Workers Rescued From Warrenpoint Harbour

An investigation is set to get underway later today into how two men came to fall into Carlingford Lough while working on a construction project.

The pair have been rescued from Warrenpoint Harbour after the structure they were working on collapsed into the sea.

The contract workers were undertaking a deepening project at the harbour, yesterday evening, when they fell into the sea.

The men were rescued by a passing ferry and taken to the nearby Daisy Hill hospital.

They were later discharged with minor injuries.

Peter Conway, of Warrenpoint Harbour, said both men had been using safety equipment.

"They were both wearing life-jackets and the life-jackets automatically inflated when they fell into the water.

"So the Harbour Authority emergency plan was put into operation and the men were rescued from the sea with the help of a local ferry which was passing at the time," added Mr Conway.

Meanwhile, the town's sea front has also been in the news this week as a small stretch of Warrenpoint's shoreline lies at the centre of a planning clash between developers and the local port authority.

Controversial plans for a £30m mixed-use development have been lodged with the Planning Appeals Commission.

It is expected to make a ruling by the end of August, but Warrenpoint Harbour Authority and Newry Enterprise Agency have both lodged objections.

Carneyhaugh Developments has proposed building a hotel, tourist information centre, public boardwalk, retail units and housing at the site, which lies on the shore on the town side of the Narrow Water roundabout.

It also says it will work with Northern Ireland Environment Agency to create enhanced salt marsh habitat.

The group says it will create around 200 new jobs and boost Warrenpoint's status as a tourism, commercial and recreational destination and location for family living. It hopes to have the work complete in time for the proposed opening of the Narrow Water Bridge in 2011.

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority said there is nowhere else for the port to expand in future as the opposite end of the harbour lies close to the town centre.

Chief Executive Peter Conway said: "Warrenpoint is the second port in Northern Ireland and the fifth on the island of Ireland and it is expanding.

"We want to ensure that the potential for development of the port is not restricted so that land would be available for us to expand."

(PR)(BMcC)