​Newry security alert disruption is branded a ‘disgrace’

Police said that “nothing untoward” was found following the incident.

A number of homes had been evacuated with police are asking members of the public to avoid the area.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said it had opened Newry Leisure Centre as an Emergency Rest Centre for any displaced residents.

Late on Thursday evening the PSNI provided an update. It 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."

Sinn Féin councillor, Aidan Mathers, said it was a “disgrace that a security alert in Newry was causing serious disruption for local people on a cold winter’s night”. He slammed the fact that the Camlough Road had to close and that residents had been forced to evacuate their homes.

​“This is disgraceful. The last thing people need is having to leave their homes on a cold winter’s night,” he stated.

“I would urge the public to avoid the area at this time and I appeal to anyone with information on this incident to contact the police.”

SDLP MLA Justin McNulty said that his thoughts had been with everyone caught up in the security alert and forced from their homes on this wet evening. “Nobody wants to see scenes like this in their community,” he stated.