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

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

12 March 2014

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick suffered its biggest blast in terms of devastation on Tuesday night. A 300lb. bomb outside the Down Recorder building in Church Street blasted windows out of more than a score of business premises and as many more dwellings over an extensive area.

A 15-minute telephone warning was given to the police who had the area cleared and firemen and first-aid agencies standing by.

Immediately a massive rescue programme swung into action as teams from local builders, the Housing Executive and the council began boarding up windows and doors and clearing the street of debris.

No praise could be too high for them as they toiled in freezing temperatures for hours, or for the community spirit shown by the townspeople. The blast was accepted as being an injury to the community and the whole community responded as only a closely knit community can at a time of need.

Across English Street the Hayes family swung into action in the kitchen of Denvir’s Hotel to make soup, sandwiches and refreshments to combat the cold.

The bomb, a farm chemical compound packed in a hijacked car, did not fully explode and a number of the small packages used in the construction, were found littered around the immediate blast area.

The car — a Mini Clubman saloon — was stolen from Mr. Bobby Dougal, a civil servant, of St. Patrick’s Drive, Downpatrick, who was held up at gunpoint on the Downpatrick-Newcastle Road earlier that evening and told to hand over his vehicle.

The Recorder was left with just one window at the ear of the premises. The printing works and photographic department suffered most damage from the shrapnel and flying glass. Within minutes staff members and their wives were in the building and by the early hours of the morning most of the debris had been removed.

PORTAFERRY — Cleaning-up operations were still going on yesterday in Portaferry after Tuesday night’s massive bomb explosion which devastated the narrow throughway at Church Street, leading to the main shopping square. The 200lb. car bomb, planted outside the International Bar, almost completely demolished the building and wrecked houses within a 50-yard radius.

The bomb-packed car — a cream coloured 1100 – was driven up to the bar at about 9.20pm. Two men jumped out and made their getaway in another car which was later found burnt out at Tullycross, three miles away. Five minutes later, a warning was telephoned to the local police station. The two constables on duty at the time had only twelve minutes to evacuate the densely populated area before the bomb exploded.

Many local residents fled to shelter in their back gardens, but so widespread was the effect of the blast that two people were injured, though not seriously. The blast blew a gaping hole in the International Bar and so severe was the structural damage that work began on Wednesday to demolish large parts of the building.

NEWCASTLE — A telephone warning of a bomb in Newcastle on Sunday night had local police in a panic for the anonymous caller gave only vague details of the location.

The caller warned of a 100lb. bomb in ‘The Mourne’, but a number of premises in the town have the world Mourne in their title and this started the police on a frantic search.

Eventually Mr. Pat Curran, proprietor of the Palace Cinema in Main Street, spotted a suitcase in an alley between his remises and the Mourne Gift Shop. the area was immediately sealed off and when the bomb exploded no-one was injured. It was in fact only a 10-15lb. bomb and little damage was done.

Terrorists apparently made a second attempt to destroy the cinema when an incendiary device was left in one of the seats after Monday night’s film.

KILLOUGH — An application to build holiday chalets at Killough has been turned down by the planning executive. The application was made to construct wooden chalets on a long narrow site stretching from Castle Street to School Road.

The planners gave as their reasons for refusal that the amenities of the village are likely to be adversely affected and that the insubstantial type of dwellings as suggested would be totally out of character with Killough.

They add that the plan, if successful, would prejudice future redevelopment of the area on a properly planned and comprehensive basis and that it would cause increased traffic and noise in a residential street.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch’s first purpose-built library opened to the public on Monday. The design for the Main Street premises, which incorporate a doctor’s health clinic, was first mooted several years ago, but there was a considerable delay in construction when plans revealed that the War Memorial statue would be demolished and there was an immediate outcry.

It was finally decided that the statue would remain and indeed it provides an attractive partner for the new building. The South Eastern Education and Library Board’s new headquarters are now at Windmill Hill — where the branch library was formerly situated.

CASTLEWELLAN — A police mobile patrol chased a stolen car to St. Malachy’s Park in Castlewellan where it stopped and the driver ran off. As RUC men were getting out of their vehicle to give chase, a single low velocity shot was fired at them. Neither was hit and they returned fire.

STRANGFORD — Mr. William McCormick, of Shore Road, Strangford, was elected to the central council of the Alliance Party at its annual meeting in Belfast. Mr. McCormick is a founder member of the party and an active worker.

BRYANSFORD — Bryansford field study centre, which is to open later this year, will cater for groups of senior school pupils wishing to do specialised work in the fields of biology, zoology, botany and geology.

SEAFORDE — A Seaforde YFC trio came third in the 18-21 years section of the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster group debating competition at Ballyclare. Kieran Fisher, Patricia Keenan and Marion Gibney amassed 264 points compared to Glarryford’s 271 and Coleraine’s 270.

SPA — The 31st annual meeting of Spa YFC was held in the club hall last week and was very well supported. The secretary submitted a satisfactory report which showed that the club was going from strength to strength. The treasurer’s report was also very favourable and showed that the club was able to keep its head above water, especially due to the support of many friends at all social functions.

CROSSGAR — Word of praise is due to the minor and intermediate netball teams of St. Colmcille’s Secondary School, Crossgar, both of whom reached the semi-final stages of the County Down schools’ leagues.

In their passage to the semi-finals they were undefeated, having accounted for strong opposition from schools in their area — Saintfield, Ballynahinch, Knockbreda and Comber. In doing so, the intermediate team scored 138 goals to 63 against. The minors scored 60 goals to 24 against.

SAINTFIELD — Mr. Samuel Shaw, of Craigy Dairy Farm, Saintfield, has been elected to the Milk Marketing Board for Northern Ireland.

BALLYNAHINCH — Any Peeping Toms hanging around the pavilion at Ballynahinch’s Lisburn Road sports ground are in for a shock. The see-through windows in the shower areas for both sexes are to be reglazed with opaque glass.

At Down Council’s meeting Mr. Alan Moneypenny, tourist and recreation officer, suggested making the change, but Mr. Edward McVeigh, chairman, pointed out that the windows were so high that only young fellows could jump up to see through them.

“It was the young fellows I had in mind,” replied Mr. Moneypenny, amid laughter.