concert recounting their musical adventures and life experiences.  

Stephen’s story as a survivor of The Miami Showband massacre of 1975 often obscures his remarkable musical journey which has taken him from intimate Jazz, Blues and Beat Group clubs onto the showband and rock music circuit to touring, recording, producing and headlining at venues with some of the most revered names in popular music.  Jackie as a member of the legendary Belfast band “Them”, shared stages with some of the most iconic bands such as The Beatles, and has written countless hits including a worldwide hit for Status Quo, whilst master balladeer and story-teller Tommy can hold any audience in the palm of his hand with his wonderful songs and stories. 

The unique collaboration will take place at An Cuan, 42 Shore Road, Rostrevor, County Down on Saturday, December 1 st at 8pm in association with Truth and Reconciliation Platform. Admission is £10.  

A Dromintee teenager who has himself been a victim of hate crime and bullying is the star of a short film launched this month which tackles the issues of bullying and racism in the classroom.

Budding actor, Patrick Roe, a Year 12 St.Paul’s High School pupil, stars in the ‘Time to Stand’ film which was launched by Cinemagic as part of Anti-Bullying Week 2018 (12th -16th November) and was shown in a special screening to schools at the Odyssey Cinema in Belfast.

The ‘Time to Stand’ film will be used by schools and youth projects across the Urban Village areas and will be also be available on a regional basis.The Urban Villages Initiative, led by The Executive Office (TEO) is designed to support good relations and develop thriving places in areas of Belfast and Derry with a history of deprivation and community tension. 

Some of the scenes in the production hit home for 15 year old Patrick, in particular a graffiti hate-crime incident which mirrors the distress he and his mum Briege went through after their home was daubed with racist graffiti in a vicious hate crime last September. The sickening racist slur was condemned throughout the community and friends and neighbours rallied around the family to remove the offensive graffiti. Patrick’s mum revealed at the time that her son had experienced various forms of racism over the years, but none as sinister as the graffiti attack. 

Speaking to UTV Live after the launch of the film last week, the young actor admitted that the grafitti crime had ‘hit hard at the time’ but he said he is ‘over it’ now and ‘better than he was before it.’.  The resilient teenager told the programme he felt it was important for someone like him who has experienced bullying and racism “to step up and show people that you can do it and you can prevail from things like this.”

Lee Kane, Regional Coordinator, Northern Ireland Anti-Bullying Forum (NIABF), described the short film as “exceptional” and said he hoped the production would encourage adults to take the opportunity “to talk to their children about how we treat others, remembering that while we don’t have to be friends with everyone we meet, showing respect to all helps foster a safe and inclusive anti-bullying culture in our schools and communities.”

Linsey Farrell, Director of the Urban Villages Initiative said ‘Time to Stand’ is a fantastic resource for schools and youth organisations and she added that, as the Racial Equality Champion for the Executive Office, “I am delighted that the Racial Equality Sub Group were able to support Cinemagic in the development of this film. I would like to thank everyone involved in producing the film and congratulate them on what they have achieved.”

A man has sustained injuries to his head, body and limbs after being attacked by a hammer wielding gang in his home in Newry on Saturday evening. 

Around 4.30pm, the 45 year old male occupant of a house in Rathmore Road in the Damolly area of the city answered a knock to the door.  Two men, carrying hammers, forced their way past the man and proceeded to carry out a brutal assault on a 24 year old male who was in the living room of the property, leaving him with significant injuries.

The men are described as wearing dark clothing and one is believed to have worn a dark coloured beanie hat.  The pair made off in a dark coloured saloon car with dark, tinted windows.

Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or who may have information about the incident to contact Detectives in Ardmore on 101 quoting reference 932 24/11/18.