By Sarah Curran
THE owner of a damaged seawall in Killyleagh is proving to be ‘untraceable’ a local councillor has said.
A damaged section of seawall on the Seaside Road which was damaged in December 2025 during Storm Bram, cannot be repaired because no- one knows who owns it.
The storm caused a 30-metre stretch of the wall to be destroyed by wave action, which also damaged a large section of the road surface.
Newry, Mourne and Down councillor Callum Bowsie said he had been trying to track down the owner of the damaged wall but had been left scratching his head.
The DUP councillor for Rowallane said: “Since the wall on Seaside Road was damaged
last year, I have been unable to trace the owner and therefore the wall continues to sit in ruin and will probably continue to do so for a considerable period of time.
“The Land Registry says that the land the wall sits on is unregistered. I have been around all the statutory agencies and every possible landowner, and all categorically insist they do not own the wall.”
Seaside Road runs 300 metres north of Net Walk in Killyleagh, serving five properties, including the currently vacant Killyleagh Presbyterian Manse. The first 200 metres
of the road is in public ownership, while the damaged section lies on the privately owned end.
Mr Bowsie said: “Regardless of ownership, it is very concerning that a gaping hole on a popular coastal walking route with both vehicular and pedestrian traffic can lie unsecured indefinitely, with no signs, lighting or temporary barrier to warn people about a considerable drop down onto rocks in the lough.
“I have challenged the Department for Infrastructure and the council on their responsibilities around public safety, but this has also fallen on deaf ears.
“This hazard and eyesore cannot just be left like this for years on end. No one is going to take thousands of pounds out of their own pocket to fix a wall they do not own, so how do the local authorities think this sea defence is going to be fixed?
“I believe the council has to ultimately step up and take responsibility for a dangerous structure and to ensure public safety.”
The Department for Infrastructure and Newry, Mourne and Down Council were contacted for comment, however had failed to reply by the time we went to press.
