From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 12, 1974

From the pages of the Down Recorder, February 12, 1974

12 February 2014

BALLYNAHINCH — A 67 year-old woman was cruelly beaten as she attempted to aid her 95 year-old blind and bedridden aunt when masked raiders broke into their home.

Mrs. Kathleen Mullan and her husband, Tommy, a farmer of Upper Ballykine, Ballynahinch, were watching television when three hooded men, one brandishing a revolver, burst into their living room. The couple were made to lie face downward on the floor and their hands were tied behind their backs.

It was then that Mrs. Mullan remembered her aunt in the next room, but as she attempted to move to her assistance one of the raiders caught her by the hair and struck her viciously on the chin with his fist.

The raiders were after the couple’s money which they had recently collected from the sale of Christmas turkeys and when Mr. Mullan refused to hand it over they ransacked parts of the house. When they found the money in a bedroom cupboard, one of the men fired two shots in the wall just above Mrs. Mullan’s head and then all three fled.

Mr. Mullan described his assailants as young, slimly-built men who spoke with a country accent. They were all dressed in dark clothes and wore hoods over their heads. He told the Recorder: “They knew where the money was. They weren’t strangers.”

The morning after the shooting his wife was still badly shocked and slightly deaf from the effects of the gunshots. A dark heavy bruise on her chin showed where she had been punched.

She said: “I can’t understand it. We never did anything to anybody.”

DOWNPATRICK — The creation of a major sports centre at Downpatrick racecourse has been suggested to Down District Council by Lord Dunleath, who owns much of the land.

In a letter he said that the racecourse might lend itself to the provision of facilities such as a running track for athletes, tracks for go-kart and stock-car racing, or even a showjumping arena. He saw no reason why Downpatrick could not be the setting for successful county shows as held annually at Ballymena.

Lord Dunleath said his letter was promoted by reading a report in the Down Recorder that the ministry had asked the council to reconsider the site of the proposed sports complex for the town.

SHRIGLEY — Optimism has turned to gloom at Shrigley as the sharp edge of the receiver’s axe is causing heads to roll from top to bottom of crisis-hit Chrometanners, which lost £388,000 last year — £1,500 for each working day.

Since the announcement of the crisis three weeks ago, the workforce of 200 people have been living on optimism. But this week things came to a crunch when accountants produced figures for the financial year which ended in December.

The week of shocks began with a mass meeting of staff being told the plain facts by the receiver, Mr. W. J. Eggins, who was appointed by the Northern Ireland Finance Corporation. He explained that he had a job to do and that he intended to go ahead with it.

He sacked Mr. Dennis Bell, the former chief executive. Soon to follow were three more senior executives - told to pack their bags that day — as well as administrative, technical and maintenance staff. It seems that the workforce could be cut by half within a matter of weeks.

Production has been cut back to 5,000 skins a week, which staff claim is 12 to 15 per cent of the capacity of the tannery.

it has been a week of questions at Shrigley since the harsh facts of reality have sunk in. Questions are being addressed to the Ministry of Commerce. Are they going to accept up to 200 men on dole queues costing up to £200,000 a year, plus a possible redundancy cost of £125,000. Or are they genuinely interested in doing something about the situation?

DUNDRUM — A new timber treatment plant at the East Downshire yard in Dundrum was introduced to local builders by the firm on Tuesday.

East Downshire have been treating timber for many years, long before this was required by the British Standards Institute, but now that all timber coming into house building is be treated against rot and insects the local demand requires faster throughput.

It was to meet this demand that the company installed a computer-controlled processing plant capable of treating large loads handled by forklift. Furthermore, the treatment is carried out under vacuum conditions to give greater penetration. East Downshire can give a certificate to a customer indicating that the timber has been treated by a recognised processor.

DRUMANESS — Playing field facilities at Drumaness were described as deplorable by Mr. Alan Moneypenny, Down District Council’s recreation officer.

He was supporting the views of Mr. Dan Rice, the local councillor, who urged that the seriousness of the problem should be impressed on departmental officers.

Mr. Rice was commenting on a meeting of the Drumaness recreation committee at which a deputation from the cricket and soccer clubs had drawn attention to the urgent need for improvements to be carried out to the playing fields.

The deputation which visited the recreation committee’s meeting consisted of Messrs Donnelly, Long, McCann, Noade, Strain, N. Hanna and R. Hanna. They pointed out that no cricket had been played in Drumaness for three years.

SEAFORDE — Seaforde Young Farmers’ Club, looking for a fifth special award in the YFCU Arts Festival of Country Sound, have come up with a novel idea for this year’s production. Teamwork is the structure of their presentation of ‘Jamaica Rum’, which will be presented on Festival Night at Newtownards on February 21.

Ann Hay is the musical director, Pauline Killen is in charge of the wardrobe, Austin Killen is the stage manager and all the stage work is being done by Bobby Wallace, of Newcastle.

NEWCASTLE — Tonight is a must for those who enjoy a good old bargain when 1st Newcastle Scout troop’s sale will commence at 7.30pm in the Shimna Hall.

KILLOUGH — A large congregation representative of the grouped parishes of Ballee, Bright and Killough filled St. Anne’s Parish Church, Killough, on Sunday afternoon when the bishop of the diocese, Dr. G. A. Quin, administered the Rite of Confirmation to 14 candidates presented by the rector, the Rev. J. Stafford.

KILLYLEAGH — The house and gardens of Delamont, near Killyleagh, have again been generously offered by Mr. and Mrs. A. Gordon-Pugh to the Downpatrick and District Cancer Research Committee for a garden fete and coffee party on Saturday, June 22. A previous fete held there in June 1972 raised over £800. It is hoped there will be attractions for everyone and members of the public are asked to keep the date in mind.

ARDGLASS — There was a very good turn-out at Ardglass Women’s Institute’s members’ night. Miss A. Crea, Mrs. B. Smith and Mrs. E. Crea won prizes for the birthday games. There were songs from the choir and from Mrs. E. Finlay, whose wonderful singing was a highlight of the evening. The competition for the best bowl of bulbs was won by Mrs. P. Aspinall, with Mrs. N. Dryden a worthy runner-up.

KILLINCHY — Killinchy Young Farmers’ Club held their annual meeting last week when county chairman Hugo Perry, of Ballymiscaw YFC, conducted the election of officer-bearers. Newly elected officers are: president, Jim Stewart; club leader, Max Ervine; assistant, Glynis Connery; treasurer, John McMordie; public relations officer, Pamela Moore; county representative, Colin Ramsey. Committee in addition to office-bearers: Caroline Neill, David Robinson, Lindsay Davidson, John Simpson.

CINEMA — Sam Peckinpah’s explosive and controversial Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid will be on the Grand Cinema screen in Downpatrick for six nights, commencing Monday next.