Angered traders in a town badly hit by flooding have criticised Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris, saying a £15m help fund is not enough.But some business owners, whose premises were ruined, were angry that he did not meet them and left through a back door at the St Patrick's Centre."If he wants Irish manners he will get them now. I am angry and cross and I am not afraid to vent my anger.
"He is now focused on making sure that the significant funding he announced gets to those who need it as soon as possible." Is there a template for the perfect political visit? If there is Chris Heaton-Harris's trip to Downpatrick isn't it.But some devastated traders in the town had other ideas, and to avoid them the Northern Ireland secretary fled by a back door.Instead he was branded a "coward" and "a thief in the night", by some.Newry Chamber of Commerce said an estimated £37m would be needed to repair the damage across the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area.
"At the minute in survival mode and many have to make big decisions as to whether they actually can reopen so this is a very welcome start." "Ministers could have made decisions a lot quicker because there wouldn't be much of a debate with the UK government because the money would be sat in Stormont for provision by Stormont ministers," he said.