25 YEARS AGO/1982

Man shot dead in Strabane

A 23-YEAR-OLD UDR man from the Strabane area was shot dead in the town while carrying out house repair work for the Housing Executive. The former soldier, who was married, was carrying tiles from a trailer to a house in Fountain Park, and was accompanied by another workman, when the shooting occurred. He was in the bathroom of the house when two masked gunmen burst in and fired a number of shots at point blank range which caught the deceased in the shoulder and the back of the head.

Condemnation of the incident has been voiced by a number of members of Strabane District Council.

Derg soccer gets unfair deal

THE upsurge in soccer in the Castlederg area, with a total of five teams participating in the Fermanagh and Western League, has meant there are not enough pitches to cater for their needs.

There was still a growing need for additional facilities to cater for the needs of the five clubs – Dergview, Barrowfield, Listymore, Killen Rangers and Derg Villa – some of whom have more than one team participating in the competitions. In an effort to highlight the matter, a spokesman for the five clubs, Derek Hussey, presented a nine-point document requesting help from the council and also criticising it for "lack of interest and initiative".

Mr Hussey said the clubs felt that the council had acted in a discriminatory manner towards the sport in this particular area by not providing the proper facilities required for participating in such a sport, yet at the same time, had bent over backwards to facilitate the local GAA Club in Castlederg in its request for a suitable ground.

50 YEARS AG0/1957

Riot at 'Rock' film in Fintona

SEATS were smashed and torn from the floor in the Pavilion Cinema, Fintona, when the film 'Shake, Rattle and Roll' was screened. At the beginning of the film, the audience were asked to refrain from stamping their feet and clapping to the music, but they continued to do so more noisily. When the music from the sound tract was turned down to its lowest the noise and interruptions continued, and a number of youths jumped up and down over the seats shouting and singing to the music of the film.

Police were present at a showing of the film on the following night but no incidents occurred. This was the first 'rock' film shown in Fintona.

Warned against evil papers

"WHAT does your Sunday reading consist of? Does it consist of papers which tell you of the doings of the Church at home and abroad, or do you, under the very patent deception of looking at crossword puzzles or sport, buy the worst filth produced in England and spend your Sunday reading about divorces and the filth and evil the worst cities of England can produce?"

This question was asked by the Bishop of Derry, Most Rev Dr Farren, in the course of his address to the parishioners of Killyclogher after he had administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 181 children of the parish.

Urging the people to take swift action at the first sign of a weakening of their faith, Dr Farren said, "These things do not happen in a flash. The change from good to bad comes slowly. It is for you to act swiftly at the very beginning and I would ask you now, on the Confirmation of your children, to examine your outlook in life and the impact which the world of today is making on you."

75 YEARS AGO/1932

Disastrous Dromore fire

AS a result of a disastrous fire which broke out in Church Street, Dromore, two houses belonging to Joseph Muldoon, and occupied by William Curran and James McGartland, were completely destroyed, while an adjoining house was extensively damaged. Strenuous efforts on the part of the police and townspeople were made to stem the flow of the flames.

About 10.30pm smoke was observed issuing from the first floor windows of the house occupied by James McGartland by two neighbours who immediately raised the alarm. The police were notified, and Sergeant Gibson, who was on patrol, immediately proceeded to the scene. Mr McGartland was absent in Belfast, and Mrs McGartland had gone out for a walk.

By the time the alarm was raised and a crowd gathered, McGartland's house was well alight. The door was burst in, and many willing helpers formed bucket-chains from the pumps and from the stream that runs at the rear of the houses to assist in extinguishing the blaze. In less than an hour the flames spread with astonishing rapidity, fanned by a north-east wind, and soon it became evident that two of the houses were doomed.

Child's body found in bog

A STARTLING discovery was made by a man named W.J. McCaughey of the Castlederg district. He was working in a bog in the townland of Lisnacloon, Castlederg, cutting turf. Reaching about three feet deep, his spade came into contact with human remains.

On investigation, Mr McGaughey unearthed the remains of a child, which appeared to be four or five years of age. The body was much decomposed. The matter was reported to the police, who brought the remains to the morgue.

100 YEARS AGO/1907

Refused use of courthouse

IN the House of Commons, T.W. Russell asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that the High Sheriff of Tyrone had refused the use of the Courthouse at Clogher for a concert in connection with the National Foresters' Society, on the ground that the purpose was political.

Mr Birrell: I have referred this question to the High Sheriff of County Tyrone, who informs me that he has received an application from a Nationalist band for the use of the Clogher Courthouse for a concert, and has refused it on the ground that the concert was to be held for the promotion of party politics.

Judge's stern rebuke

DURING the hearing of an English divorce case, one of the parties was questioned about one of the cooks previously employed in his house, and replied that he could not remember the name of this particular cook.

"We had so many cooks," he said. (Laughter).

"One Christmas, the cook was drunk as well as the lady of the house." (Laughter).

The judge sternly rebuked some of the public present, and threatened to clear the court.

"How people can be so ill-mannered as to laugh at this painful matter I cannot imagine," he said.

"It upsets me and horrifies me. This is a most painful case, and ladies at the back of the court burst into laughter when they hear that the cook was drunk at Christmas. I am perfectly ashamed."

– NIGEL McDONAGH