Police are appealing to anyone with information on the theft of three cars during an early morning raid of premises in south Armagh on Sunday to contact them.

The three vehicles were stolen during a burglary at business premises on the Concession Road in Culloville which took place shortly after 2am on Sunday July 17th.

A blue Volkswagen Golf, white Fiat Fiorino and silver Vauxhall Astra – were taken.

Police have asked anyone who may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area to contact them at Crossmaglen on the non-emergency number 101, quoting reference number 1274 18/07/16.

They have also appealed to anyone who may be offered these cars for sale to contact police.

With speculation rising about plans to reduce the opening hours at Daisy Hill’s Accident and Emergency Department, Chairman of the Daisy Hill Action Group (DHAG), Francis Gallagher, spoke to The Examiner about the potential impact of such a move on the acute status of the hospital.

Public suspicion over plans to gradually erode services at Daisy Hill were elevated when the Trust admitted last November that it was facing significant difficulties in the recruitment and retention of suitably qualified doctors and senior medical staff to safely sustain the local Emergency Department.  The Trust reiterated however that its preferred option was to maintain the service at Daisy Hill and pledged to do everything in its power to do so.

Reacting to claims made last week that the Trust is in the process of reducing the Emergency Department hours at Daisy Hill whilst at the same time expanding Craigavon’s Emergency Department, Mr Gallagher said a reduction in Daisy Hill’s A&E hours “will destroy the hospital’s acute status because a full-time A&E is one of the five pillars upon which an acute hospitals rests.”

The action group Chairman said doctors have advised him that the absence of a full time Emergency Department at Daisy Hill will have “very serious” consequences as it will take longer to transport patients to Craigavon Hospital to get the urgent medical attention they need within professionally recommended timescales.

“For example: if someone unfortunately suffers a stroke, doctors say a scan is needed within the golden first hour to determine if the stroke is caused by a clot or bleeding. It is stated that this scan is vital to determine what treatment is given. Doctors also say that this initial investigation needs to take place within an A&E department,” said Mr Gallagher.

“What will happen to someone who has a stroke if Daisy Hill’s casualty department is closed? It may be too late by the time they arrive at Craigavon. The road from Newry is poor and this will be compounded by the inevitable winter flooding. It would make more sense to develop acute services at Newry because of its location along a first class motorway network.”

Commenting on the Trust’s recruitment difficulties, Mr Gallagher said the Daisy Hill Action Group hope to meet with the new Minister of Health very soon to “dig a bit deeper into this argument.”

“Daisy Hill and Craigavon should be mutually dependent in terms of sharing staff, so we will be asking where is the evidence to show this is happening?”

He added that he hopes the Bengoa study – a report generated by an expert panel, headed by Spanish health reform expert, Professor Rafael Bengoa – does not recommend a continuation of the policy of centralisation of acute care and takes into account the arguments made by highly regarded surgeons and senior medical staff for the retention of the small acute hospital.

“Regarding the Bengoa report, the question to be asked is this: how much courage and independent thinking will politicians show to influence the Department to only use this study’s findings as an opinion rather than as cut and paste policy?“ said the DHAG Chairman.

“Ultimately whether the Bengoa study is implemented or if Daisy Hill loses its A&E, stroke unit and acute status – it will be a political decision.”

“Many people have lost confidence in our political system delivering the health care we need. There is a huge moral responsibility on all of us who are able, through the politics of peace and reconciliation, to make sure the whole community gets the health care they deserve.

“This could mean an even bigger mass rally at Newry in future, if the people’s voice is not listened to. I have no doubt Daisy Hill will survive and be developed if people have confidence that they can succeed.”

In light of the renewed speculation on future plans for Daisy Hill A&E Department, the Southern Trust issued a statement last week reiterating that their position remained unchanged and that it was committed to retaining a 24/7 Emergency Department at the Newry hospital.

“Daisy Hill Hospital is a key part of our acute hospital networking  (along with Craigavon Area Hospital) and we remain committed to a 24/7 Emergency Department at Daisy Hill,” said a Trust spokesperson.

“Daisy Hill Emergency Department has an excellent team of staff and recently modernised facilities (a major capital development was completed in 2-14).

“The trust has been very open about our challenges with the recruitment and retention of senior medical staff in Daisy Hill Hospital’s Emergency Department.

“The UK-wide shortage of Middle Grade and Consultant emergency staff continues to present significant difficulties with both recruitment and retention of suitably qualified doctors.”

Highlighting that the Trust continues to “exhaust every recruitment option” to attract senior medical staff to the local hospital, the spokesperson outlined that over the last year it has advertised regularly for permanent Emergency Medicine Consultants and had embarked on a European recruitment campaign.

“We have now recruited on permanent consultant to work in Daisy Hill and have secured a number of locum agency speciality doctors on a short term basis,” the statement revealed.

“Ensuring the delivery of safe, high quality care to our patients is and always will be our focus.

“Senior Management continue to meet regularly to review the Emergency Department staffing situation and we are continuing to work with the Health and Social Care Board and the Department of Health on this issue.”

