25 YEARS AGO/1983
Plight of 'hidden' homeless
THE 'hidden face' of Omagh's homeless problem - where there have been cases of people sleeping rough, under bridges and in derelict houses - was highlighted at a meeting in the town.
But the problem will continue until there is provision made in legislation for those unfortunate people who suddenly find themselves without a roof over their heads, warned Geraldine McCance, Housing Aid Officer with Shelter, which has a local office in Omagh's John Street. She also condemned the shortage of housing accommodation in the area.
Ms McCance revealed that there even have been cases in Omagh of people actually sleeping rough, in derelict houses and under bridges. "Because Shelter has only been in existence in the town for a short time, it is only after enduring hardships such as these that people in distress hear about us and then come seeking out assistance," she said.
More hospital visitors needed
ELDERLY patients at Omagh's Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital have everything they need – except visitors. This was revealed at the monthly meeting of the Western Health and Social Services, Omagh District Committee by chairman Frank Hughes.
He told the meeting that a member of staff at the hospital had informed him that he would particularly like to see many more people visiting the elderly in the hospital.
Patients, he said, really appreciated people coming in to talk to them and he added that visits by schoolchildren were really much appreciated.
50 YEARS AGO/1958
Sentenced to ten years
CONVICTED on charges arising out of an explosion in the Coalisland area in June 1957, a Co. Tyrone man was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment by Lord Justice Curran at the Belfast City Commission. The man, whom the judge described as "a ringleader", was a 29-year-old tile maker from Coalisland.
Two other men jointly charged and found guilty on the same charges, were each sentenced to five years' imprisonment.
The charges against the men were: (1) that on June 12 1957, they unlawfully and maliciously caused by gelignite or other explosive substances an explosion likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property at an electric transformer at Coalisland; (2) they had in their possession or under their control a bomb with intent to endanger life or property; and (3) they had in their possession, knowingly a bomb under such circumstances as to give reasonable suspicion that they did not have it for a lawful object.
IRA radio found near Strabane
A WIDE-SCALE search by police and 'B' Specials led to the discovery of an IRA radio station in a house at Leckpatrick, near Strabane, and a dug-out near Kinturk Flat, Coagh, on the shores of Lough Neagh.
The find at Leckpatrick included a fully-equipped traansmitter in working order, and a receiver, together with ancillary equipment. The radio ransmitter is thought to have been intended to replace one seized by Civic Guards in Dublin.
75 YEARS AGO/1933
Tyrone man killed
CAPTAIN George Evans, a native of Clogher and a former magistrate for Co. Tyrone, lost his life in a motor accident in Co. Wexford. It appears that Capt. Evans, who was a painting contractor in Dublin, was travelling in a two-seater car from Waterford to Wexford to attend the Redmond anniversary celebrations. He was accompanied by Patrick Heron, Dublin.
Coming around a bridge, Capt. Evans lost control, and the car overturned, pinning both men underneath. Capt. Evans was killed instantly while Heron was taken to hospital, suffering from shock. At an inquest evidence was given that after rounding a bend and beginning the ascent of a hill the car hit the ditch and toppled into a field nine feet below, pinning both occupants beneath it.
Two lorries crash
TWO lorries sustained considerable damage in a collision at Victoria Bridge, and for a short time the roadway was blocked, while potatoes and oats, portion of the cargo of one of the lorries, were scattered all over the place.
The lorries involved in the crash were owned by Hugh McMenamin, Castlederg, and Robert P Farlow, Lisbellaw. McMenamin's lorry was driven by his son, Patrick McMenamin, and was proceeding towards Derry, while Farlow's lorry, which was heavily laden with oats and potatoes, was travelling from Derry.
The sound of the collsion was heard a considerable distance. Captain HJ Walshe, DI, Strabane, was the first on the scene, and several railway men from Victoria Bridge Station also rendered assistance in getting the road cleared for traffic and the debris removed.
100 YEARS AGO/1908
Man's determined suicide
THE painful story of how a returned American gentleman took his life by hanging himself from a tree at his borther's residence at Drumduff, near Beragh, was related at his inquest. The deceased was 55 and unmarried.
He had been in America for 43 years, and returned the previous November. He assisted on his brother's farm. He had been complaining of a bad stomach and contacted a doctor in Omagh some time ago.
On the morning of the suicide, the man was seen leaving the house partially dressed, having only his trousers and a vest on. In his opinion, Dr Duncan said deceased was insane when he committed the act.
Girl spurns father's offer
HELEN Camblos, aged 19, who is regarded by many as the most beautiful girl in Philadelphian society, and William J Ryan, the proprietor of the ticket-offices of several Philadelphia hotels, have been married and are spending their honeymoon in New York. The bride is a daughter of William Penn Camblos, a stockbroker and reputed millionaire.
When Helen accompanied Ryan to her father's office and told him she had decided to marry him, Mr Camblos wrote a cheque for £40,000, and said he would give it to his daughter if she would agree to "call this thing off".
The girl looked at her father and then at Ryan, who said nothing. Finally she said, "I guess I'll get married," and left the office and the cheque. She summoned some friends, and was married without the presence of a single member of her family.
– Nigel McDonagh
