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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Four police officers die in crash | Four police officers die in crash |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Four policemen have been killed in a road accident in County Down. | Four policemen have been killed in a road accident in County Down. |
| It is understood they were on their way to help a colleague when the accident happened at about 0400 GMT on the road between Warrenpoint and Kilkeel. | It is understood they were on their way to help a colleague when the accident happened at about 0400 GMT on the road between Warrenpoint and Kilkeel. |
| The two full-time and two part-time officers were from the Mourne area. It is understood two had young children. | |
| A police spokesman said there was "no indication that the deaths were terrorist-related. Police are treating the deaths as a tragic accident." | |
| The road between Warrenpoint and Kilkeel will be closed for several hours | |
| Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde visited the scene of the tragedy. | Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde visited the scene of the tragedy. |
| He said he was "shocked" at what he had seen, and at the loss suffered by both the families of the men and the PSNI. | He said he was "shocked" at what he had seen, and at the loss suffered by both the families of the men and the PSNI. |
| Chairman of the Police Federation, Terry Spence, said: "To lose one officer in these circumstances would be dreadful, to lose four officers is just devastating. | |
| "The people of Northern Ireland must understand that while they are in their beds at night, the police service is out protecting the community. | |
| 'Dreadful event' | |
| Secretary of State Shaun Woodward paid tribute to the work of the police. | Secretary of State Shaun Woodward paid tribute to the work of the police. |
| "It is at times like this that the huge debt that we all owe them is brought home in a particularly shocking and cruel way," he said. | "It is at times like this that the huge debt that we all owe them is brought home in a particularly shocking and cruel way," he said. |
| Mayor of Newry and Mourne, Colman Burns, said the news "had caused great shock and despair throughout the community". | Mayor of Newry and Mourne, Colman Burns, said the news "had caused great shock and despair throughout the community". |
| DUP assembly member Jim Wells said: "There won't be a single family in south Down who won't know one of those killed. | |
| "They were family men and it's going to be an extraordinarily difficult few weeks leading up to Christmas as people come to terms with what has been a truly dreadful event." | |
| Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea said he was deeply saddened. | Policing Board chairman Sir Desmond Rea said he was deeply saddened. |
| "To lose four officers in a road traffic collision is horrific and on behalf of the Policing Board I offer my sincere condolences to the families of these officers who will be absolutely devastated by this tragic event," he said. | "To lose four officers in a road traffic collision is horrific and on behalf of the Policing Board I offer my sincere condolences to the families of these officers who will be absolutely devastated by this tragic event," he said. |
| The Moygannon Road is expected to remain closed for several hours. | The Moygannon Road is expected to remain closed for several hours. |