From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 12, 1994

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 12, 1994

10 January 2024

DOWNPATRICK – A reward of £200 has been offered for information to track down people who tried to castrate a dog at the Meadowlands estate in Downpatrick last week.

The USPCA revealed yesterday that a woman in Glengormley has put up the money to help their investigation into the brutal attack, and added they have spoken to a number of Downpatrick people in connection with it.

An inspector with the organisation also rubbished local claims that the dog castrated itself on barbed wire while chasing cattle and was not the victim of any human attacker.

The golden Labrador stray, known in the Meadowlands area as “Sam”, was found in a pool of blood by local dog warden, Graeme Lever, after he received a call late on Thursday night.

He alerted the USPCA, which rushed the dog to a local vet who completed the castration that night, and is now caring for it at Warrenpoint. They reported the matter to police on Saturday in an effort to find the people they believe are responsible.

“There is no way this would have been self-inflicted” said Inspector Michael Gillen, confirming yesterday that a human was responsible for trying to castrate Sam.

STRANGFORD – Two local survivors of the British Midland air crash at Kegworth five years ago say many issues arising from the tragedy still need to be addressed.

Alistair McCorry of Downpatrick and Alan Johnston of Strangford still live with the effects of January 8, 1989, when Flight 092 hit the M1 motorway embankment, half a mile short of East Midlands airport.

Newcastle couple, John and Karen Campbell, were among the 44 dead. Both Mr McCorry and Mr Johnston have vivid memories of the accident and its aftermath, saying last week they are lucky to be alive.

The Air Safety Action Group, formed by survivors two and half years later, announced last week it was unhappy with the investigation into the crash and said more was needed to make flying safer.

Mr Johnston, an original member of ASAG said: “We formed with the objectives of campaigning for improved safety, to make crashes less likely to happen and if they do happen, to make them more survivable.”

BALLYHORNAN – A major rescue operation has been launched to save hundreds of oil-covered seabirds washed up on local beaches.

Heavily-oiled guillemots and razorbills have been found at beaches at Newcastle, Dundrum and Ballyhornan in what USPCA officials say is a potential pollution disaster.

The first stricken birds were found yesterday and the USPCA said by mid-morning, they were being seen on nearly all stretches of local coastline.

The scale of the disaster became apparent as calls of new sightings from concerned members of the public flooded into the animal charity. The source of the pollution remains a mystery.

Speaking before leaving on the emergency rescue mission yesterday morning, Inspector Michael Gillen said: “We have sighted the oiled birds at Murlough Estate, 12 have been picked up at Ballyhornan and another 14 at Newcastle beach.”

ARDGLASS – A local businessman’s expansion plans are being impeded by a lack of available land in the Ardglass area, it has been revealed.

And senior Department of Environment planning chiefs have this week been asked to extend the land zoned for industrial and private development in the area.

The call has been made by Mr Dermot Curran, who says a local businessman’s plans to build a new factory in the area are being impeded by a lack of available land.

Mr Curran said there is no available ground in the village for public or private housing developments and nowhere for local entrepreneurs to expand their businesses.

“It is time that the planners looked again at Ardglass and viewed the area as a special case where the needs of developers must be met. There is a need for more housing but there is a lack of available land.”

KILLYLEAGH – The campaign for a new community hall in Killyleagh takes an important step forward this morning when a specially commissioned report is handed over to Down Council.

The report sets out for the first time the extent of community support for provision of a hall and the likely levels of use.

Compiled at the instigation of a new cross-community group in the town set up to lobby for a centre, the report reveals that more than 90 per cent of groups surveyed support the concept of a new community facility.

Committee chairman, Mr Mark Kent, said it is an “important milestone” in the community’s demand for a hall to act as a neutral meeting place.

“The report shows a definite need for a community centre in Killyleagh,” he said. “As representatives of the people of Killyleagh, we are handing over this report to the council and asking it to progress our claim through the Central Community Relations Unit for funding.”

DOWNPATRICK – A new integrated primary school could open its doors for business in the greater Downpatrick area by next September, it has been revealed.

Plans to establish a new school for the education of Protestants and Roman Catholics in the same environment are to be discussed at a special meeting in Downpatrick Library tomorrow evening at 7.30pm.

News of the scheme follows the unveiling of plans last December to set up an integrated college in the Downpatrick area for post-primary school children.

And the people behind the latest project are confident that if established, the new school will be as successful as the All Children’s Integrated Primary School in Newcastle.

One of those championing the cause for a mixed educational school in the Downpatrick area is Mrs Linda Magill and while she admits that plans are still at the embryonic stage, she hopes the school will be able to open its doors in the not too distant future.

DRUMAGHLIS – School inspectors have praised Drumaghlis Primary School, near Crossgar, for its high standards and convivial atmosphere.

In a highly positive report, the Department of Education inspection team praised the teachers, the quality of the children’s work and the management of the small 61-pupil school, located near Kilmore Presbyterian Church.

The report, which was published last week, pays tribute to the work of the principal, Mrs Janet Kirk, and her teaching colleagues who, say the inspectors, are “committed to the children and to the school.”

The inspection team, which visited the school in June last year, found the teachers to be a professional and hard working team who combine well and have good staff and curriculum development.

STRANGFORD – A Strangford craftsman’s furniture business is being hailed as a major success story by the small business agency, LEDU.

Peter Maxwell set up his workshop in the village nine years ago with the aid of assistance and advice from LEDU, and now his individually-crafted pieces are sought after throughout the British Isles.

Having spent several years re-upholstering antiques, Mr Maxwell saw that there was a demand for authentic period-style furniture brought about as a result of dwindling availability and the excessive cost of genuine antiques.

So he converted an old workshop and established XVII Hundreds Furniture Ltd., aiming to produce finely-detailed reproductions of 18th century furniture.

“We take great care with every item we produce, faithfully following the skills and attention to detail perfected by the craftsmen of the period,” he says.