Emergency services called after car overturns in Dundalk

Emergency services were called to the scene of a collision on the R132 Old Newry Road yesterday afternoon in which a car overturned.

The incident took place at Dowdallshill, near Arthur’s Shop, opposite the junction with the Racecourse Road.

Thankfully the occupants injuries were only minor.

Sharkey insists new hospital CEO “must deliver services to Louth County Hospital”

Cllr Tomás Sharkey

Sinn Féin County Councillor Tomás Sharkey has reacted to the news that Mr Bill Maher has been appointed as CEO of the Dublin North East Group of hospitals by the HSE.

In a statement to the media, Cllr Sharkey said that the new hospital boss must deliver services back to the Louth County Hospital in Dundalk again.

He said: “The HSE has grouped Louth County Hospital, Our Lady of Lourdes in Drogheda, Monaghan, Cavan, Beaumont, Connolly in Blanchardstown and the Rotunda as one hospital group. In Dundalk and Louth we know that this means our hospital is the small minnow in a large pond. We have lost services down the years under the pretense that the bigger hospitals were safer places to go when sick. The HSE ignore the fact that actually getting to the larger hospitals, being seen and then admitted to a ward is the new risk in our health system.

“The incoming CEO has been in charge of hospitals in Roscommon and Galway so is no stranger to cutting back emergency and acute services in smaller hospitals.

“As a member of the HSE Forum for this region, I will be tasking Mr Maher to admit that the closure of A&E and Acute Medical services in Dundalk have been a disaster and have added to overcrowding and safety concerns in Our Lady of Lourdes Drogheda.

“Mr Maher is coming into his job under a government whose local TDs and Senators promised the return of A&E and Acute Medical Services,” he said.

One person unaccounted for as emergency services battle Ardee fire

The scene at the fire this evening. Picture: LMFM

One person is so far unaccounted for as emergency services deal with a major fire at the rear of Finlay’s Funeral Home in Ardee.

Tierney Street is blocked as a result of the incident with visibility majorly affected as a result. It is believed the fire started around 5.45pm.

Ardee, Dunleer and Dundalk firefighters are at the scene along with a number of ambulances. Gardaí from Ardee and Dundalk have cordoned off the area.

Residents of nearby Moorehall Lodge Nursing Home have been evacuated from the main nursing home and moved to a safer location within the retirement complex.

Motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible.

The smoke plume from the fire, as captured by Lisa Conlon