Bridge plans attacked as Adams visits site of IRA bloodbath

Moves by Sinn Fein to advance a cross-border bridge in south Down have been slammed as 'a political pet project', as top party figures visited the site on Friday.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jun 2016, 15:12 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 18:21 BST
Sinn Fein Louth TD Gerry Adams this morning joined party colleagues Caitriona Ruane South Down MLA; Louth Councillor Jim Loughran and the Narrow Water Bridge Community Network group at a meeting with the new Executive Finance Minister Mairtín O Muilleoir on the site of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge and in WarrenpointSinn Fein Louth TD Gerry Adams this morning joined party colleagues Caitriona Ruane South Down MLA; Louth Councillor Jim Loughran and the Narrow Water Bridge Community Network group at a meeting with the new Executive Finance Minister Mairtín O Muilleoir on the site of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge and in Warrenpoint
Sinn Fein Louth TD Gerry Adams this morning joined party colleagues Caitriona Ruane South Down MLA; Louth Councillor Jim Loughran and the Narrow Water Bridge Community Network group at a meeting with the new Executive Finance Minister Mairtín O Muilleoir on the site of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge and in Warrenpoint

Sinn Fein MLA Caitriona Ruane welcomed Stormont Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir and party president Gerry Adams to Narrow Water near Warrenpoint.

The site has been earmarked for a suspension bridge between counties Louth and Down, but plans have so far foundered.

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The same site was also the scene of a massive IRA bomb in 1979, which killed 18 soldiers.

South Down TUV councillor Henry Reilly hit out at what he said was “a political pet project” to create the bridge, adding that what Newry urgently needs instead is a southern relief road.

“All serious commentators believe the bridge will not help the economy in any way,” he said.

“By contrast a southern relief road would allow heavy traffic coming from south Down and Warrenpoint harbour to bypass Newry city centre and access the Belfast to Dublin A1 route much more quickly.”

This would also greatly reduce traffic congestion in Newry city centre, he said.

Related topics:IRASinn FeinNewry