Police Neighbourhood team host farewell event to MMRT in their old premises before the big move in June
South Down Neighbourhood Police Team recently hosted an event to bid a ceremonial farewell to the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team (MMRT) as they prepare to move into their new headquarters.
The team will relocate to the purpose-built facility at Shan Slieve Drive next month (June) after several decades of sharing accommodation with local police at Newcastle PSNI station.
Founded in 1962, MMRT was the first volunteer mountain rescue team in Ireland and during the early years had limited access to equipment.
The team was initially provided with transport by local police and a Police & MRT Landrover was housed in Newcastle Station.
As demand for their services grew, so too did the need for more equipment and the team eventually acquired their own Landrover which was also kept within the station complex. This accommodation gradually expanded to storage facilities including the old Station Sergeant’s lodgings and parking for a fleet of nine vehicles.
When the team celebrated it’s 50 year anniversary in 2012, they launched a legacy project for a much needed base of their own, and after generating over £2million of funds, the team look forward to taking up residence in their dedicated ‘Rescue Centre’ in June 2026.
Bidding a fond farewell to the MMRT, local police and partners including HM Coastguard, RNLI, NIFRS, SARDA and SkyWatch NI gathered in Newcastle for an event to celebrate the shared history of policing and mountain rescue in Newcastle and wider south Down area.
Local District Commander Superintendent Lynne Corbett was joined by Assistant Chief Constable for Local Policing Ryan Henderson for speeches at the station before attendees travelled in convoy to the new base at Shan Slieve Drive for a tour of the new building – which is still under construction.
A short time later the festivities were called to an end as both police and MMRT were tasked to assist the Coastguard in securing a helicopter landing site at Donard Park for Rescue 199 from Prestwick, who air lifted a hiker with a leg injury from the mountain.
It was ust another day at the (new) office for all concerned!
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