This year marks the 45th anniversary of the introduction of Internment, where homes were raided and innocent men taken away and imprisoned without trial. Scores of men from the wider Newry area were forcibly taken away from their families and incarcerated in British camps. Many were beaten and tortured.

Newry Felons Association, in co-operation with The Pat Finucane Centre and Justice for the Forgotten, will be holding an event – ‘Internment: British Documents and the Irish Experience’ in the Irish National Foresters Club, William Street, Newry on August 5th 2016 at 7 pm.

Everyone is welcome and admission is free.

The event will tell a visual story of Internment using photographs, official British documents and the stories of those caught up in events of the time.

Guest speakers will include:  Anne Cadwallader from The Pat Finucane Centre and author of the book, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland; Margaret Urwin from Justice for the Forgotten, who has researched Internment using the official British archives. She will release a book this autumn based on her research; and Liam Shannon, an ex-internee and one of the ‘Hooded Men’ – one of those who were chosen to endure special torture techniques by the British.

Other local ex-internees will also speak of their experiences.

Frank Johnston, Chair of Newry Felons said the event is unique and “not to be missed”.

“Internment may have been introduced 45 years ago and the general history is well known, but what this event does is bring the local experience, the wider northern context and the private British government and RUC view together into one story.”

The story of Internment using photographs, British documents and ex-internee experiences – the Irish National Foresters Club, William Street, Newry, August 5th 2016 at 7pm.

Dublin-born politician and former television current affairs presenter, Pat Cox, laid out the future scenarios to businesses in the wake of the Brexit decision, during a breakfast workshop hosted by Newry’s Chamber of Commerce and Trade last Tuesday.

Mr Cox, who was a member of the European Parliament from 1989 to 2004, said that many business are functioning at a time of high uncertainty in the aftermath of the UK decision to leave the EU and that “Uncertainty creates a vacuum easily filled by speculation which in turn reinforces a sense of anxiety.”

“This is accentuated by the inability of the British authorities, for the moment, to clarify what they want by way of a future relationship with the EU 27 and by the determination of the latter to insist on ‘no negotiations without notification’,” Cox told delegates in the Canal Court Hotel.

A key focus of his presentation was to anchor the debate in the knowledge and reassurance that Ireland has exercised her sovereignty to be at the very heart of EU decision-making and will mobilise the goodwill and support of larger players as a matter of right and not of privilege under the rule of law.  “The worst thing we can do is to have a peripheral mentality,” he said.

In this context his discussion and presentation drew very interesting insights on some of the accumulated inheritance of EU law and practice that can be mobilised in Ireland’s interest.

Speaking on the Common Travel Area (CTA), Mr Cox informed delegates that the first legal recognition of the CTA between Ireland and the UK is EU based and contained in the Treaty of Amsterdam which entered into force on 1st May 1999.  He added, “Thus our discussions with the EU 27 are not starting as a blank sheet but as the inheritance of what is already there and must be built on as a matter of right not privileges”.

On the issue of a border poll, Mr Cox laid out the scenario whereby if the UK should exit the EU but at some future date was to decide to vote for a United Ireland, as foreseen as a possibility in the Belfast Agreement, then the reintegration precedent of East Germany with West Germany provides a fast track and a template which should be easily accommodated through Article 23.

“In European terms this was a territorial enlargement without a new accession since the Federal Republic of Germany already was a full member state and so no Treaty amendment of EC primary law was required”.

The former EP president was keen to reiterate that any scenario discussed was not a prediction or a presumption that a border poll is imminent but said that if such conditions ever were to prevail in Northern Ireland “it would be incumbent on the Houses of the Oireachtas in the Republic to enact referendum legislation on Irish unity and for the Republic’s electorate to consent to this by a majority.”

“Given Britain’s level of transfers to Northern Ireland which sustain its current living standard and which amount to around 30 per cent of its income, it is open to question whether the Republic’s citizens currently would be prepared to contemplate the massive transfers that would be needed to fill this void in the event of Northern Ireland voting to quit the UK,” Mr Cox said.

“These considerations make an early border poll highly implausible on both sides of the border, whatever interest may attach to that question in recent weeks.”

Also speaking at the post-brexit planning workshop, Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy warned that the north stands to lose billions if it is dragged out of the EU.

“It is absolutely clear from the various briefings and discussions held over the past few weeks that leaving the EU would be economically, socially and politically disastrous for the north of Ireland,” he said.

Mr Murphy cited the loss of an “unquantifiable amount of private investment” and millions in EU funding as direct implications of a decision to leave the EU as well as “many more implications for the common travel area, for the free movement of people, goods and services which all add up to a disastrous situation. Potentially, we are looking at tens of billions being taken out of our economy over the coming decade.”

However, he added his party was doing everything it could to mitigate the damage of brexit, having recently tabled an amendment to the review of the EU budget up until 2020 calling on the Parliament to continue its support for the peace process through the continued funding of the PEACE programme.  According to the Sinn Féin MLA, the amendment was supported by 541 out of 751 MEPs.

