50 YEARS AGO/1960

Housewife robbed

A LOCAL businessman's wife was held up by armed robbers at her Arleston Road home. And, according to police, the robbers got away with a substantial sum of money, made up in cash, bank drafts and cheques. The drama occurred at around 6pm when the woman answered a knock at her door and was confronted by two men, one masked and carrying a handgun. She was ordered to hand over the takings from her husband's business, and both men left shortly afterwards. Amongst the cash taken were two £100 notes, one red colour and badly frayed, and the other green colour.

Police warn that they may be used by the culprits in payment for goods, and advise the public to be on their guard against accepting these cheques.

Under-age drinking

CONCERN has been expressed by members of the Omagh District Committee of the Western Health and Social Services Board about the ease with which young people can obtain alcohol.

It was felt that far too many children under the age of 18 can obtain drinks containing alcohol very easily from retailers and supermarkets, and that in various shops, drinks such as shandys - even though they only contain a very small amount of alcohol - are sold amongst various other soft drinks.

Members were discussing a consultative document concerning the Sunday opening of licensed premises, and although many said they were against the principle of selling alcohol on Sundays, they said that there should not be one law for pubs and another for clubs.

50 YEARS AGO/1960

Mishap to 'ghost train'

THE 'ghost train' which has been travelling the old GNR line linking Omagh and Newtownbutler through Enniskillen, has met with a mishap, which has delayed the completion of its journey to Omagh by several days. The train has been held up outside Fintona Junction because the engine was derailed on Christmas Eve.

The train, consisting of an engine and several wagons, was carrying rails and sleepers, the first of which were lifted at the 'border' near Clontivrim.

The rails and sleepers are being brought to Omagh and the journeys to and from that station are slow ones and call to mind the words of a popular song written about the Sligo-Leitrim railway, 'Are you right there Michael, are you right? Do you think we'll get there before it's night?'

The telephones buzzed

WHILE many were at home enjoying the Christmas dinner and the accompanying celebrations, the telephones still buzzed, and the operators working in relays of four, carried on the telephone services in their usual efficient and courteous manner.

There was much work to be done at the Omagh Exchange, as many local families made calls to their sons and daughters in all parts of Ireland and across the Channel. Telephone breakdowns were practically negligible, but there was a large number of local subscribers cut off for one day because of water seeping into the underground ducts which carry the telephone cables.

Meanwhile, the parcel post handled this Christmas was also a record-breaking one.

75 YEARS AGO/1935

Child drowned

A LITTLE boy named Joseph Diamond, aged about two years, who was at nurse with a family named Breen, who reside in the townland of Lammy, was accidentally drowned in a stream near his home. At an inquest into the death, Patrick Breen, Lammy, said he and his wife went and searched for the boy when they heard he was missing. After some time they found a body in the stream.

Dr B Lagan said the body was that of a a very healthy child, and it was well nourished. There were no external marks on the body, but it was evident that the child had swallowed a considerable amount of water. Death was due to drowning.

The Coroner said he was very much surprised when he visited the place and found that although there was a fast running stream there was no fence. There was a well at the place and it was not fenced either. It was a regular danger. The jury found that the child was accidentally drowned and exonerated the guardians of the child from all blame.

700 at Ceilidh Mhor

THE second annual ceilidh mhor held under the auspices of the Tyrone GAA Committee in the Pavilion, Omagh was crowned with success. There were almost 700 people present, which was easily the biggest number at an event of its kind in Tyrone.

From all points of view the function eclipsed that of the previous year and the proceedings were decidedly enjoyable. The gathering was representative of nearly every part of Tyrone, while large parties came from the Counties of Fermanagh, Donegal and Derry.

100 YEARS AGO/1910

Shots fired into house

A RATHER sensational affair took place outside Omagh, when the house of Mrs Ellison, Killybrack was fired into at about 6pm. At the time the shots were fired Mrs Ellison, her son and a servant man were sitting in the kitchen, and a bullet was afterwards found by police in the house. District-Inspector Conlin, Sergeant Donnelly and other police visited the scene for the purpose of investigating the matter.

A Strabane man was arrested at his residence in the town and will be tried at a special court of petty session. This man was sentenced to three years' penal servitude by the Lord Chief Baron at the Tyrone Assizes in March 1905, for firing at William Ellison (deceased), the husband of Mrs Ellison.

Gun accident

ANDREW McKirgan, a Portstewart fisherman, met with an unfortunate accident on the morning of December 23, and the circumstances of the occurrence point to the miraculous escape from fatal injuries, not only of the injured man, but also of a number of children who were in the vicinity at the time.

It appears that Mr McKirgan, unaware that a gun had been previously loaded, took it to the front door, intent upon shooting at some birds which had congregated in the vicinity of his house. Several children gathered round but suddenly the gun exploded, and was blown into fragments, inflicting extensive injuries to McKirgan's left hand but luckily not wounding any of the children. It is feared McKirgan will have to lose, at least, one of his fingers.

- Nigel McDonagh