A harbour at the centre of a town stink problem has had its last remaining councillor resign from its board amid a looming Stormont deadline.
Crotlieve independent councillor Jarlath Tinnelly has stepped down from Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) following the recent “horrific tragedy” of the loss of his daughter.
The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) confirmed the resignation as its application process to fill the council seats on WHA comes to a close this Friday (Aug 28).
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), Councillor Tinnelly said: “The horrific tragedy that engulfed my family earlier this year with the loss of my beautiful daughter Aoife in a road traffic collision has been life changing on many levels for my family and I.”
The south Down representative’s daughter, Aoife Tinnelly, 24, tragically died in a fatal road traffic collision in Kilkeel on 20 April.
Councillor Tinnelly: “It has also enabled me to reflect on and reconsider the people and issues which I am obliged to prioritise at this time and our journey of healing would be best served by me stepping away from the board of WHA.”
Just over a year ago in July, former WHA board members, councillors Jim Brennan (Sinn Fein) and Laura Devlin (SDLP) resigned in solidarity with local people complaining of the bad smell.
Environment groups and local residents have raised concerns for the last three years over a perceived stink at the port, which they claim is linked to waste bales at the harbour to be shipped for Newry recycling company Re-Gen. The bales are exported to be incinerated in Scandinavian areas
The LDRS had contacted DfI who confirmed all council seats were vacant on the WHA board with the final resignation taking place on 9 August.
A spokesperson said: “DfI is aware that there are currently no councillor members on the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority, however, the board remains properly constituted and can continue to operate.
“The department is currently seeking nominations from Newry, Mourne and Down District Council for councillor members. Applications close on 28 August 2026.”
Earlier in August, all political parties confirmed to the LDRS that they had not nominated any councillors to take up the vacant posts at the WHA board.
DfI responded: “There is no statutory requirement for councillors to serve on the board.”
The LDRS contacted WHA for comment on the resignation of Councillor Tinnelly.
According to the WHA website, the function of the board is to oversee and scrutinise the day-to-day management of the port as well as to help set the future direction of the organisation.
Successful councillors to the board can expect to be paid “£8,772 per year for up to two business days per month” according to a DfI letter presented to the council.
The non-executive directors on the board are appointed through a public recruitment process facilitated and managed by DfI with all appointments made by the minister, currently Sinn Fein Newry and Armagh MLA Liz Kimmins.
