19/01/2009

Storm Kills Downpatrick Company Director

A weekend storm that battered the east coast of Northern Ireland left a woman motorist dead in its wake.

Mairead Teresa Shields, 35, from Raholp, near Downpatrick was killed in Co Down after a tree blown down by strong winds struck her car. Mairead was a director in her family business BJ Caraher in Downpatrick, a global plumbing materials distributor.

Dozens of roads across the country were blocked on Saturday due to fallen trees as the police warned motorists not to travel unless absolutely necessary and also urged them to be mindful of ice, snow, and debris on the roads

The tragic incident happened on Strangford Road in Downpatrick at 4pm on Saturday.

The victim died as the severe storms were causing travel chaos and bringing down power lines which left around 40,000 homes across NI without power.

However, the vast majority of homes left without electricity following Saturday's storm have since had their power restored, Northern Ireland Electricity said yesterday.

In fact, the majority of the premises affected by the gales had power restored again on Saturday night, with NIE linesmen and engineers working late into the night.

On Sunday - while NIE field staff were still repairing broken lines in order to restore power to an estimated 400 homes in the eastern part of Northern Ireland - by yesterday evening, most homes were back on-line.

About 400 NIE staff were involved in the mobilisation to repair faults with the areas worst affected by the weather being Craigavon, Downpatrick, Bangor and east Antrim.

A spokesperson from NIE said they would continue to monitor the poor weather.

(BMcC/JM)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 November 2024
Sydenham Bypass Reopening Early
Planned resurfacing works on the Sydenham bypass this weekend will not go ahead with the road being fully opened from Saturday, 23 November.
04 December 2003
Power cuts blackout parts of NI
Thousands of homes and businesses across Northern Ireland have been hit by a major power shortage. NIE said that both Kilroot and Ballylumford power stations were experiencing operational difficulties and that the problem could last for several hours as generation capacity was severely reduced.
28 November 2023
64-Year-Old Downpatrick Man Jailed For Sexual Assault Of Children
A 64-year-old Downpatrick man has been sentenced to eight years for six counts of sexual assault against children. At Downpatrick Crown Court on Monday, 27 November, the man, named Damien Craig, was sentenced to four years in custody and four years on licence.
17 June 2011
£24m Downpatrick Campus Completed
A major construction contract has been successfully completed in Co Down with a major new educational facility now officially opened. NI Employment and Learning Minister, Dr. Stephen Farry, was on hand to open the new £24m Downpatrick campus of the South Eastern Regional College (SERC).
26 January 2018
Over 200 Jobs Under Threat At Kilroot Power Station
Kilroot Power Station in Carrickfergus is facing a possible closure after it failed to win a major contract. Over 200 jobs are at risk and the plant faces closure at the end of May.