“The Assembly in the North is legally required to operate within EU law.  If Westminster agrees to an EU exit deal under the Sewel Convention, there must be a legislative Consent Motion which would theoretically give the north and Scotland a veto, although the British have indicated they would ignore any such veto,” said Mr Murphy who went on to reveal that Sinn Féin have also signed up to a cross-party, cross-community legal challenge to the north being taken out of Europe.

On the subject of reunification, he described it as the “elephant in the room” and the “only option which can fully protect everyone in the north from the disastrous effects an EU exit would have on this area.”

“We are seeking to create a broad base of political parties, interest groups, businesses, industries and individuals to campaign for a border poll.  Such a campaign may require people to let go of their ideological hang-ups from the last century and while that may not be easy the consequences of not doing so are too damaging to ignore.”

Police are investigating two separate sexual assaults which took place in Newry and Kilkeel last week.

On Saturday July 16th a woman was reportedly sexually assaulted in the North Street area of Newry by a man who entered her house around 4pm.  The attacker fled after a struggle with the woman and is believed to have suffered injuries to his face and head.

Five days later, on Thursday July 21st, a woman was sexually assaulted in a park in the Kilkeel area around 5.30pm.   The woman was walking in Mourne Park when she was grabbed by a male who pulled her to the ground and sexually assaulted her.   The assailant is described as being in his early thirties, five foot six inches tall with dark eyes and swarthy skin.

He was wearing a dark baseball cap and a blue top.

Police are appealing for witnesses and ask anyone who may have been in the park ay around the time of the assault in Mourne Park to contact police in Newry on 101, quoting reference number 991 21/07/16.

Anyone with information regarding the North Street attack is asked to contact police at Ardmore on 101 quoting reference 870 18/07/16.

A woman whose partner was left at the side of a road suffering horrific injuries after a hit-and-run collision has made an emotional appeal for the driver to give himself up.

Joseph McGivern was struck by a vehicle on the main Carlingford to Newry road in the early hours of July 15. He and his girlfriend Zoe McAvoy had earlier been celebrating with friends at a wedding in Carlingford. As the reception ended Joe went for a walk but was struck by a car and left badly injured at the side of the road.

The 28 year old Banbridge man could only watch helplessly as another car ran over him a second time, dragging him along the road for a few metres.  Thankfully the second driver stopped and called emergency services to the scene.

Zoe said: “Thank God he stopped,” said Zoe, the mother of Joe’s two young children, 22 month old Ella-Rose and nine week old Reuben.

“If he hadn’t, who knows how long he would have been there. He could have lay there and been hit by more cars or died before he got help.

“It is horrible to think that someone could just drive on. I wouldn’t leave a dog by the side of the road, so how could someone leave him?”

Zoe, who was still at the hotel in Carlingford, endured an agonising wait to get to her boyfriend after he was rushed to Daisy Hill Hospital before being transferred to the intensive care unit of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

When she reached the hospital she discovered that Joe had broken almost every bone in his body. He fractured a bone in his neck, had two broken vertebrae in his back, his pelvis was broken, he had fractured his chest bone and a few ribs, and both his legs were broken.

The father-of-two also suffered internal bleeding that led to further complications and he has undergone a number of emergency surgeries over the last two weeks. Joe, who is a tiler, has been moved to a high dependency ward where he faces a long road to recovery and an uncertain future – as he may never work again due to his injuries.

Friends and family have rallied round to help the young family, who have been devastated by the collision, with Zoe now splitting her time between their two infant children and hospital.

In the midst of her turmoil, Zoe penned a moving and emotional online plea to the hit-and-run driver to give himself up.  The post has been shared thousands of times and while Zoe hopes it may prick the conscience of the person responsible, the family are also appealing to witnesses or anyone with information to bring it to the police.

The online letter reads:

“Dear hit & run driver, When you hit Joseph and left him to die on the road, did you think about him lying there?

“Did you realise that he was so broken he could only lie there and watch as a second vehicle ran him over again??

“When you got up the next morning and went to have your breakfast did you think about him lying in the hospital with horrific leg and pelvis injuries?

“When you swallowed your breakfast did you think about him with lots of internal bleeding and a crushed chest? When you got back into your car that morning did you think about him lying there with a broken back?

“When you drove to work did you look around at the view? Joseph couldn’t because you broke his neck. Joseph has a daughter of 22 months and a son at 10 weeks old but he isn’t like you because he can’t work now to provide for his family and he will not work for a long time. I want you to keep thinking about Joseph and his wee family every time you close your eyes. Our blessing has been that Joseph has no brain damage and he can remember quite a bit of what happened that night and we have been told that what he cannot remember now will come back to him.

“May I suggest you ease your conscience and his family’s pain by handing yourself into the police before they come to your door as they did to his mother’s.”

Zoe has been touched by the support from so many people who have shared the post but, sadly, no one has come forward to claim responsibility or with any information on the incident.

“This has been very difficult and we just want someone to come forward,” Zoe said. “There has to be someone who knows something about what happened. The driver might have told someone or even someone who saw damage to a vehicle or anything that can help. I would just like them to go to the police and that bit of information could help find who did this.”

