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County Armagh: Man drowns in Bessbrook flag incident County Armagh: Man drowns in Bessbrook flag incident
(35 minutes later)
A man has drowned in a swimming incident at a lake in County Armagh. A 68-year-old man has drowned in an incident at a lake in County Armagh.
It is understood he was swimming to an island in the middle of Bessbrook Pond to attempt to remove two tricolours. The man, named locally as Oswald 'Ossie' Bradley was swimming to an island in Bessbrook Pond to remove two tricolours hanging from trees.
It is claimed the man intended to replace them with a union flag when he got into difficulties. Police are not treating the death as suspicious. It is claimed Mr Bradley intended to replace them with a union flag when he got into difficulties. Police are not treating the death as suspicious.
Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady last week called for the removal of the flags after they were hoisted onto trees on the island. Sinn Féin MLA Mickey Brady last week called for the removal of the flags after they appeared on the island.
Mr Brady said at the time that the flags could be seen as intimidating by Protestant residents in Bessbrook village. A teenaged boy managed to bring the Mr Bradley back to the lake bank at about 5:00 BST on Monday where attempts were made to resuscitate him.
Emergency services took him to Daisy Hospital where it was announced that he had died.
Mr Brady said last week that the flags could be seen as intimidating by Protestant residents in Bessbrook village.
He said the flags could be considered by some as "overtly sectarian, intimidating and threatening".He said the flags could be considered by some as "overtly sectarian, intimidating and threatening".
"The issue is one that is causing contention because obviously in Bessbrook particularly there is a mixed community," he said. "The issue is one that is causing contention because obviously, in Bessbrook particularly, there is a mixed community," he said.
"I think you have to respect the culture and nature of the people who live in that area.""I think you have to respect the culture and nature of the people who live in that area."
Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kenney said the death was devastating news for the man's family and the village of Bessbrook.Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kenney said the death was devastating news for the man's family and the village of Bessbrook.
"This is a very tragic outcome to controversies surrounding flags in this village," Mr Kennedy said."This is a very tragic outcome to controversies surrounding flags in this village," Mr Kennedy said.
"This is too high a price for any family and community to pay."This is too high a price for any family and community to pay.
"The entire Bessbrook community will join with me in showing our sympathy and support for the whole Family circle."The entire Bessbrook community will join with me in showing our sympathy and support for the whole Family circle.
"He was highly respected and liked within the Bessbrook community. I counted him as a personal friend and I am deeply upset by his untimely and tragic death.""He was highly respected and liked within the Bessbrook community. I counted him as a personal friend and I am deeply upset by his untimely and tragic death."
SDLP Councillor John Feehan said: "A local family is grieving this evening and we would like to express our condolences for their loss."SDLP Councillor John Feehan said: "A local family is grieving this evening and we would like to express our condolences for their loss."