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

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

16 October 2013

CASTLEWELLAN — A Ballynahinch man who received a gunshot wound in Castlewellan on Saturday night this week blamed terrorists for being “so thoughtless and vicious.” Michael McKevitt (29), of Church Lane, was caught in the line of fire when gunmen opened up on a policeman investigating a bomb hoax.

Mr. McKevitt was grazed in the head by one of the first shots. A local policeman was also hit and had to receive stitches to a wound in his arm. Both men were treated on the spot for their injuries, though neither was able to return to work this week.

The fusillade of abut 30 shots were fired as policemen evacuated the area around the Square after a telephone call made to Downpatrick exchange warned of a 100lb. bomb there. In a follow-up operation, security forces found more than 250 rounds of ammunition and some safety fuse in a wood outside the town.

Mr. McKevitt was standing in a group of about a dozen men when he was hit. “It was fortunate no-one else was hit,” he said later. “There were a lot of women and children standing behind us when the shooting started. I feel very annoyed about it. I didn’t think anyone could be so thoughtless and vicious.”

Mr. McKevitt, who is married with one child, was visiting his parents in Annsborough and had driven up to Castlewellan on a message when his car was diverted into Circular Row by police as they cordoned off the Square.

“I got out and joined a group of men standing to see what was happening. I never heard the bullet which hit me, but it knocked me to the ground.”

ARDGLASS — A bottle with a message in it, thrown into the sea at Ardglass two years ago, turned up on the beach at Rouen, France, last month. The 11 year-old Belfast schoolgirl, Marie McKenna, of Andersonstown Park, who sent the message, has just been contacted by the finder, a Canadian pilot who flies Starfighters from the air base at Baden-Baden in Germany.

In extending good wishes to Marie, the pilot, Bud Bailey, says he was on holiday in Rouen when he found the bottle with Marie’s name and address inside.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick Electricity Service workers this week stated an unofficial one-day strike in demand of a pay parity with Belfast area employees. the strike, called at a meeting on Tuesday evening, followed a sit-in at the Downpatrick yard since Monday morning.

Electricians, joiners, mechanics and HT and LT squads all refused to begin work because of a request made by colleagues at Kilgavey, who were seeking proper block payment rates. Kilgavey employees had adopted a sit-in action on Friday last when they heard that Belfast area employees were receiving five pence a hour more than provincial employees.

In a recent reorganisation of the electrical services in Northern Ireland the EBNI and Belfast Corporation services were amalgamated to form the NIES. It seems that Corporation workers were earning five pence a hour more than EBNI workers and the pay difference had not been levelled since the changeover. At Tuesday’s meeting the men at the Downpatrick yard unanimously decided to take unofficial action. The strike lasted only 24 hours when a meeting of senior shop stewards on Wednesday morning advised the men to resume work.

At a further workers’ meeting on Wednesday afternoon the men decided by a majority to resume work pending negotiations, the outcome of which were expected last night.

DERRYBOY — One of the finest Friesian herds in Ireland — that of the late Mr. S. Dickson, Derryboy, Crossgar — came under the hammer on Wednesday.

One calved cow raised a new Irish record price of £1,417. The cow was bought by Mr. David Heenan, of Newcastle, who paid a further 400 gns. for her bull calf which was born the night before the sale.

Altogether 113 cattle were auctioned off by Allams, of Oxford Street, Belfast, with prices starting at 200 gns. A spokesman for the firm later confirmed that the top price was definitely an all-Ireland record for a pedigree Friesian cow.

STRANGFORD — There was a large attendance at a joint service for peace held in the open air at Newry Quay, Strangford. The service was read by the Rev. J. P. McCloskey, P.P., the Rev. W. E. Kennedy, rector, and the Rev. E. Coyle, C.C.

A lesson was read by Mr. Alan McDowell (Presbyterian) and individual prayers by Brian Fitzsimons (Roman Catholic) and Barbara Crea (Church of Ireland). The hymns, The Lord’s My Shepherd and Be Thou My Vision, were sung and the impressive service ended with all joining in the Lord’s Prayer.

SEAFORDE — Mrs. D. W. Shaw presided at Seaforde Women’s Institute’s meeting in Seaforde Church Hall on Monday. Four new members were proposed: Mrs. J. Caldwell, Mrs. Laird, Mrs. Gardine and Mrs. McBride. The president introduced Mrs. D. Gray, from Downpatrick, who gave a demonstration of how to keep fit by showing various exercises. A vote of thanks to Mrs. Gray was made on behalf of the members by Mrs. N. Patterson, seconded by Miss M. Shaw.

The monthly competition for the best embroidered supper cloth was won by Mrs. W. McCall with Mrs. Breen second and Mrs. Hanna third. Mrs. Ervin won the ballot and Mrs. R. Hill the birthday gift. Mrs. Shaw presented Mrs. D. Dickson, the outgoing president, with a small gift from the members.

BALLYNAHINCH — The appointment has just been made of Mr. Francis J. Dempsey to the post of lecturer in hospital administration at the Regional College of Galway. He is the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. James Dempsey, Windmill Gardens, Ballynahinch, and is married with a young son.

As a student at Rupert Stanley College, Belfast, he distinguished himself by winning the Northern Ireland Tourist Board award for his first year studies in catering operations, and was later awarded the Rupert Stanley College Cup as student of the year.

DOWNPATRICK — Downpatrick Golf Club groundsmen working on extensions to the local course this week unearthed a hand grenade. It was a Mills hand grenade of the type used in World War 1. “Police have attached no subversive significance to the find,” an RUC spokesman said.

SPA — The captain of Spa Golf Club, Mr. B. D. Kirkpatrick, presided at the presentation day recently and introduced the president, Mr. H. S. Greer, who handed over his own trophies.

The annual ladies’ cups and prizes were presented by Mrs. L. L. Richardson, lady captain, and the men’s cups and prizes by Mr. Kirkpatrick, who then went on to thank all committees, organisers and groundsmen for their work throughout the season. Mr. M. J. McKay proposed a vote of thanks to the captain and this was seconded by Mr. S. W. Simms.

NEWCASTLE — Some eight members of First Newcastle Scout troop hope to attend the Forrester Badge course, to be held at Crawfordsburn camping centre on November 17. This is an important qualifier for the Chief Scout’s award.

John O’Donoghue, of First Newcastle troop, has been invested as a scout and was presented with the scout standard badge by the scout leader, Mr. D. S. Kernaghan.

RACING — Local trainer Frankie Fitzsimons caused the biggest shock at Downpatrick races on Saturday when Hope’s Choice won the handicap chase.

The race was full of grief with Galloping Smith falling at the third and then Rock Arch unseated his rider at the sixth, leaving only three to jump the last two fences. Glentimmon came down and with John Harty riding the local hope he used all his strength and experience to get the horse first past the post from the only other finisher, Young Paddy.

The winner got the biggest cheer of the day and if this should be the last meeting it is fitting that Frankie, so long a favourite with the locals, should have a winner at his home track.