Ulster Unionist Councillor for the Mournes area, Jill Macauley said:
“This was obviously a very worrying scenario in Kilkeel earlier today when a major incident was declared following reports of a gas leak at Young’s Seafood factory at the Harbour.
“I’m so glad that no one was seriously affected and I hope that the remaining patients in hospital make a speedy recovery from this ordeal. The factory has now been checked and is safe to enter again. I would like to thank all the staff and partners in NI Ambulance Service and NI Fire and Rescue for such professionalism in what was a worrying and potentially dangerous situation. They did sterling work to make sure everyone was safe.
“Thankfully after initially being treated as a major incident, Daisy Hill Hospital stood down from this status at five o’clock. They received fourteen patients to The Emergency Department for assessment. Two patients were admitted, and are thankfully both in a stable condition.”