From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 16, 1973

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 16, 1973

16 January 2013

DUNDRUM — A verdict of death by misadventure was returned at an inquest in Downpatrick on Friday on a 15 year-old schoolboy, whose body was recovered from Dundrum Bay on September 11.

He was Bernard McDonagh, of Lineside, Coalisland, and the coroner, Mr. J. W. Russell, was told that he, his brother, John, and another boy named John Maughan, untied a boat at Dundrum at about 5.30 on the evening of September 10.

John McDonagh said Maughan jumped out of the boat just before they pushed off. The boat drifted down the river. They had only one oar and they thought they were going to be swept out to sea.

“Bernard jumped out and I followed him,” he said, “but the water was deeper than I thought and we had to struggle to get back into the boat. Soon afterwards Bernard jumped out again and tried to swim to the sandbanks, but was not able to swim because of the run of the run of the water. I saw him floating in the water, but after that I never saw Bernard again.

Thomas James Johnston (17), of Croob Park, Ballynahinch, said he was walking with his girlfriend along the shore of the inner bay when he saw the boat moving with the tide. A boy was standing in it waving and shouting: “My brother, he’s drowning.”

Johnston, a non-swimmer, could not see anyone in the water, but he waded in and, catching a rope trailing from the boat, managed to pull it to shore and get the boy out.

Constable Thomas Shaw, Dundrum, described searching the inner bay the following day and finding Bernard’s body.

ARDGLASS — Ardglass, in company with many other towns throughout East Down, is now staking its claim for a sports centre. A meeting held in St. Mary’s Hall on Friday night and chaired by Mr. Dermot Curran was attended by representatives from all the major sporting organisations in the area.

Also present were the Rev. Trotter, Rev. J. White and the Rev. J. Fitzpatrick.

A wide range of views were exchanged and it was agreed to inform Mr. W. J. McDowell, consulting engineer to East Down Rural Council, who is carrying out a survey of the sports needs of various areas, that a large sports centre to cater for indoor activities — Ardglass is noted for its basketball team, should be provided.

Sometime ago it was agreed that open ground at Parkside be marked out for soccer and gaelic games. It was suggested at the meeting that if a sports centre were built, Parkside could be utilised as an adventure playground for the children of the town.

DOWNPATRICK — A Unionist member of parliament at Westminster feels Downpatrick is not suitable for the intended transfer of public health inspectors and building control staff from Belfast.

Mr. James Kilfedder, who represents North Down, says Downpatrick is well removed from the area where most of the work of the officials has to be carried out. And in a letter to Lord Windlesham, Minister of State, he claims that the headquarters were being sited too far south on the county and would inhibit staff recruitment. Service to the public would also suffer, he contends.

The move is scheduled under local government re-organisation and it is being proposed that, apart from Belfast, the remainder of the province would be grouped into four areas, with Downpatrick as the headquarters of the Eastern area.

KILLYLEAGH — A fatal accident occurred on the Killyleagh-Comber Road on Wednesday evening when a motorcyclist and a pedal cyclist were involved in a collision. The motorcyclist, 71 year-old George Stotesbury, a gardener, of High Street, Killyleagh, sustained injuries from which he died while on the way to hospital.

TYRELLA — A party of American university students on a three-week visit to Northern Ireland had a look at the Irish ‘underground’ on Monday. This was not an illegal organisation, but rather a souterrain located on Major John Corbett’s land at Tyrella.

A souterrain is an underground chamber or tunnel dating from the fifth to seventh centuries and believed to have been used as a hiding place for non-combatants and valuables when Viking raiders plundered the Irish coast. There are said to be many thousands of them in Ireland.

The students were shown the souterrain by Captain W. S. Wright, of Newcastle, a noted authority on the subject, who had earlier given them an illustrated talk in the Arlington Hotel, where they are staying.

DRUMANESS — Two people were taken to hospital after a road accident at Drumaness on Friday. They are Mr. John McConville, Mullamore Drive, Drumaness, and Miss Elizabeth Wright, 11 Haig Street, Albertbridge Road, Belfast.

Miss Wright was a passenger in a car driven by Mr. Edward James Girvan, High Street, Ballynahinch. It was in a collision with Mr. McConville’s car near Christ the King Church.

NEWCASTLE — At a well attended meeting of Newcastle Primary School parents’ association in the WI Hall, it was decided to take steps to form a parent teachers association and, with this in mind, a further meeting has been arranged for Monday, February 12, at 8pm. The parents’ association, formed about six years ago, has not been particularly active for some time. 

SAINTFIELD — Saintfield Young Unionists are promoting a rally in the local Orange Hall on Friday, January 19, when among the speakers will be Mr. James Molyneaux, the Unionist member for South Antrim and the present Imperial Grand Master of the Royal Black Institution. The Unionist member for North Down, Mr. Jim Kilfedder, will also address the meeting.

CASTLEWELLAN — The Rev. James Bridgett, who was minister of Castlewellan Presbyterian Church for 35 years, has retired. Mr. Bridgett was a leading figure in the General Assembly, particularly as secretary of the Union Commission and convenor of the Social Service Committee for 15 years.

He is a former moderator of the Synod of Belfast and moderator of the Synod of Armagh and Down. He took a keen interest in local affairs and education.

PORTAFERRY — Kearney farm, a 300 acre holding owned by Messrs Gilbert near Portaferry, has been bought by Messrs Alexander, Reid and Frazer on behalf of Dunleath Estates Ltd. for £150,000.