A RESILIENT Castlewellan school principal and her staff have come out fighting to ensure their new state-of-the-art primary school opens its doors to the pupils this morning (Wednesday).

Aedin Geary and her colleagues at Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche say they will not let the burglars who went on the rampage in the new school building last week win.

In an eerie coincidence, Friday’s early-morning break-in occurred exactly a year to the day after arsonists torched the school’s original facilities – a series of mobile classrooms – in what many deemed was a non-sectarian attack.

Ms Geary discovered the damage when she arrived at the new half-million-pound building shortly after 8am.

She quickly realised the culprits had tampered with the security light which shines down on the school’s front door, which they had also attempted to prize open, before making their way to the rear of the premises and smashing their way through a fire door.

Once inside, they snatched a laptop and a cash box before fleeing.

Prayers for

little Stuart

THE FAMILY of the little boy who was seriously injured in an accident at Cranfield on Monday has asked everyone to pray for him.

Six-year-old Stuart Wilson, who was struck by a speedboat, was taken to Daisy Hill Hospital in Newry and later transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Yesterday afternoon (Tuesday) his condition was described as critically ill.

Speaking on behalf of Stuart’s family, the Rev David Somerville said: “They would like to thank people for their support and prayers but appeal for privacy at this difficult time.

“They ask everyone to continue to pray for Stuart.”

The Rathfriland boy had been due to return to Iveagh Primary School in his home town this morning (Wednesday) after the summer break.

Reflecting on Monday’s incident, Alan Pritchard, Watch Manager at Belfast Coastguard, said it appeared Stuart had been on a wakeboard being towed by a boat when another boat came from the beach and across the towed board carrying the child.

He said the Maritime and Coastguard Agency was working closely with the police in Newry to establish all the facts.

AN eleventh-hour decision to give people more time to register their views on proposals that could radically reshape health services in Down District has been welcomed by campaigners.

On Wednesday – with 48 hours to go before the deadline – the South Eastern Trust announced it was extending the consultation period until 17 September.

The move was in response to requests from elected representatives, staff representatives and the community to allow more time for people to respond – although Trust sources have refuted suggestions the health authority is bowing to public pressure over its plans.

Since the Trust announced in June that it was considering a number of plans – including letting GPs run the new hospital’s accident and emergency department between the hours of 10pm and 8am, as a result of difficulties experienced in securing sufficient consultants – it has borne the brunt of a raft of criticism and opposition.