From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 5, 1994

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 5, 1994

3 January 2024

DOWNPATRICK – Devil worshippers are being blamed for the gruesome slaughter of an animal near Downpatrick over the Christmas holidays.

The startling revelation comes after police officers came across a grisly discovery at The Loop platform on the Downpatrick railway line, close to the town’s Ballydugan Road.

Satanists are believed to have taken part in a ritual sacrificing ceremony after the charred remains of the animal were found on Boxing Day, along with a quantity of blood and feathers.

A team of detective which descended on the area found a six foot wide black circle painted on the platform and contained within the circle was a five pointed pentagram, which was also in black.

The charred remains of five burnt black candles were located at the points of the pentagram, along with a black ace of spades playing card.

Nearby, officers discovered a number of burnt sticks and candles, along with an assortment of clear plastic bags which had seals at the top.

A number of items were removed and sent for forensic examination as detectives began to try and piece together the events leading up to the incident.

Police are still unsure how many people may have been involved in the occult action and have launched a full scale investigation in a concerted effort to track down those responsible.

SEAFORDE – Seaforde conservationist Dinah Browne was one of three local people celebrating their recognition in the New Year’s Honours announced last week.

A major player in the province’s wildlife and conservation circles, Mrs Browne has years of experience in giving advice to many bodies, but remains modest about achieving her OBE,

The adviser with the government’s Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside since 1988 as well as a year-long member of the Historic Monuments Council, said she only represented the many hard workers in her field.

“So many others have served on these committees and done outstanding work of this kind, so I regard myself as a representative of these people and receive the award on their behalf,” she said.

BALLYNAHINCH – An elderly Ballynahinch man was subjected to a horrifying ordeal over the Christmas holidays when he was tied up and held hostage in his own home by a gang of masked intruders.

The 82 year-old retired farmer answered a knock at the door of his isolated farmhouse on December 28 when he was confronted by two men.

The intruders pushed their way past the farmer into his Ballymacarn Road home before bundling him on to his settee. 

A rug was then put over his head before the man’s feet and hands were tied with twine. The masked intruders demanded to know where he kept his money before ransacking the house in their search for cash.

The farmer said he had some cash in a coat pocket which was hanging in the hall and while one of the men searched it, the other stood over the terrorised farmer.

A short time later, the other man returned to the living room and demanded more cash before searching upstairs.

The men left the house a few minutes later with just £80 , rippling the phone line as they went but the farmer managed to free himself and fled to a neighbour’s house to raise the alarm. 

NEWCASTLE – A six year-old Newcastle boy was released from hospital this week after a record-breaking police mercy dash to Belfast to treat suspected meningitis.

The boy’s family doctor call them for assistance following a house call at 12.10pm last Wednesday afternoon, when the child was showing symptoms of the severe disease, which claimed 14 lives during 1993.

Police said on receiving an “urgent request” they dispatched a car to the house from Newcastle RUC station and ferried the child to Belvoir Park Hospital in Belfast in just a half-hour.

After tests the hospital confirmed last week that the boy did not have meningitis, but was suffering from an infection for which he was receiving antibiotics.

A police spokesman described the compassionate operation to transfer him to hospital in Belfast as a “joint effort”, which had ensured the child could get the best treatment available

SAUL – South Down MP Eddie McGrady has been assured by the Roads Service that work will take place in the spring to repair St Patrick’s Road, Saul.

A new watermain was installed some time ago and since then the residents have been complaining about potholes and the generally uneven nature of the road.

Now Mr McGrady has been told that surface dressing work will take place later this year. “This should help to address the uneven sections of this road as a result of the laying of a new water mains,” he said. 

The MP said St Patrick’ s Road is not an isolated case and quite often, following the installation of watermains, roads are not reinstated and remain pitted with potholes and very uneven.

KILLYLEAGH – The Rev Mark McConnell has been appointed rector of the Church of St John the Evangelist, Killyleagh, in succession to the Rev Cecil Mitchell, who retired last month.  His institution will take place on Tuesday, March 1.

Presently curate at St Comgall’s Church, Bangor, Mr McConnell is a former Lisburn man and has served in the ministry across the water.

He graduated in 1988, was made deacon the following year and priested in 1990 for a curacy in the diocese of St Alban’s, Hertfordshire.

He and his wife, Cherith, with their little son, Daniel, will take up residence in one of the most modern rectories in Ireland.

Mr McConnell is a keen sportsman, with a deep interest in cycling, badminton and golf.

CASTLEWELLAN – Castlewellan is set to undergo a major transformation over the next 12 months as a £1m regeneration programme gets into full swing.

Plans have been unveiled for a major language centre and accommodation complex, which will be completed by September, and for significant environmental improvements to the town’s historic core.

After 12 months of hectic preparation, the Castlewellan and District Development Association is nearly ready to start spending the £1m allocated to the town last year under an International Fund for Ireland CRISP package.

At a special public meeting held in the town’s library just before Christmas, residents were able to view for the first time the work of two sets of consultants appointed to spearhead the regeneration and conservation work.

Around £500,000 will be spent on the regeneration programme’s core project in Castle Avenue, which will involve the complete demolition of a number of properties and the construction of a purpose-built complex housing a language school and hostel-style accommodation.

DRUMANESS  – Drumaness’ Peter Withnell is back in the Down gaelic football panel.

Withnell, a key member of Down’s 1991 All-Ireland winning side, but ped for the National Football League campaign in September, was given his recall last weekend.

Also included in the panel is Downpatrick’s Gregory Deegan, who joins his brothers Conor and Gerard in the red and black colours.

Withnell’s recall is regarded as a reward for an outstanding club season in which he led Drumaness to the county Division 2 title and promotion to Division 1 for the first time in the club’s history.

Withnell’s return is certainly as asset to Down manager Peter McGrath. He is still one of the best forwards in the county.