Northern Ireland

Residents return to homes as Newry security alert ends

Suspicious object was declared ‘nothing untoward’

The PSNI said enquiries into the incident were continuing
Police have asked people to avoid Newry's Camlough Road area as a security alert continues. (Niall Carson/PA)
By Paul Ainsworth

A security alert that forced residents from their homes in Newry has ended.

Police said a suspicious object found in the Camlough Road area on Thursday evening was “nothing untoward”.

Homes were evacuated earlier in the evening and the road was closed by police close to Daisy Hill Hospital.

Residents took shelter in Newry Leisure Centre as the security alert continued, while Newry and Armagh SDLP MLA Justin McNulty described the situation as “a desperate inconvenience on residents, many of whom are elderly”.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “The suspicious object has been declared to be nothing untoward. A number of cordons which were in place have now been lifted and all residents have returned to their homes.

“We would like to thank the public for their patience and cooperation.”