A spokesman for An Garda Siochana said they were continuing to investigate the incident, which occurred at around 3.50am on July 15 at North Commons, Carlingford.  The spokesman confirmed no arrests have been made and appealed to anyone with information to contact Garda at Carlingford station on 042 9373102, or the Garda Confidential Line is 1800 666 111.

History was made at the weekend when the iconic Haulbowline Lighthouse at Cranfield was illuminated to mark the 100th Anniversary of the area’s greatest single loss of life.

The lighthouse was illuminated from 10pm to midnight on Saturday night and will be lit up at the same time every night throughout the month of August in memory of the 94 people who died when the ships SS Connemara and SS Retriever collided in Carlingford Lough in November 1916.

The illumination of the lighthouse signalled the start of five events to be held this month to mark the tragedy, including daily boat trips to the site of the collision.

Organised by Newry Maritime Association (NMA) under the title “Remembrance in Mourne”, Saturday night’s switching on of the lighting will be followed by the unveiling of a plaque at the lighthouse today (Monday).  Another plaque will be unveiled in Kilkeel on 5th August in memory of Margaret Donnan, who lost her husband, son and brother-in-law in the accident. On 6th August a plaque will be unveiled at Greencastle Pier, close to the site of the tragedy and a final plaque will be unveiled at Nicholson’s Store in Derryogue, where many of the corpses were taken to after they were found washed up on shore the morning after the disaster.

Armagh man Stevey McGeown received a hero’s welcome in his native city on Saturday as he completed his “Epic Adventure” of 60 ultra-marathons in 60 days.

Huge crowds turned out to cheer the super-athlete back to Armagh after his mammoth challenge saw him run 64 km every day, completing 3,780 km around the entire perimeter of Ireland by the time he crossed the finish line on Saturday afternoon.

The 38 year old father-of-three has already broken the world record for completing the most ultra-marathons over consecutive days, which previously stood at 21.  No stranger to epic challenges, the avid runner ran 100 marathons in 100 days last year before deciding to take on the incredible feat of running in one continuous loop all around Ireland.  The goal of his marathon endeavour has been to raise £275,000 for the Keith Duffy Foundation which will help Fighting Blindness, Buddy Bench Ireland and Paddy Wallace Fund For Autism with the proceeds.

As well as his dedicated crew, who travelled with him on every step of his epic adventure, Stevey’s wife Catherine and their three kids, Ben, Katie and Harry have kept him going through the tough early stages of his journey.  The inspirational Armagh man has shown amazing determination throughout his challenge, none more-so than when he lost his beloved grandmother halfway through.  The dedicated runner travelled north for her funeral before returning to continue his incredible journey.

Returning to a rapturous welcome in Armagh city on Saturday afternoon, the intrepid runner paid an emotional tribute to his family thanking them for their unfailing love and support throughout his record breaking trek.  He  was later joined by friends, family and supporters at a celebratory barbeque held at the Armagh City Hotel, the proceeds of which were also donated to his chosen charities.

After consigning himself to the history books forever, the legendary Armagh man can finally put his feet up and enjoy a well earned rest having completed a truly epic adventure.

British government plans to approve a nuclear power plant at Hinkley Point in Somerset is of huge concern to those living along the east coast of Ireland, MP Mickey Brady has claimed.

Describing the facility as “another deadly danger off our coastline”, the Sinn Fein MP says news that the £18 billion plant is set for final approval is unwelcome and unwanted, stating that it would pose potential contamination to Ireland.

“Ireland has had a difficult and unwanted relationship with British nuclear plants like Windscale – renamed Sellafield – over the decades, with leaks, contamination scares and poisonous releases into the atmosphere.

“An increase in birth defects and cancers along the east coast of Ireland has convinced many that there is a direct link to the release of the nuclear waste contaminates into the atmosphere and the Irish Sea and the rise in clusters of these cases,” he said.

“The expected news that the Hinkley Point, Somerset nuclear plant is set for final approval by the British government is unwelcome and adds another danger to people living in Ireland,” Mr Brady continued.  “The Irish Government needs to be more forceful in conveying the concerns of the Irish people, given their experiences with British nuclear power plants, to the British Government during this review.

“Nuclear plants are not wanted near our coastline as they inevitably pose a real and potentially disastrous threat to the health and wellbeing of our citizens, particularly those living in or near the east coast.

“Methods of producing energy that can cause serious risk to the health and environment of millions of citizens, including nuclear generators and fracking, have little or no support and that needs to be reflected in the actions and policies of any Irish Government.”

The British government has dismissed any moves for a border poll as the criteria to trigger such — a tangible increase in support for a united Ireland — has not been met, House of Lords deputy chief whip Lord Empey has confirmed.

However, the senior peer said that London will continue its regular meetings with the Irish Government during Brexit negotiations with the EU.

Stating that a border poll should not be linked with Brexit talks, Lord Empey said: “From the moment the referendum result was announced, Sinn Fein was calling for a border poll. Although initially cool on the idea, Taoiseach Enda Kenny moved his position to argue that the matter of a border poll should be on the table during talks on Brexit.

