From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 16, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, December 16, 1975

16 December 2015

CASTLEWELLAN — Newcastle Convention member, Mr Paddy O’Donoghue, wants troops stationed in Castlewellan police station removed to Ballykinlar camp because they are a “provocative influence” in the town.

And police are investigating an incident where a soldier is alleged to have shot at three young schoolgirls with an air rifle. This, say local citizens, is the latest in a long list of incidents involving the army, including one where a file is now with the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Both Mr O’Donogue and Councillor Seamus Fitzpatrick allege that a soldier in an observation post fired at three schoolgirls early last Wednesday morning. Mr Fitzpatrick told the Recorder that one of the girls was his ten year-old daughter.

She was going to school at ten past nine when one of the girls felt something hit her, he said. Then another girl was hit in the leg. They screamed and ran to school. A teacher who inspected one of their satchels felt a pellet inside, it was alleged.

Mr O’Donoghue, in a letter to the Secretary of State, Mr Merlyn Rees, says he is deeply concerned about the continuing army presence in the police station which, far from contributing to the peace of the area, is a provocative influence.

BALLYNAHINCH — Police have again issued a warning to business owners to thoroughly check their premises before they go home each night after five incendiary devices were found in Ballynahinch over the past few days.

Four of the devices were planted at the Millbrook Lodge Hotel. A member of staff found two in the ballroom shortly after the disco finished at midnight. Police were contacted and another two were found. Fortunately none of the devices, which were in cassette cases, ignited.

The other incendiary was found in the Orange Hall. The part-time caretaker found it inside a match box, although it is thought to have been an elaborate hoax.

ARDGLASS — The future upkeep of the small children’s playground at Ardglass hangs in the balance because of a £250 grant made more than five years ago.

Then the playground was under the control of Ardglass Town Committee, who were given the grant by the National Playing Fields Association. In return the Association claimed an interest in the site. Since then the Town Committee has become defunct, the playground has fallen into a rundown state and the Association hold the key to its future.

Down councillors have agreed to accept the responsibility for maintaining the area, but the Association has refused to withdraw its interest unless it gets back its £250.

When the problem was discussed by the council’s recreation committee they unanimously refused to pay over the cash. They reckoned that the council would be assuming a liability from the Association for which they should not be penalised.

Ardglass councillor Dermot Curran said he wanted to see the playground restored to good repair, but not at extra expense to ratepayers. He agreed the money should not be paid.

KILLYLEAGH — A Killyleagh firm, whose director said that 250 jobs would be imperilled because of Down Council’s decision to charge it for dumping industrial waste, was made a scapegoat for bad council supervision, it was claimed this week.

In a strong address Mr Sam Osborne told councillors that Ulster Leathers were being asked to pay for a problem brought about because no work was carried out at the council’s tipping ground at Inch until several months ago.

Mr Osborne tried unsuccessfully to persuade the council to rescind its decision to charge for industrial waste disposal . His motion lost by eight votes to six with two members abstaining.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick man John Bryce has a special Christmas greeting to all motorists this year — Belt up! There’s nothing new about this gimmicky slogan urging motorists to use their seat belts, but Mr Bryce always practices what he preaches.

As a founder member and present chairman of the Downpatrick and District Road Safety Committee, Mr Bryce is a man highly qualified to preach his views on road safety matters. He says: “Shortly it will become compulsory to wear seat belts, so why not start now? Live with the seat belt.

“If all motorists wore seat belts there is no doubt that they would considerably lessen the risk to their lives in an accident. Nobody can prevent an accident and only a fool would think that it can’t happen to them.”

Seat belts are not all that worry Mr Bryce and his committee. Christmas is a time when many people like to drink and, foolishly, they take the car with them. “It’s a big temptation, but they must resist it,” he says. They must realise that they endanger not only their own life, but the lives of others, perhaps even a toddler eagerly awaiting Santa.”

NEWCASTLE — Newcastle’s summer programme next year will span an eight-week period form the beginning of July until the end of August. The highlight of the resort’s season will be another festival week in July.

Plans are being laid at the moment and officials from Down Council’s Tourist and Recreation department and representatives from Newcastle Town Committee are confident of making the town Northern Ireland’s premier holiday destination.

SAINTFIELD — Grammar schools have no need to feel threatened by the moves towards comprehensive education, according to Mr D McPherson, the principal of Saintfield Secondary School.

Mr McPherson said it came as no surprise to him when the report into the reorganisation of secondary education in Northern Ireland called for the introduction of comprehensive education. he is the latest in a long line of local school principals to speak out on the controversial subject during the last few weeks.

Mr McPherson, who has been in charge at Saintfield since the beginning of the school year, said that every primary school was an example of a comprehensive school in that it had a non-selective entrance procedure.

DRUMANESS — Downpatrick girl Anne Breen was selected as ‘Drumaness GFC Queen’ at the club’s dance in the recently renovated Drumaness Recreation Hall on Friday night. The large crowd enjoyed dancing to The Linesmen, a local group.

CROSSGAR — Kilmore Rec Football Club made their first venture into the world of rage entertainment when they provided a social evening for the senior citizens of Crossgar and surrounding district. The event proved a very successful venture.

The evening was brought to a close by speeches from the club president, Mr W Cochrane, and Mr N Taylor, chairman, who expressed thanks to the artistes, George Reynolds, Flair, Bobbie Hanvey, Ian Jess (senior and junior), Seamus Madden and daughters, Ann McMahon, Hilda Boyd, Gina Wade and Cricklewood.

DUNDRUM — Small items of property were taken from three houses in the Moneycarragh/Cochrane’s Bridge area of Dundrum. Police are investigating the break-in.

BALLYGALGET — Down senior hurling champions Ballygalget wrote another glorious chapter into the hurling annals of the county when they followed in the footsteps of Ballycran and won the Ulster club title by defeating Antrim champions Ballycastle by 4-6 to 1-9.

This was the third attempt by Ballygalget to win the provincial title and the manner in which they took the favourites apart was well worth the wait. They went about their work like men inspired. They carried the game to their opponents, hurled with greater speed and accuracy, and their superior fitness and team work was evident.

RATHMULLAN — A Christmas sale in Rathmullan Church Hall on Friday night raised £317 for parish funds. Stalls included cake, white elephant, craft and jumble. Santa Claus was in attendance for the children.