Bus and van collide injuring nineteen

A COLLISION between a box van and a bus resulted in nineteen people being injured.

The crash occurred on Kilkeel’s Newry Road near its junction with Tullyframe Road. Both vehicles were extensively damaged and minor damage was caused to an articulated lorry parked on the hard shoulder.

The driver of the box van had to be cut free from his vehicle while the bus driver and passengers were treated for shock, cuts and bruises at Daisy Hill hospital.

Officials at the hospital put into operation an emergency disaster plan which resulted in additional medical and nursing staff being called in.

Recession bites in Down

RECESSION-HIT Down was reeling from the grim news that another 200 manufacturing jobs were to go.

Fifty posts were axed at the Killough Brickworks while another 150 went from GPT Plessey in Ballynahinch.

Lay-offs at Killough were described as “temporary” and it was hoped workers would be re-employed once the building trade picked up.

The future for the Plessey workers was very much in doubt, with just 130 left on the payroll.

The double blow to the economy sent shockwaves reverberating throughout the district, with both LEDU and the IDB criticised for not doing enough to promote inward investment in Down District.

Friends of Drumaness Dam undertake clear-up

THE Friends of Drumaness Dam met to undertake a clear-up operation to remove the rubbish dumped in the village millpond.

Upwards of 40 local men, women and children demonstrated great community spirit by working to improve their environment.

Local man Sean Boyd proved himself to be an intrepid sailor as he ferried ashore rubbish collected from the centre of the dam.

Mrs Sheila Lewis-Crosby, who jointly owns the dam with her husband John, helped to clear the verges of a path alongside the pond.

Aidan Rooney (10) was among the many enthusiastic schoolchildren who lent a hand.

Plans were afoot to improve access along an existing lane which led to the main Newcastle Road, and it was hoped that trees would be planted on a piece of land adjacent to the dam.

Buddy Bear Trust support group in Newcastle

A BUDDY Bear Trust support group was set up following a public meeting in Newcastle.

Two of the directors of the Trust chaired the meeting in the Newcastle Centre, which was attended by more than 20 local people, as well as young Mark Trimble from Beverley Gardens.

Mark was accompanied by parents Alwyn and Anne, who hoped he would soon be able to travel to the world famous Peto Andras State Institute in Hungary for rehabilitation treatment.

The seven-year-old, who suffered from a debilitating illness, captured the imagination of the local public, especially the members of the Newcastle Fire Brigade.

All the men turned out to support the setting up of the local support group and brought a cheque for £500 towards the cost of travelling to Budapest.

Initial money raised was used to finance Mark’s trips but the funding was also due to be used to send other children from the area who suffered from the same illness.

Coastguard acknowledges brothers’ bravery

THE regular and auxillary Coastguard acknowledged the role of Greencastle’s Cunningham brothers, who rescued the MV Omagh during a dramatic operation in Carlingford Lough.

Leo and Sean Cunningham had already had their bravery honoured through the presentation of the Silk Cut Award for Seamanship in London, and they were joined by brothers Thomas and Peyton at the function in the Cranfield House Hotel.

In storm force conditions the Cunninghams launched their small tug ‘Mourne Valley’ to carry out the rescue, which lasted over 12 hours.

They managed to tow the Omagh to the safety of Warrenpoint Harbour.

The stricken vessel was many times the size of the tug.