“I believe that the Brexit talks and a border poll are not connected in any way, and if we are to make a success of Brexit talks, linking them with a border poll is a recipe for disaster.”

Lord Empey claimed talk of a border poll “would sour any trade and free movement discussions and unionists would not accept this as part of the Brexit process”.

“I hope that now the Government has set out its position, politicians here and in Dublin will concentrate on getting the best deal with our European partners on trade, free movement and avoid, if possible, a hard border.  These are the things that matter most to people — the protection of trade and jobs,” he said.

The proceeds of a commemorative CD compiled in honour of a much-loved priest have raised more than £20,000 for the Southern Area Hospice.

Fr. Gerry McArdle from Burren was the inspiration for singer/songwriter Rose Brennan to record a five-track album in memory of the much-loved cleric and close family friend who passed away in June last year.

Entitled ‘Hospice’, the album features two unique songs written about Fr. Gerry as he battled the final stages of his illness: ‘Fr. Gerard’ is a celebration of the gentle priest’s life and work, while ‘The Hospice’ was composed based on Rose’s visits with him in the Southern Area Hospice.

Rose says Fr. Gerry was delighted at what he called ‘his’ song and gave both tunes his blessing with the belief that they would go on to “achieve great things and do much good”.

Inspired by his enthusiasm, Rose, together with Fr. Gerry’s family, decided to record the two songs and, along with three others she has also composed, produced a professional CD with proceeds of sales benefitting the Hospice.

Endorsed by the Southern Area Hospice, and with the generous financial support from individuals and businesses in the Burren area, the five tracks were recorded at Narrow Water Studio and mastered and replicated by Media Trends, Dublin.

Since its release in December, ‘Hospice’ has received extensive airplay and the tracks have struck a chord with many who have shared experiences of the facility.

Rose Brennan and the McArdle and McConville families wish to express their heartfelt thanks to everyone who has contributed to the success of the project to date – the very generous local patrons; the musicians who voluntarily gave of their time and talent; the master guitarist Steve Cooney, Paul French, Danny McGreevy, Aibhin Fitzpatrick, James Brennan, Tony McArdle and Cara McConville; the  sound engineer Steve Fearnley; the graphic designer Alannah McQuaid and the photographer Louis McNally.

Having topped £20k, the fundraising is ongoing and the CD can still be purchased via www.rosebrennan.co.uk or at the Hospice, priced at £10 with all proceeds going to Southern Area Hospice Services.

A man arrested on Friday in connection with the Kingsmill Massacre investigation has been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

The 59-year-old was detained in Newry by detectives from the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch.

It is the first arrest since the investigation reopened in May after police revealed fresh evidence into the 1976 atrocity had emerged.

On 5th January 1976, ten men were shot dead after the minibus in which they were travelling home from work, was stopped on a remote country road near Whitecross.

The sole Catholic in the vehicle was ordered to leave before the gang opened fire.  Ten men were killed instantly while Alan Black, the sole survivor, was seriously wounded.

Earlier this year a second inquest into the killings had just begun when it was dramatically halted with the revelation that detectives had matched a palm print that was found on the killers’ getaway vehicle.

Following Friday’s developments, Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy described the arrest as a “potentially positive development in pursuit of the maximum level of justice for the Kingsmill victims”.

“The families and sole survivor have waited forty years in their pursuit of maximum truth and justice for this brutal and barbaric crime,” Mr Kennedy said.

“The news that someone has been arrested in connection with Kingsmill must be seen as a potentially positive development. We must now wait and allow the police investigation to take its course.”

“It is my sincere hope that the police now have a realistic prospect of mounting a successful prosecution of some of those responsible.”

Following the man’s release, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Harrison said: “Our investigation into Kingsmill continues.”

He appealed to anyone with information to contact the PSNI’s legacy investigations branch detectives on the 101 number, or call the Crimestoppers charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) are currently in discussions to ascertain if a trial would be appropriate in Northern Ireland to test emergency medical responses with firefighters assisting ambulance crews. According to Jim Quinn, Executive Council member for the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the aim of any trial will be to discover how best the NIFRS can support and assist the NIAS – and not as a replacement for ambulance crews.

Such a scheme would entail firefighters being dispatched to an emergency medical situation at the same time as an ambulance crew, with a view to administering emergency treatment such as a defibrillator or CPR should the fire crew arrive on the scene first.  The scheme would be particularly beneficial in rural areas without an ambulance station nearby, such as Crossmaglen and its surrounding region.

Speaking to The Examiner about the possibility of such a scheme being implemented, Mr Quinn explained,

“From our point of view, it is focusing on the communities that we serve and live in. We want to see if there is anything we can do to expand that and expand the role of firefighters in something that would be beneficial to the community.

“Over 30 fire services throughout Northern Ireland have already taken up the opportunity to trial emergency medical responses,” he added.

