Need for dedicated water rescue team for South Armagh

Two Newry, Mourne and Down Councillors have said they will write to the Department of Health to request that local fire service teams be given training, equipment and resources needed to provide proper water safety and rescue cover for the South Armagh area. It follows an incident earlier this month on Camlough Lake when police fire and ambulance services rescued a person from the water.

Slieve Gullion councillors Oonagh Magennis and Declan Murphy have called for a dedicated water rescue team for the area.

Cllr Magennis said “There is a need for a dedicated water rescue team to cover the South Armagh area, as evidenced by recent events.

“With Camlough Lake growing in popularity along with the upcoming recreation hub at the lake, there will be more people than ever before using the lake in the time ahead. 

“This means that we cannot rely on a water rescue team coming from Belfast to respond to emergencies, we need to have that capacity locally."

Cllr Magennis added that her party colleague, Councillor Murphy had raised this issue with the local head of the PSNI at a recent PCSP meeting.

Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has also called for better water rescue coverage for the area.