From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 30, 1979

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 30, 1979

30 January 2019

DOWNPATRICK — A Strangford man had a narrow escape from death when he turned up for work on Monday morning at the new Abbey Lodge Hotel, outside Downpatrick.

A muffled explosion during the night had ripped apart a section of the hotel — which was due to open in three weeks’ time — but no alarm was raised and workmen were unaware of the danger when they reported for work.

One of the men, Mr Francis Black, from Strangford, passed through the lounge and noticed a black bag and two yellow tins. He thought it was some material left for him to carry on with a job and picked it up.

Mr Black failed to notice several wires leading from the bag, but an examination of the contents told him something was wrong. He put it down and it was discovered later that the contents were competence for a lethal fire-type bomb.

By then Mr Black’s colleagues had discovered the damage caused by another bomb and a warning was raised. Police and firemen rushed to the scene and the main Downpatrick-Crossgar Road, beside the hotel, was sealed off as army bomb disposal experts raced from Lisburn.

An army officer successfully defused the second bomb and workmen moved in to assess the damage, which was confined that bedroom section of the hotel.

The hotel owner, Mr William Polly, said: “Doors, windows, the gable and the roof have all been damaged and this includes a total of eight bedrooms. It will mean that an entire section of the building containing the bedrooms will have to come out. It was fortunate that the bomb in the lounge did not explode.”

A police spokesman confirmed that no warnings of the bombs were made. He said that the entire building would likely have been destroyed if the second bomb had gone off.

BALLYNAHINCH — Two  Down councillors have expressed annoyance over the Department of Education’s rejection of proposals for a swimming pool in Ballynahinch.

At this week’s meeting of the South Eastern Education and Library Board Mrs Ethel Smyth and Mr Jarlath Carey said nothing less than a meeting with the minister, Lord Melchett, would achieve any satisfaction.

Mrs Smyth said that the Department’s withdrawal of permission for the pool was an immense setback at a time when everyone assumed that the way ahead was clear for the construction of a multi-purpose community complex to be provided by Down Council and a learner pool to be provided by the board.

Mr Carey said there was immense concern over the disappearance of what would have been a very happy exercise in joint provision. He was most annoyed that the decision had been made by the Department without consulting either the council or the board.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh and Shrigley Town Committee was given a massive confidence boost at its annual general meeting last Wednesday evening.

An enthusiastic and lively audience of more than 70 people turned up in response to a publicity drive aimed at finding out what grassroots support the committee had in the area.

The response promoted outgoing committee chairman Col Denys Rowan-Hamilton to say later: “Such a well-attended meeting makes it all worthwhile.”

In his opening address to the meeting Col Rowan-Hamilton traced the work of the committee in the last 12 months.

He outlined the reasons why the decision was taken to close the community hall, which had been opened by the committee with tremendous enthusiasm by the committee only four years ago.

He also reported on Killyleagh’s water supply problems and said the shortages of the last three years had caused more worry to some townspeople than any other single item.

A new 14-strong committee was elected and they will meet soon to elect their own office-bearers.

CROSSGAR — An upstairs bedroom in a Crossgar house was completely gutted when a fire broke out on Friday morning. Severe fire, heat, smoke and water damage was caused to the house at Lislea Drive.

Firemen from Downpatrick and Ballynahinch were sent to the scene, but encountered difficulty finding water hydrants due to the snow-covered roads and footpaths. However, they pumped water from the nearby river.

Weather conditions also affected the siren at Downpatrick. The severe frost and snow prevented the siren from working, but ‘bleeping’ alerters were used instead.

NEWCASTLE — Twelve young girls from St Mary’s Youth Club in Newcastle completed a 24-hour marathon netball competition at the weekend to help raise funds for a new minibus.

The girls started their marathon at 12 noon on Saturday and completed it at midday on Sunday. Four girls were on the court at one time and each completed three-hour periods before the next teams took over.

The girls were accompanied by club leaders Brendan Bannon, Bob Smart, Peta Doran, Tony Bannon, Danny Cunningham and Donagh Doran, who supplied refreshments for them. It is hoped that the marathon will raise £200.

ANAHILT — A lay-by is to be provided at Anahilt Primary School to cut the risk of accidents to children being left at the school.

The decision to build the lay-by was taken this week by the South Eastern Education and Library Board, who were told the risk of accidents because of the restricted area at the front of the school.

The lay-by has the support of the school’s management committee, local planners and the Department of Environment’s Roads Service, which has agreed to share half the cost of the scheme.

The area needed for the lay-by belongs to the school principal, who has agreed to sell and negotiations are to be opened to begin the work.

SAINTFIELD — Detectives have appealed for help in tracking down two youths who coshed and robbed a Saintfield man in his home almost two weeks ago.

The youths, wearing masks, broke into a farmhouse on the Crossgar Road. The house was empty at the time and the youths lay in wait.

Shortly after 10pm the 68 year-old owner returned and when he entered the youths coshed him and then ran off with a sum of money. They are believed to have made their escape through the nearby Rowallane Gardens.

CASTLEWELLAN— Mr John McKenny, of Castlewellan, was taken to Downe Hospital last Thursday suffering from minor injuries after his car crashed into the back of a parked car.

The accident happened near Drumee cemetery on the main Newcastle-Castlewellan Road. Mr McKenny’s Fiat struck a parked car owned by Mr Stanley Cousins, of Kilkeel.

ISLANDDERRY — Sheep on the farm of Priima Meats, Islandderry, near Dromore, have been repeatedly attacked during the past month, with almost 30 of the flock being killed.

In one of the worst raids 16 were killed and five so badly injured they had to be destroyed. Police are investigating the incidents and again request dog owners in the area to keep their pets under control.

KILLINCHY — The annual meeting of Killinchy Young Farmers’ Club was held last Wednesday night. At the election of officers Mr W R Neill was elected president and David Hanna was elected club leader. Others elected: assistant club leader, Johnston Morrow; secretary, Lorraine McGowan; treasurer, Kenneth McKnight, press officer, Katherine Kelly; county YFC representative, John McMordie; representative to Ulster Farmers’ Union, Martin Baxter.

COMBER — Comber yachtsman Bill Whisker finished second in the world GP 14 dinghy championships in Australia. Bill, a former world champion, was accompanied by Brian Willis, who works with him at Racing Yachts, the Comber yachting firm.

SOCCER — Ardglass earned themselves a visit to Castlewellan in the second round of the Harry Clarke Cup with a 5-3 win over Glenwood in Saturday’s first round tie.

Ardglass were quick to seize the initiative and their goals came from Basil Wills (2), Gerry Feenan (20 and Roy McEvoy. Glenwood’s scorers were Tommy Cardwell, Brian Beggs and Roy Walsh.