“Most of them are doing out of hospital cardiac arrests, going along with the ambulance service, with a defibrillator and if the fire crew happens to arrive before the ambulance service – in the case of a remote rural location, or somewhere where the ambulance service are unable to access as quickly because they are on another call – then fire service officers will apply the defibrillator if necessary until professionals arrive.  Really the aim is to assist and support – not to replace ambulance cover, and that is the key message we are keen to convey.

“Fire service officers are already trained in the use of defibrillators and obviously if we can offer something to the community to assist with the ambulance service and help to save a life in the community, or to stop the damage being as bad as it could, then we are keen to participate in such a trial.”

The FBU EC Member added that trials of the scheme are underway right throughout the UK and talks are ongoing at the moment with the only trial anticipated to start in Northern Ireland in Lurgan in the coming weeks.

“A trial scheme may be starting in Lurgan first of all and once the results of those trials come back right across the UK then we will be able to evaluate the situation and see if we can spread it out throughout Northern Ireland by ascertaining what sort of impact it will have on our fire crews and our resources,” said Mr Quinn.

“We are running trials first to see if the scheme is appropriate for us and if it is then we will sit down and work out how we can do it and where we can do it.

“My view is that if we are able to assist communities like this – not because the ambulance service have not got enough ambulances – but because we may have fire stations in areas where there aren’t any ambulances, such as Crossmaglen – then a scheme like this could make a vital difference to the local community.  So we are seeking to explore this right across the UK,  to find out if can we do it, if it works and are the resources there to do it? Our key message is however that if such a scheme is implemented the fire service will be there to support the ambulance service and not to replace it.”

Sinn Féin Group Leader Terry Hearty told The Examiner such an initiative would be welcomed in south Armagh.

“Anything that will help save lives is to be welcomed,” he said.

“We actually advocated a similar system in the south Armagh area a number of years ago due to the historic lack of ambulance cover here.

“South Armagh would be the perfect place to roll out such a scheme. Years of under investment by unionist ministers have left us with totally inadequate ambulance cover.  It’s not unusual to hear stories of people in life threatening conditions waiting hours for ambulances to arrive here so anything that would help pick up the slack could only be a good thing.

“However, in the long term a scheme like this should only ever be seen as an additional level of safety and not a replacement for adequate ambulance cover.”

A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson confirmed that it was exploring future opportunities for collaborative working with Health & Social Care Services and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service to deliver an improved service to the community.”

The family and friends of Silverbridge man Niall Quinn have raised an unbelievable £34,000 for the Kevin Bell Repatriation after hosting a very special night in his memory last month.  The fundraiser, which took place in Silverbridge Resource Centre, was billed as a personal tribute to Niall from his family and friends to celebrate his life and thank the local community for their overwhelming support for the Quinn family in the wake of their terrible loss.

The fun filled night of raffles, auctions and music was a spectacular success, which brought the entire community together to remember the “larger-than-life” character, whose death in a houseboat accident in Australia in January has left a huge void in the lives of his heartbroken family and his many friends.

With the KBRT instrumental in bringing Niall back to his native Silverbridge, the Quinn family wanted to give something back to the renowned repatriation trust by donating all proceeds of the night to help the charity continue the amazing work it does for the families of those who have died abroad.

The staggering amount raised is testament to the esteem in which Niall and the Quinn family are held and to the generosity of the local community who have been unfailing in their support for the family in the aftermath of such a tragedy.

Speaking to The Examiner about the success of the fundraiser, Niall’s sister Antoinette said,

“Initially lot of money was raised for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust through Niall’s friends so we as a family wanted to organise a fundraiser from us to show our appreciation for the Trust and for the local community and everything they have done for us.

Mr Collie Bell and Mrs Eithne Bell, on behalf of the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust receive a cheque for £34,059 from the Quinn family and friends. The money was raised courtesy of a fundraiser in Silverbridge GAC in memory of Niall Quinn. Included are members of the Harps committee.

“We are totally blown away by the amount of money the fundraising night raised, we really never expected it to be so much.  Obviously we knew how special Niall was to us as his family but we now know that everyone knew just how special he was. He would be so proud of all the money that has been raised in his name and we can truly say he has done his bit in helping the KBRT to help other families in the future.

“We really want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the businesses who donated prizes for the fundraising night. The sheer amount of prizes – 60 in total – helped to make the night the success it was.  All of the raffle and box prizes were given without asking and we really can’t thank people enough for putting forward such amazing prizes.

“We also thank everyone who helped out on the night and in organising the fundraiser.  There were so many volunteers who ensured everything went smoothly.  To the entire community who have rallied behind us and to our family and friends, we are so grateful for their support because without it we would not be where we are today in terms of getting through the loss of Niall.

“A huge thanks to absolutely everyone who helped us to remember Niall in such a fantastic way and to raise such an unbelievable amount for the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust.”

The demolition of Newry’s former swimming pool at Clanrye Avenue is to commence shortly, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has announced.

The contract for the work has been awarded to B Small Contracts Ltd and is expected to take around three months to complete.

The project will also include the demolition of the changing pavilion at Jennings Park.

