25 YEARS AGO/1983

Police baffled after 'motiveless' murder

POLICE hunting for the killers of a 36-year-old Omagh father of four were baffled as to the motive for the attack.

It was established, however, that at least two weapons – an Armalite rifle and a shotgun – were used in the killing of the man, an agricultural contractor.

The man had no connection with the security forces, he had been carrying out work with his tractor and hedge-cutting equipment.

At around lunch-time he left the farm and a short time later his tractor was found in a hedge about a mile and a half along Striffle Road. The man's body was slumped backwards in the cab, and it is believed that he was shot in the back of the head.

Local man's 'tagging' scheme aims to beat salmon-poachers

A NOVEL scheme devised by an Omagh man to stamp out illegal salmon fishing is being carefully studied by EEC officials, as well as by the fisheries authorities here and in the Republic.

Donal Mullan, from Arvalee, who is chairman of the Protection Association for Wild Species, has been working on the scheme - which involves the use of tags -- for the past two years. He had outlined his proposals to officials of the Fisheries Departments in Belfast and Dublin, and they were so impressed that details of the scheme have now passed on to the EEC authorities.

50 YEARS AGO/1958

Omagh protest meeting against railway closure

"ALL of us are very much interested in perserving the railway and would deeply regret to see it go, but more protest is not enough we ought to make it our aim to see that the railway receives not only the fullest support from ourselves but also encourage our friends to use the facilities and thus ensure the survival of the line of which we all proud."

This was stated by the Duke of Abercorn HML presiding in the Town Hall, Omagh at a meeting of rep-resentatives of public bodies when protests were made against the possibility of the closure of the line.

A resolution unanimously adopted expressing the hope that the UTA would maintain the line in he utmost efficiency and economy and that it would do everything in its power to ensure the rention of a vital transport link in the Counties Armagh, Tyrone and Derry,

Dregish student ordained at Maynooth College

AMONG students ordained to the Priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, recently, Rev. James J McGee, BA, BD.

A son of Mr William McGee, Dunteague, Omagh, and the late Mrs McGee, Fr McGee received his early education at Omagh Christian Brothers' Schools and at St Columb's College, Derry, before going to Maynooth.

He celebrated his first Mass in the College, and he was assisted by Rev. P. McGee, PP, VF, Huddersfield and Rev. M. McHugh, CC, Strabane.

75 YEARS AGO/1933

Womans tragic death

AN inquest was held in the Courthouse Omagh, touching the death of an elderly woman whose body was found in the Drumragh river earlier in the day.

A son of the deceased identified the body as that of his mother.

As far as he knew she was worried about a number of small debts which she owed, but otherwise she apparently was in good health.

Capt. Fyffe (Coroner) - How did you know she was worried about these debts?

Witness - Some months ago i paid a small debt for her, over which he had been worrying.

Capt. Fyffe - Did she make any threat to you to take her own life?

Witness - My wife told me that she threatened to drown herself about six weeks ago.

Three caught making poteen

Three Gortin men appeared at the Licensing Court in Omagh after being caught making illicit poteen. Seargent Partridge told the court he visited Altocomcosy mountain along with another policeman at two o'clock in the morning. They found ten gallons of 'singlings' in a creamery can and apprehended one man and recognised another male who ran from the scene.

The seargent told the court, "The steam from the still was rising like a cloud of smoke, and when it was clearing off we rushed into the place."

The judge concluded, "Poteen making is becoming a regular traffic in that part of the world."

The owner of the land was fined £5 while the other men were penalised £15 each.

100 years ago /1908

Visit of the Elster- Grime Company

The celebrated Opera Company paid their annual visit to Omagh this week and provided the music and opera lovers of the town with the opportunity of witnessing some finely presented operas including Maritana, The Bohemian Girl, Paul Jones, Carmen and Les Cioches de Corneville, that were never given to the town before. Les Cioches de Corneville was certainly well worth seeing for a high order of merit was strikingly displayed in the leading parts by talented professionals who have won no little fame as artistes of exceptional power.

Sad accident in Tyrone

A sad drowning accident is reported to have occurred at Derrycorry near Moy. The victims were two lads named William and Edward Cullen belonging to Moy. It seems that the unfortunate boys were crossing Derrycory Moss at the time. An inquest was held at Kinson on the following day and a verdict of accidental drowning was returned.

John Street rowdyism

Following a row in John Street in Omagh a complaintant said both men were fighting and knocked each other down. While on the ground both were kicking and did their best to kill one another. He never saw a more disgraceful conduct in Omagh. One man resisted when arrested and attempted assault witness.

Asked as to the defendant's character, the complainant said he was all right except when under the influence of drink.

When he took drink he was a very bad character – in fact a dangerous character.

The other man resisted the efforts to take him home, but eventually succeeded in getting him to go.

Defendants were fined 5s each.