From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 18, 1977

From the pages of the Down Recorder, January 18, 1977

18 January 2017

BALLYGOWAN — The next two weeks will prove tense for the Rev Adam Stewart as he waits to see if he will be allowed to stay with his Ballygowan congregation.

Mr Stewart, who was cleared on Saturday of stealing £789, has said that he is anxious to resume his ministry. But he will have to wait until a meeting of Presbyterian officials next month decides if he will be allowed to remain in Ballygowan, where he has been minister for 30 years.

The Rev Stewart’s acquittal ended a gruelling four-day ordeal for him as he fought to prove his innocence during his trial at the Northern Ireland winter assizes in Downpatrick.

He was charged with stealing the money from Mr Malcolm Dinnen, a handicapped member of his congregation, who had died.

Mr Stewart was said to have found the money in a trunk in his bedroom when he was looking for some means to trace Mr Dinnen’s relatives.

However, during five hours in the witness box Mr Stewart asserted that he had always intended passing the money on to the dead man’s sister.

In the end the jury of nine women and three men found him not guilty by a majority verdict after taking some two and a half hours to reach their decision.

DOWNPATRICK — A famous Downpatrick band, which broke up almost seven years ago, is taking the first major step back on the road to recovery tonight.

St Patrick’s Silver and Reed Band, formerly one of Ireland’s most distinguished, has been reformed and at a special annual meeting tonight it will plot its new life.

Band members have already been putting in several months of practice and they made their first public appearance when they led carol singing in Downpatrick town centre during Christmas.

Their last public appearance was at the Ulster GAA football championships in 1969 and when they disbanded several months later the news was greeted with disbelief.

One man behind the drive to put the band back on the road is Hugh Smith, who is renowned for his versatility on the big bass drum.

“A band is a must for Downpatrick,” he said during a break in a practice session. “It is imperative we get back to what we were. We are confident we will again get the support of the townspeople.”

CASTLEWELLAN — An extraordinary ruling by Northern Ireland’s Chief Electoral Officer has deprived the Castlewellan area of a voice in local government affairs for the next five months. The situation has only arisen because the previous councillor, Mr Seamus Fitzpatrick, died during the Christmas holidays.

According to law, the Chief Electoral Officer, Mr R Kerr, must be officially notified of a councillor’s death before he can del car that a vacancy exists in any constituency. By the time Down Council officials were able to get a letter to Mr Kerr it was January 3 and that was too late because this is an election year.

One section of the electoral legislation states that if a vacancy in a constituency occurs after January 1 in an election year it must remain unfilled until the elections.

So voters in Castlewellan will have no successor to Mr Fitzpatrick. Although he died on Christmas Eve, council and Post Office holidays meant that Mr Kerr could not be informed in writing before the January 1 deadline.

Mr Kerr has since informed the council that his ruling is that the vacancy did not occur until after January 1 and so cannot be filled before the elections in May.

The reaction of councillors was predictably one of disappointment. “I take great exception to the fact that the people in the area will be disenfranchised for a period of up to six months,” the council chairman, Mr Eddie McGrady, said.

BALLYNAHINCH — Ballynahinch’s long wait for a modern community hall is nearing an end with the news this week work on designs has started.

Architects employed by the South Eastern Education and Library Board are to plan the complex which will include a multi-purpose hall, swimming pool and youth club facilities.

The decision to start work was taken after a number of meetings between Education Board officers and officials Down Council and has been welcomed by the council’s recreation committee.

Mr Paddy O’Donoghue, chairman of the recreation committee, said the news was a welcome development and he pointed out that it was the first occasion that the Education Board had co-operated closely with councillors.

DUNDRUM — A Dundrum councillor is to boycott future planning discussions in Down Council because of what he has called “buck passing” by the planning authority.

Mr Jarlath Carey announced his intention to boycott the discussions on Monday night when he saw that an application by Dundrum Sports Committee was not on the schedule for consideration.

“I don’t know just what to do,” Mr Carey said. “What is the point of raising the matter with the planning authority? They don’t seem to get anywhere.

Mr Carey told councillors he was promised a decision on the Dundrum application for recreation facilities in January. “It is now January and there is no decision,” he said.

MOURNES — The RUC mountain rescue team, under the leadership of Sgt McLean, was called to rescue four sheep that were stranded on a ledge between the Ben Crom and Bernagh mountains on Saturday evening. The team rescued the sheep and returned them to their owner, Mr Terence O’Hanlon, of Moyadd Kilcoo.

PIKESTONE — Downpatrick detectives are investigating a robbery of a considerable sum of money from the home of an elderly couple at the Pikestone, outside Downpatrick. A number of men forced their way into the house, tied up the man and forced the woman to sit on a chair as they ransacked the home.

KILLYLEAGH — Killyleagh senior citizens were the guests at the first meeting of the New year of Killyleagh Women’s Institute. A variety of items were staged by members. Music was provided by Mrs Carnaghan and Mrs Turley.

LISTOODER — Listooder and District Ploughing Society held its annual dinner dance and prize giving in the Drumkeen Hotel, Belfast, on Friday. More than 300 members and friends attended the function, with music provided by the Tennessee Ramblers.

Mr James P Kirk, president, presided at the presentation of prizes, which was carried out by Mrs F Musgrove. During the course of the evening two new cups were presented to the society for competition at next year’s ploughing match. These were from Mr Basil Reid, Ballynahinch, and Messrs Rodgers, Saintfield.

CROSSGAR — A record sum of £341.42 has been forwarded to the Earl Haig Poppy Fund from the Crossgar district. The honorary organiser and treasurer would like to express to the general public, schools, churches, youth organisations and especially the loyal band of collectors their sincere thanks and appreciation for their efforts in making this excellent contribution possible.

SAINTFIELD — Despite the adverse weather conditions almost 600 head were on offer at the weekly cattle sale held by Saintfield Livestock Mart Ltd £500, which is the highest priced for some weeks, was recorded when a choice calved Dexter heifer was sold by R Patterson, of Drumalig.

PORTAFERRY — There’s still no change at the top in the Portaferry and district darts league with the top three all recording emphatic wins.

Cinema Bar registered a 9-1 win over struggling Sailing Club, while Leprechaun A maintained their bright start with a 7-3 derby win over their B team. Coach Inn stayed close behind the leaders with a 7-3 win over visiting Slip Inn.