Materials from the demolition works will be transported via Clanrye Avenue to recycling and disposal facilities. When the site has been cleared it will be developed as an additional car park to serve the adjacent new Newry Leisure Centre.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick says the move marks the end of an era for locals: “Many residents will be sad to see the old swimming pool demolished, as it had enabled the local people of the district, as well as thousands of visitors, to enjoy swimming over the many years since its opening in 1969.”

Work on the site will be closely supervised and managed in order to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken to avoid nuisance or inconvenience to residents living in the vicinity of the site. Safe access will be maintained along the existing access road for the public using Newry Leisure Centre and Jennings Park playing fields, as well as for the emergency services.

Eamon McManus Capital Project Manager NMDDC, Brendan Small B. Small Demolition, Chairperson Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Gillian Fitzpatrick, Liam Hannaway Chief Executive Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Terry Hamilton from Kennedy Fitzgerald Architects at the site of the Old Newry Swimming Pool announce that works to remove it will commence shortly.

Commenting on the continued development of the Leisure Centre, Councillor Fitzpatrick said the Phase 2 development of the complex is well underway.

“The main facilities in the second phase will include an eight court sports hall, a four court sports hall, state of the art gym, class and spinning studios, multipurpose rooms, squash and handball facilities, cafe, soft play and a birthday room. The new centre will be an important part of our district for the years to come,” she said.

At an approximate cost of £10million, Phase 2 will complement the impressive swimming pool facility which opened in April last year at a cost of £9 million, and is expected to be complete and operational by mid-2017.

At a preliminary hearing of an inquest into the deaths of two nuns in a crash involving a police vehicle near Newry almost two years ago, a coroner ruled against holding a full inquest into the accident, claiming such a move would be “counter-therapeutic”.

Coroner Joe McCriskin said the driver of the unmarked police Mitsubishi Shogun, Constable Martin Angus, was “placed in an unbelievable difficult position” adding there was little he could have done to avoid the fatal collision.

Sisters Frances Forde and Marie Duddy of the Sister of Mercy Order in Belfast died when their Renault Clio was struck by the jeep on the A1 near Newry on 30th September 2014.  The nuns had been on their way to a retreat at nearby Dromintine College.  Three police officers sustained minor injuries in the crash.

The Police Ombudsman’s investigation into the accident was described in court as “extremely detailed and extremely professional” and barrister for Constable Angus, Michael Loughrey, said in his opinion an inquest “would not provide any further detail about the very tragic circumstances” of the incident.

The coroner agreed and said he was satisfied by the PSNI’s response to the crash and added: “I am not sure I could ever properly understand why Sisters Duddy and Forde attempted to make that manoeuvre.  I am not sure an inquest would give us an answer.”

In a statement, the Mercy Sisters said they welcomed the decision.

“We, the Mercy family, are again reminded of the tragic passing of two wonderful sisters who dedicated their lives to serving God and God’s people.  Our thoughts are with all those who were affected by this tragedy, especially with the Duddy and Forde families who have had to deal with such a sudden and tragic loss.”

Police were forced to restrain a man on the floor of Daisy Hill Hospital’s A&E department after he became abusive and hit out at officers.

The man had been arrested on Wednesday night during a domestic incident, and despite being sprayed with CS spray, he managed to escape from officers.  He was located a short time later and taken to hospital for treatment for a hand injury he sustained punching through a window.

While medical staff attempted to treat the man, he continued struggling and shouting abuse and, although handcuffed, hit out again at the police officers.   He was then put on the floor and had his legs strapped.

Reporting on its Facebook page, Newry and Mourne PSNI said: “Despite his abusive language and struggling, the magnificent doctor and nurses treated the man, patched him up and we were able to take him on to custody.

“To the patients in the waiting room, apologies that you were forced to listen to the man in question and watch his carrying on, to the patients whose treatment was put back as a result of this, thank you for your patience and to the staff – thank you whole heartedly for your efforts. You don’t get paid enough.”

Around 120 union members in the Glen Dimplex plant in Newry downed tools last Thursday in planned strike action over pay.

According to Union Organiser, Denis Sheridan, the Glen Dimplex workers had been involved in negotiations with the company for some time concerning an increase in pay.

“Unfortunately, due to the intransigence shown by management at these talks no agreement was reached,” said Mr Sheridan.

Last Thursday’s work stoppage was the first of several planned for the coming weeks and is in addition to an ongoing work-to-rule campaign at the plant which includes a ban on overtime and callouts.

SIPTU Shop Steward, Alan Clark, said: “Our members have sought to find a negotiated solution to this dispute. Glen Dimplex is a profitable company and it is only fair that the workers who produce its high quality heating and other products are rewarded in an acceptable manner for their work.

“We regret that we have found it necessary to implement strike action in an attempt to bring an end to this dispute. SIPTU representatives remain available to engage in meaningful talks with management at any time.”

Commending the workers who took to the picket line on Thursday, Independent Newry City councillor Kevin McAteer said,

“We can’t ignore the fact that 93% of SIPTU members in the factory voted in favour of strike action and we must respect that democratic process,

”There have been extensive talks as of late between workers and management, however as no agreement could be reached members voted overwhelmingly to strike and they should be commended for that.

