Seven girls rescued from Mourne Mountains in Co Down

Seven teenage girls were rescued on Monday after getting into difficulty on the Mourne Mountains in Co Down.

A search and rescue operation commenced after police established that a 999 call had come from a mobile phone registered to a member of a Girls Brigade group which was camping in the mountains.

PSNI Inspector Duncan McBain said the call had been disconnected before the operator could speak to the caller and numerous attempts to re-establish a connection failed.

Police, paramedics, the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team and an Irish Coast Guard helicopter were involved in the search for the group which took place amid poor weather and visibility on the mountain.

“Two of the girls were suffering the effects of extreme cold and one was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution,” Insp McBain said. “All have now been reunited with their parents.”