The Province's first independently-funded heart screening clinic has opened in Newtownabbey.

The clinic, set up by heart charity Cardiac Risk in the Young, will offer a screening service using the facilities at the University of Ulster Clinic on the Jordanstown campus. 

Guest of honour at the launch yesterday (Wednesday) was Ireland and Ulster rugby star Gary Longwell from Glengormley, who is a patron of the charity. 

He was joined by fellow patron, BBC presenter Mark Carruthers, and the two men became the first people to be screened at the Jordanstown clinic. 

former Northern Ireland and Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings has also become a patron, lending his support to this worthy cause. 

He commented: "It is a fantastic charity and setting up this clinic for the people of Northern Ireland has taken a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment.  I look forward to working closely with CRY in the future and supporting their campaign to make screening widely available across the whole of the UK. 

Sudden Cardiac Death (SADS) takes the lives of eight young and apparently healthy people every week in the UK - a statistic viewed as only the tip of the iceberg by experts in the field. 

With a simple electrocardiogram and diagnosis by an expert consultant cardiologist, many heart conditions can be detected. 

Despite this, heart screening for young people is not compulsory, and it is often not until a tragedy takes place in a family that the true extent of the problem is know.  CRY campaigns for screening and subsidises clinics in the UK in its fight to stop unnecessary deaths. 

Among the speakers at the official opening were CRY's chief executive and found, Alison Cox, expert consultant cardiologist Dr Sanjay Sharma and CRY's national volunteer representative, Caroline Gard. 

Said Alison:" We are delighted to be extending the CRY network through a new screening clinic in Northern Ireland." 

To date John Lundy and the Action for CRY groups across Northern Ireland have raised significant funds for CRY in Northern Ireland through local fund-raising sporting events. 

"Opening such a facility in Northern Ireland is another step in the right direction in the fight against young sudden cardiac death," said the charity's NI representative. 

John Carruthers, manager of the UU Clinic in the Jordanstown campus, added:

"We are pleased to be able to assist CRY in setting up this screening initiative in Northern Ireland which young people will be able to access. 

"We are all aware of some of the tragic deaths which have occurred in Northern Ireland and through this screening service will be able to detect potential heart problems and help prevent more deaths occurring."