A library with no books

A LIBRARY almost without books - that's the unusual situation facing children at Christ the King School in Omagh. And the situation has been described as "ridiculous and unsatisfactory" by Bernadette Grant, speaking at a WELBA Library Committee meeting. Mrs Grant said she was very disappointed to learn that additional money had not been made available to stock the new school libraries and to provide books for the secondary age children attending the Omagh Special School.

Chief Librarian, Russell Farrow, revealed that £17,000 would be required to remedy the situation, and his proposal to ask the Education Board to include figure in the next financial estimate was an "inescapable additional commitment," was unanimously accepted. He said he hoped books would be on the empty shelves by Easter 1984.

Friendly Omagh milkman is crowned 'Pinta Champ'

A 30-YEAR-OLD Omagh milkman has won the title of 'Personality Milkman of the Year' in a competition which attracted 2,000 entrants from all over Northern Ireland.

He is Francis Brannigan, from Glenview Terrace, who, according to housewife Helen Humphries who nominated him, is undoubtedly the fastest milkman west of the Bann, and everywhere else at that.

She said, "Francey is always on time, polite, friendly, neat and tidy, and it's a real pleasure to do business with him. He brings my order at six in the morning and even at that early hour he is as bright as a button."

50 YEARS AGO/1958

Labour exchange blown up

AN early morning explosion completely wrecked the Ministry of Labour and National Insurance Exchange at Bridge End, Strabane, blowing-off the roof the roof and toppling walls. Records of some of the district's 1,300 unemployed were blown into the yards of nearby houses, in which windows and doors were also damaged.

So severe was the explosion, it is felt that about 100 pounds of gelignite were used. It is believed the charge was placed beside a wall at the rear of the building.

Very little remains of the one-storey brick building and an adjoining hut which was also used by officials. The main building was erected in 1937.

Tyrone Health Committee's bigoted record exposed

THE Government had nothing to do with the appointment, which was not subject to the sanction of the Ministry.

This was the only attempt made by the Unionist Party to defend the action of Tyrone Health Committee in turning down Miss Teresa Breslin of Tamlaght Road, Omagh, a Catholic qualified applicant for appointment as dental attendant in Omagh. Instead, they appointed a music teacher from Newtownstewart with no previous experience of the work of dental attendant.

"The most scandalous piece of Party jobbery in years," was how P McGill (Nationalist) described the Tyrone Health Committee's action, when he called on the Government to suppress the committee and send down a Commissioner.

75 YEARS AGO/1933

Shocking cruelty to mare

WHAT was described by the Chairman Captain Gosselin, RM, as the worst case of cruelty to an animal that had come before him in 30 years on the Bench, was heard at Newtownstewart Petty Sessions when a local farmer was summoned for cruelty to a mare. Sergeant Crawford, Plumbridge, said when on patrol in Legfordrum his attention was drawn by sounds of loud moaning on the other side of the hedge, and on going across found a black mare lying in a field. She was foaming at the mouth and tossing her head about. The spot on which the mare lay was devoid of grass and badly trampled as if by the exertions of the animal in pain. It was unable to be cured and destroyed with a shotgun. Captain Gosselin said he took a very serious view of the case, but would take into consideration that defendant was a poor man. He imposed a fine of £5.

Tyrone man's bravery

JOHN Elliott, Coroner, Strabane, has received from the Royal Humane Society a testimonial on parchment for presentation to John Arbuckle, of Sion Mills, for saving life. The circumstances of the courageous rescue are that two young lads, named Ross and Adams, went to bathe during the warm weather in summer at The Sluice, Sion Mills, in the River Mourne.

Neither of the lads could swim. Adams immediately got into difficulties and shouted for help. His comrade tried to effect a rescue by holding out his hand as he could not swim.

They screamed for help and Arbuckle, an ex-soldier having a walk on the river bank, jumped into the water without taking off his clothing. He brought Adams to land.

100 YEARS AGO/1908

Workmen flee as bees take possession of Church

AN unusual occurrence took place in Keady Parish Church. It appears that for some time the vestry chimney would not draw, and two men were engaged to make the matter right. For a time their efforts were in vain.

The first thing taken out was a crow's nest with a bird sitting in it. Immediately afterwards, a hive of bees was ejected and very soon they took possession of the church and vestry.

The workmen fled the belfry roof until some oil and cotton wool had been procured and set alight to drive the insects out.

Pathetic story

"THIS is one of the most pathetic cases ever presented to a jury," said Mr Wild, defending at Norfolk Assizes Mary Chatten, a publican's wife, charged with murdering he nine-months-old baby girl and with attempting suicide.

She got up during the night leaving her husband asleep, and cut the child's throat with a razor. Going downstairs she jumped into a well containing 17 feet of water, from which she was rescued in a critical condition some hours afterwards.

Pieces of paper were found about the house on which she had written such observations as 'Her little soul is in Heaven, singing with the angels.'

The jury found that Mrs Chatten was insane, and she was ordered to be detained as a criminal lunatic.

- Nigel McDonagh