25 YEARS AGO/1981
Tension rises as Loyalists protest
TOWNS and villages throughout Tyrone – as in the rest of the Six Counties – became strained with tension as plans were being drawn up by Loyalist leaders for a campaign of action against British security policy. The threat by the Rev. Ian Paisley, the DUP leader, to make Northern Ireland "ungovernable" has heightened feelings among the community, and many people have become even more apprehensive by the appearance of "private Protestant armies" on the streets.
Omagh DUP Cllr Ivan Foster addressed a crowd of 600 Loyalists who marched in military style to the War Memorial in Enniskillen. Mr Foster said that the Enniskillen men were ready to act in defence of their heritage and their homeland.
"Our fathers were successful. With God's help we shall maintain that which they courageously preserved for us," he said.
British may be sued over bridge
AGHYARAN Cllr Denis McCrory, a member of Strabane District Council, has joined the protests at the action of the British Army in blowing up a bridge in his area.
Donegal County Council is seeking compensation of £50,000 from the British government for the blowing up of the bridge, jointly owned by the Northern and Southern authorities.
The bridge, linking Sixth Corgary on the Northern side with Meenbog townland, in Co. Donegal, is on an unapproved road between Castlederg and Donegal Town. It is understood the action was taken by the army unit on the instruction of the RUC, which has overall responsibility for security, without prior consultation between London and Dublin.
50 YEARS AGO/1956
Concern at spread of disease
CONCERN over the prevalence of bovine cysticercosis in the county was expressed at Tyrone Health Committee. Bruce Morgan, County Sanitary Officer, reported that a total of 58 bovines, out of 461 slaughtered in the Dungannon abattoir, and 12 bovines out of 191 slaughtered in the Omagh abattoir were found on examination to be affected with cystercerecus bovis. In each case localised lesions were present, which were confined principally to the external and internal masseter muscles, the interior of the heart, occasionally the diaphragm or thick skirt, and the cervical or neck muscle.
In each case after condemnation of the affected part, arrangements were made for the carcasses to be placed in cold storage.
Football fans found road blocked
SCORES of motor vehicles conveying Tyrone supporters home from the Dr Lagan Cup Gaelic football match between Tyrone and Monaghan at Cavan found, after crossing the Monaghan border, their way blocked by a huge tree which had felled across the main road in 'No Man's Land', midway between the Irish and British Customs posts near Aughnacloy.
The tree fell about 100 yards from where the post on the Northern side had been blown up the previous week. Passengers on the first cars to be held up managed to trim the tree branches with penknives sufficient to make room for vehicles to pass on the footpath.
Police from Aughnacloy later arrived and with red lights directed traffic along the footpath. Luckily there was not much traffic on the road when the tree fell. Incidentally, rampant Tyrone beat Monaghan by 1-13 to 0-4 to reach the final of the Dr Lagan Cup.
75 YEARS AGO/1931
Motor mishap near Ballygawley
WHILE a Belfast businessman, accompanied by a chauffeur, was proceeding from Omagh to Ballygawley in a saloon motor car, both had a miraculous escape. Opposite Greenhill Demense, about one and a half miles from Ballygawley, when on a level portion of the road, without any warning, the steering gear broke.
The car immediately swerved diagonally across the road, mounted the raised grass margin, and jumped the water channel onto the footpath with the front left wheel. The axles were also bent, the woodwork and glass of the car completely smashed, and the chassis damaged, the engine remaining intact.
Both gentlemen escaped without the slightest injury, save a little scratch sustained by the driver from a splinter of glass.
Man's suicide in Liverpool street
A DRAMATIC sequel to a separation summons occurred at Liverpool, when a marine fireman named John Quinn, aged 37, publicly protested and cut his throat in the street.
The man and his wife Catherine had just returned from the police court, where the woman had applied for a separation order, and the case was adjourned for a fortnight. On reaching their home, which is in Dickson Terrace, off Soho Street, the man went into the street and calling to a little girl, "Fetch a policeman," he pulled a razor from his pocket and drew it across his throat, making an ugly wound.
He died before he could be conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, a short distance away.
100 YEARS AGO/1906
An Omagh burglary
A RATHER daring burglary was perpetrated in the house of Bernard Duffy, an engine-driver, residing in Orchard Terrace, Omagh. While Duffy and his wife were out for a walk his house was broken into from behind, and some locked-up drawers in a room upstairs broken open and rifled; £20 in gold is missing: £4 in notes were found lying in the backyard, apparently dropped by the thief in his hurry to escape.
The matter was reported to the police, and a number of the Constabulary were engaged for the greater part of the night investigating the matter, without the slightest result.
Child found in Paris church
A STRANGE discovery was made by a lady in the Church of Notre Dame des Victories. Before making the sign of the cross she dipped her fingers into the stoup, but with a start withdrew them hastily. She had touched the body of a baby girl only a few weeks old. The child began to cry loudly.
The lady picked up the infant, and found pinned to her garments a note running as follows: 'Abandoned by the child's father. It is impossible for me to bring up the little one as I would wish. Please see that she is baptised Simone Arlette. Born in Paris, October 21, 1906. Care for her well; love her. God will reward you.'
The father's wish was carried out instantly, the curate, who was in the church, performing the baptismal ceremony. The little girl was then sent to the Foundling Hospital, where she will remain unless her relatives come to claim her. – NIGEL McDONAGH
