'Snags' for Board in cheap school milk scheme

ONLY 81 schools out of the 268 throughout the Western Education Board's area have indicated that they are prepared to participate in the EEC school milk subsidy scheme.

Since the Western Board, in common with the four other Area Boards, agreed to purchase one-third pint bottles at 3p each and sell to pupils at 4p, the scheme locally has continually run into snags.

Many schools hold that they just cannot run milk sales within their existing resources.

And three of the major teachers' unions have also advised members not to involve themselves in the collection of money for the sales of milk.

Family escape from Carrickmore house fire

A CARRICKMORE couple and their four young children had a lucky escape when their home at Rockstown Road, on the outskirts of the village, was engulfed by fire.

The couple and their children managed to escape from the blazing house, but the building was extensively damaged and almost all their possessions were destroyed.

The fire was fought by units from the Cookstown and Pomeroy Fire Brigades, but by the time the blaze was brought under control the roof had caved in and only the walls were left standing.

The family were able to salvage some clothes and personal documents, but almost everything else was burned in the blaze.

50 YEARS AGO/1956

Cattle broke a window when leaving Gortin shop

ON the April Fair Day at Gortin two cattle entered a shop and when they were being chased out, broke a window. There was a sequel at Omagh Quarter Sessions when Mary Doherty, Gortin, sued a Mountfield man for £4 11s 8d damages for negligence in the control and management of cattle, whereby glass was destroyed. Mrs Doherty said she was in the kitchen and heard a noise. On entering the shop she saw two heads of cattle there, and turned them out. As they left one of the animals came in contact with a glass window at the entrance and smashed it.

Defendant, who was present, said the cattle were his and would make good the damage. Later witness had the repairs carried out and sent defendant the account. Defendant called with her and said the cattle were insured and he would send the account to his agent. He did not come back and witness sent him a couple of letters but received no reply. Judge Johnson awarded a decree for the amount claimed.

Tyrone exiles in US will hear ceili broadcast

TYRONE exiles in the United States will hear a recording made at a ceili in Pomeroy. From midnight until one o'clock the entire programme of non-stop dancing and songs by Jim McNamara was recorded on a tape recording machine. Messages to Tyrone folk in New York from their friends in their native county were then added, and the whole recording will be sent to America. It will also be broadcast at the Tyronemen's annual ball in New York.

75 YEARS AGO/1931

Young farmer's tragic end

A YOUNG farmer, aged 38, was fatally injured as the result of an accident which occurred near Castlederg.

It appears that the farmer was proceeding to a potato field at Castlegore in a cart to which was attached a digging machine.

He was going round a turn near his residence when one of the wheels of the digger caught in the ditch causing the shaft of the digger to strike the deceased, as the result of which he was thrown out of the cart, his spine being badly injured.

His wife who was in the vicinity at the time, saw the horse in the lane and when she went to the scene of the accident found her husband lying on the ground.

She summoned assistance but the unfortunate man died in hospital a few hours subsequently.

Five arrested after poteen capture near Gortin

THE police at Gortin, under Sergeant Partridge, made an important poteen capture. Patrolling in the neighbourhood of Drumlea Wood, they came upon five men alleged to be engaged in the stilling, and the haul includes the still, still-head, copper worm, cooling plant and all the other apparatus.

There was also a large quantity of singlings, and the still was working at full blast in the manufacture of poteen. The names of all the parties were taken by the police, and the still and equipment conveyed to Gortin police barracks.

100 YEARS AGO/1906

A tragic tale and terrible allegations against a child

A STORY of a horrible nature comes from Waterford as a sequel to the supposed suicide of a twelve-year-old girl named Mary Maher. On being accused of cruelly torturing her younger sister, aged 8, at their home at Dunkitt, near Waterford, the deceased fled from the house and was discovered dead in the River Suir by a sergeant of the police on the following morning.

The case has created a sensation in the locality, especially as it is only a few days since an inquest was held on the remains of a younger sister of the deceased. In that instance an analysis was made of the contents of the stomach by Sir Charles Cameron; no trace of poison was discovered, but the doctors failed to testify as to the cause of death.

The tragic tale is made still more terrible by the fact that a baby, to take care of whom the deceased girl, Mary Maher, was kept from school by her parents, also died, whilst a little brother of Mary's was found prostrated in the house. This was due to ill-treatment by Mary, and the little boy was so seriously injured that he had to be removed to hospital.

The girl, Maggie, who was so cruelly treated by the deceased, stated that her sister Mary tied her wrists, and then attempted to smother her by putting her gloved hands tightly over her mouth and nose.

It was after this statement that Mary fled, and it is believed that to evade the consequences of her alleged crimes also committed suicide.

- NIGEL MCDONAGH