“However what has worried me is the behaviour of management as I have been told by workers that management have been extremely disrespectful towards the strike and have also threatened to phone the police during the strike itself.

“I hope that a peaceful solution can be found soon.”

Speaking from the picket line on Thursday, where a delegation of Sinn Fein representatives had joined the Glen Dimplex workers, Newry MLA Conor Murphy said it was the company’s duty to engage with its workers.

“We have spoken to the staff here on the picket line and it’s quite clear that they do not want to be striking today; they have been forced into this position by management’s refusal to engage meaningfully with them,” he said.

“These are very dedicated workers; people who have been loyal employees of the company for decades, some of them with 30 or 40 plus years of service; they are not the type of people who would make a decision like this flippantly.

“They’re not asking for anything beyond what will allow the staff to keep up with the cost of living.  Their demands are completely reasonable and I think, given the years of loyal service and experience they have here, the company has a duty to engage in proper negotiations with the workers and their representatives.”

His Sinn Fein colleague, MP Mickey Brady agreed and said negotiating was not only the appropriate thing to do but the right thing to do.

“We’ve been talking to the staff a lot today and as well as a sense of anger at the intransigence of management there is a very genuine sense of hurt that a company they have worked for for so long could dismiss their very modest requests so thoughtlessly,” he said.

“Their demands are not unreasonable and in this case in particular, given the years of service, I would say engaging with the staff and their representatives is not only the appropriate thing for Glen Dimplex to do but the right thing, indeed the decent thing.”

A man whose wife was killed when a car bomb exploded outside the Step Inn bar in Keady 40 years ago has said he wants to see a new inquest, ordered by attorney General John Larkin in 2013, finally take place and for the RUC to be “shamed” for their involvement in the killing.

Malachi McDonald’s wife Elizabeth, who was known as Betty, was killed along with 22 year old Gerald McGleenan in the bomb blast carried out by the notorious Glenanne gang on August 16th 1976.  The gang was directed by the RUC Special Branch and Military Intelligence and operated a campaign of bombings and shootings at will without fear of detection. The Glenanne Gang are believed to have been responsible for the murders of more than 100 people in the seventies.

The Cortina car used in the Step Inn bomb attack had been hijacked on Belfast’s Shankill Road a week earlier and packed with 25lb of commercial explosives and 200lb of homemade explosives.

An investigation by the police Historical Enquiries Team revealed that RUC Special Branch had known the identities of those involved in the attack and that the house where the bomb was stored belonged to a part-time police officer and had been under British army surveillance in the days leading up to the attack.

The bomb was originally intended for a bar in Clontibret in Co Monaghan but when the gang discovered that the bar was under surveillance by gardai, the Step Inn bar became the new target.

No-one has ever been charged with the bomb attack.

Malachi McDonald, who now lives in Pomeroy in County Tyrone, says he has struggled to cope with the loss of the mother of his three children four decades ago. Mr McDonald said he has been “fed so many lies for years” and has no doubt there was collusion in the killings.   Expressing his wish for the inquest ordered by the Attorney General 3 years ago to be completed, he said he wanted “this rotten RUC to be shamed for what they were.”

The latest comic creations from the local duo responsible for the inimitable “Nuala and Noreen” are taking social media by storm.  “Winebulance” drivers “Minnie and Winnie” are the newest comedy pairing from funny women Rozyln Sheridan and Teresa McBride,  and with over 48,000 views since their video was posted last week, these girls are proving to be a massive hit!

The hilarious video sees Minnie and Winnie take their Winebulance (an upgraded ice cream van) to the streets of local housing estates in order to “re-wine” the women of Northern Ireland. The laugh-out-loud skit pokes fun once again at “typical Irish women” and has struck a chord throughout the country.  Following on from the success of “Know it all with Nuala and Noleen”, the “Irish Mammies”, the “Yummie Mummies” and the “Farmer’s Wives”, Rozlyn and Teresa have perfectly captured Irish wit and humour.

Shared and reshared on YouTube, Facebook and by national and local media sites, both Roslyn and Teresa say they are delighted with the positive reaction to the wacky pairings who almost everyone can relate to. The formidable funny women are no strangers to the comedy scene having entertained packed audiences in Newry Town Hall during a hugely successful run of the rip roaring comedy, “Dirty Dusting” in 2013.   They are familiar faces on the Newry drama scene with Rozlyn also running the Sheridan Stage School in Newry and Teresa lecturing in Performing Arts in Southern Regional College.

“We started our page (Know It All with Nuala and Noeleen) only 10 weeks ago and the response has been brilliant!” said Rozlyn.

“We had started to save some of our snapchat videos and family and friends encouraged us to create a page. And that was the start of it! It’s good, clean comedy about typical Irish women.”

The ultimate goal for the comedy partnership is to tour with the self-penned comedy show which they are currently working on. With each new creation proving to be even more popular than the last, Minnie and Winnie’s Winebulance could very well pull up at a theatre near you in the not too distant future.