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Memorial 'must remain' at former police station up for sale

BBC A white police station with brown windows. There are several black and silver cars outside the station on a road.BBC
The former station closed to the public in 2014

A former police station in Warrenpoint, County Down, has been put up for sale.

The station, on Charlotte Street, closed to the public in 2014, before officially closing in 2018.

Previous plans to turn the building into a community centre and social housing were both scrapped.

The property is now on the open market, with a stipulation that a memorial plaque, dedicated to a young woman killed by an IRA bomb in 1989, will stay in place.

Previous interest

Newry, Mourne and Down Council initially wanted to buy the former station after it went on the market in 2016, with plans of turning it into a community centre.

However, in 2018 the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) pulled out citing what it said was "uncertainty surrounding Brexit".

It was thought given its proximity to Warrenpoint port the site could become a post-Brexit check facility.

A site within the envelope of the port was later identified for this purpose.

In September 2021, the PSNI confirmed it would once again seek to sell the site.

It began a process in which publicly-owned assets that are no longer in use are offered to other public bodies before being put on the open market.

The Housing Executive declared an interest in the site and a housing association was nominated to enter into discussions.

In November 2022 it was confirmed that the station would be redeveloped as part of a social housing scheme, however these plans have since been scrapped.

A white police station with brown windows. There are several black and cars outside the station on a road. Other white buildings are visible beside station, a grey and orange building are on the other side
Previous plans to turn the building into a community centre and social housing were both scrapped

In January 2025 the former station went up for sale to the public priced at £375,000.

"As of Thursday 16 January, Warrenpoint police station sale has now gone on the open market in line with government guidelines," a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) spokesperson told BBC News NI.

"This is due to the withdrawal of the preferred bidder in 2024."

Guidance has being provided by the Central Advisory Unit and Property Services, the spokesperson added.

Joanne Reilly memorial

A black plaque with gold writing in memorial of Joanne Reilly. There are white and pink flowers in front of the plaque.
A memorial to Joanne Reilly forms part of Warrenpoint police station's external wall

In April 1989 Joanne Reilly was killed by an IRA bomb near the station.

The 20-year-old had been working in an adjacent hardware store on Charlotte Street when the bomb went off.

The Reilly family had previously wanted assurances that a plaque dedicated to her memory at the site would remain after it was sold.

It is understood that the plaque will stay in place and remain accessible to the public.

"There is an NIE [Northern Ireland Electricity] substation on the western boundary of the land, with a wayleave over the land to access this," the property listing stated.

"We understand that the substation must remain and a right of way to access this is in place.

"We are also aware of a memorial plaque on the external southern boundary wall which must remain."