25 YEARS AGO/1983

Omagh police baffled after 'motiveless' murder

POLICE hunting for the killers of a 36-year-old Omagh father of four are baffled as to the motive for the attack. It has been established, however, that at least two weapons - an Armalite rifle and a shotgun were used in the killing of the man, an agricultural contractor. The man had no connection with the security forces, he had been carrying out work with his tractor and hedge-cutting equipment.

At around lunch-time he left the farm and a short time later his tractor was found in a hedge about a mile and a half along Striffle Road. The man's body was slumped backwards in the cab, and it is believed that he was shot in the back of the head.

'Tagging' scheme aims to beat salmon poachers

A NOVEL scheme devised by an Omagh man to stamp out illegal salmon fishing is being carefully studied by EEC officials, as well as by the fisheries authorities here and in the Republic.

Donal Mullan, from Arvalee, who is Chairman of the Protection Association for Wild Species, has been working on the scheme - which involves the use of tags -- for the past two years. He had outlined his proposals to officials of the Fisheries Departments in Belfast and Dublin, and they were so impressed that details of the scheme have now passed on to the EEC authorities. Poaching has become such a widespread and serious problem that both the British and Irish Governments are anxious to find any new method of control which may help to reduce the extent of the racket.

50 YEARS AGO/1958

Tyrone protest meeting against railway closure

"ALL of us are very much interested in preserving the railway and would deeply regret to see it go, but more protest is not enough we ought to make it our aim to see that the railway receives not only the fullest support from ourselves but also encourage our friends to use the facilities and thus ensure the survival of the line of which we all proud."

Said the Duke of Abercorn presiding in the Town Hall, Omagh. At a meeting of rep-resentatives of public bodies when protests were made against the possibility of the closure of the line.

A resolution unanimously adopted expressing the hope that the UTA would maintain the line in the utmost efficiency and economy and that it would do everything in its power to ensure the retention of a vital transport link in the Counties Armagh, Tyrone and Derry.

Dregish student ordained

AMONG students ordained to the Priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, Rev. James J McGee, BA, BD.

A son of William McGee, Dunteague, Omagh, and the late Mrs McGee, Fr McGee received his early education at Omagh Christian Brothers' Schools and at St Columb's College, Derry, before going to Maynooth.

He celebrated his first Mass in the College, and he was assisted by Rev P McGee, PP, Huddersfield and Rev M McHugh, CC, Strabane.

On his arrival home, Father McGee was given an enthusiastic reception by the parishioners.

75 YEARS AGO/1933

Woman's tragic death

AN inquest was held in the Courthouse Omagh, touching the death of an elderly woman whose body was found in the Drumragh river earlier in the day. A son of the deceased identified the body as that of his mother.

As far as he knew she was worried about a number of small debts which she owed, but otherwise she apparently was in good health.

Capt. Fyffe (Coroner) - How did you know she was worried about these debts?

Witness - Some months ago I paid a small debt for her, over which he had been worrying.

Capt. Fyffe - Did she make any threat to you to take her own life?

Witness - My wife told me that she threatened to drown herself about six weeks ago.

Hairdressers to pay damages

JUDGE Shannon gave a decree for £30, with £8 expenses in a case at Dublin Circuit Court, in which Anna Weldon sued Robert Drummond, hairdresser, for damages for injuries and loss sustained by her as a result of his alleged negligence while he was giving her hair a partial permanent wave. When the defendant applied an electrical machine to her head she experienced great pain and her hair began to burn. She asked him to remove the machine, but he said it was only her nerves. Witness began to cry because of the pain, and the defendant then took off the machine.

She called next day, but the defendant refused to see her. The following day she again called and he offered to pay a doctor's fee. There was a bald patch on her head. Dr McKeever described the wounds and bald patch, which was "about the size of an Irish sixpence."

100 YEARS AGO/1908

Attempted burglary

AN attempt was made to burgle the house of Mrs McCaughan who resides about a mile from Ballygawley. The only other occupant of the house is a young lady friend. Both ladies, it appears, retired to bed having securely locked the house. About 2am, Miss McFarland was awakened by hearing noise as of glass breaking in the hall window. Both ladies were terribly frightened, and, putting their heads out of the window, asked who was there. An unknown voice shouted that money was wanted.

The burglar still continued breaking open the window. Miss McFarland called on Mrs McCaughan to immediately get the revolver, and this threat succeeded in making the burglar relinquish his purpose, for he fled. On examination, it was found that the shutter of the window had been taken off, and one of the panes of glass removed.

Another strangulation

ANOTHER mysterious death by strangulation was discovered in Paris. The victim was a widow, a dealer in jewellery, principally diamonds. As she had not been seen for a few days, the concierge, added by a locksmith, opened the door of her flat and found the widow lying dead on the floor of her little sitting-room, where she usually received customers.

Her feet were tied together, and a cord was tightly fastened round her neck. There were no signs of burglary, and the safe had not been tampered with. The police theory is that she was attacked and strangled which she was showing diamonds to a bogus customer.

- Aisling Lanigan