‘Heart goes out’ to residents as officials probe devastation

‘Heart goes out’ to residents as officials probe devastation

29 October 2025

STORMONT environment minister Andrew Muir has visited Newcastle in the wake of the recent catastrophic flooding which devastated the Tullybrannigan area.

His visit coincided with confirmation that the Department for Infrastructure is continuing with its efforts to determine the cause of the flood which miraculously missed homes by inches.

DfI officials say while preliminary findings suggest the flooding may have been caused by surface water run-off from the Mourne Mountains after heavy overnight rain, there has been no public comment on speculation that a piped culvert in Donard Forest was blocked, forcing the water to cascade off the mountain into the Tullybrannigan area.

A local resident said the blocked culvert is located inside the Forest Service boundary which takes run-off water towards Bonny’s caravan site.

The DfI said its officials will continue to co-operate and investigate what can be done to help prevent a similar event from happening again.

Mr Muir said his “heart goes out” to all the residents who were affected by the recent flooding in Newcastle, explaining that the Alliance Party felt it was important to show its solidarity and listen to the individuals who were impacted.

The environment minister said he would be following up on several of the issues raised and will continue to work with his party colleagues Andrew McMurray MLA and Cllr Jill Truesdale “as they seek to support the community and ensure they get the help they need.”

Mr McMurray said party members met residents in the Sunningdale and Tullybrannigan areas who’d been impacted by the recent flooding events.

“Like many others, we were shocked to see such devastation caused by the recent flash flooding that ravaged these areas,” he said.

“It was great to have the Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs out here on the ground with us in the community this weekend, hearing first hand from residents how this kind of flooding has impacted them.”

Mr McMurray said people have a right to know what’s caused the flooding and what’s being done to fix the damage and what work has been undertaken to prevent it happening again.

He confirmed he and Cllr Jill Truesdale have written to DfI, Forest Service and NIE Networks asking them to make urgent contact and set up a meeting with residents in order to answer questions and provide some clarity around their concerns, as well as outlining the way forward in mitigating any similar damage we may see in the future.

Mr McMurray thanked everyone that has pulled together in the aftermath of the flooding, and commended the work of the Newcastle Flood Resilience Group in particular.

“As our climate changes and storms become more severe, it is essential that we do what we can to mitigate and adapt to this new reality,” he added.

South Down MLA Colin McGrath confirmed he has questioned DfI Minister Liz Kimmins and Mr Muir seeking clarity on who owns and manages Donard Forest and the surrounding area.

Mr McGrath said he’s been contacted by residents who are concerned about the condition of the wooded areas where flood water originated during recent severe weather events, asking both government ministers to outline what land within Donard Forest is owned or managed by their departments or by any of their arm’s-length bodies.

In addition, Mr McGrath has asked what maintenance or flood prevention work has been carried out to ensure pathways and drainage channels remain clear and safe.

“Donard Forest and the wider Mournes are precious local assets which draw visitors from across Ireland and beyond,” he said.

“More importantly, they are part of the daily lives of people in Newcastle. When locals raise concerns about flooding or land maintenance, those concerns deserve to be taken seriously. I appreciate that the floods are still fresh in the memory of local residents, but want to ensure that government departments do not let it slip from their agenda.”

Mr McGrath said it’s vital that every landowner, including government departments and their agencies, takes full responsibility for the areas they manage. 

“Neglect cannot be an option, especially when we’ve seen the real impact that poor management. Too many times in the past we have seen a wave of concern in the immediate aftermath of an event, with no planning ahead for what may be coming down the track. Response is good, but we need these departments planning for the future now.”