From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 2, 1978

From the pages of the Down Recorder, May 2, 1978

2 May 2018

CASTLEWELLAN — Surgeons from Downe Hospital fought a successful four-hour battle to save the life of a Castlewellan man ambushed by gunmen on Monday.

Phil Harrison, a 34 year-old forestry worker at Castlewellan Forest Park, was rushed to hospital in the early hours and was later reported to be recovering after an emergency operation. Mr Harrison, who is married with two children, has wounds to his abdomen, arms and legs.

The incident happened just after midnight on Monday. Mr Harrison had returned home in his Land Rover and was checking that the doors were locked when several gunmen opened fire from a distance of about 30 yards.

Between eight and ten shots were fired and it is believed they came from an Armalite rifle and a sawn-off shotgun. Mr Harrison lay bleeding for some time before he was found by his wife, Joan. A 999 call was made, requesting police and an ambulance.

It is believed in some quarters that the gun attack was sectarian, but police have not yet established a clear motive.

The attack brought strong condemnation from several local councillors. Mrs Ethel Smyth said she had been sickened to hear of the shooting and called on the council to condemn it.

“It is very said that people living in isolated places can be subjected to such cowardly attacks,” she said.

Mr Eamonn O’Neill said the shooting had been a “very cowardly deed”, adding: “I would ask the council to deplore this continuing violence which our country is plagued with, from whatever source it comes.

Mr Paddy O’Donoghue said he deplored the attack and Mr Eddie McVeigh said it has been a “foul act”.

STRANGFORD — A man who broke his neck in a car accident near Strangford last Thursday is recovering in hospital.

Mr Phillip Ellis received the injury when his car struck a concrete gate post at Tullyratty. He was taken to Downe Hospital but was later transferred to Mugrave Park Hospital in Belfast.

BALLYNAHINCH — The smoke nuisance at the Ballynahinch home of garage owner Gerry Rice has been solved at last — but Mr Rice is far from happy.

“I have had to take the law into my own hands to get this situation resolved,” an irate Mr Rice said at his Carlisle Park home.

“I am far from happy with the situation. In fact, I am disgusted and through the Ombudsman I maybe taking action against Down Council.

Down councillors heard this week that the council’s public health inspector, Mr Frank Nixon, had inspected the house and found that Mr Rice had put solid brick in behind the chimney. Mr Rice told him that he was satisfied that the smoke nuisance had abated.

Mr Nixon also visited the house next door and was satisfied that Mr Rice had not caused any structural damage to the house.

Mr Rice said that a Belfast firm had carried flue repairs to his chimney last week. “I would suggest that it is the only house in Carlisle Park that has a proper flue,” he remarked.

DUNDRUM — The 74 year-old woman whose body was recovered from Dundrum Bay at the weekend had moved into a new home in the village just three days earlier.

It was revealed this week that Mrs Maria Stewart had moved from her cottage home at Annadorn, where she had been school caretaker, to a new home at Curragh Close, Dundrum, only last Wednesday.

Her new home was one of a group of dwellings under the guidance of a warden employed by Health and Social Services.

Mrs Stewart went missing on Friday and police and villagers carried out a widespread search. A UDR boat patrol was called in anther body was recovered on Sunday. Foul play is not suspected.

ARDGLASS — The first moves were made this week in a campaign to win new library facilities for Ardglass. With the backing of many villagers, local councillor Cecil Maxwell is to put the matter before the South Eastern Education and Library Board.

“With the increase in population in Ardglass I think it is time the people had a library of their own, Mr Maxwell said. “At the moment they have to travel to the library in Downpatrick. This is totally unsatisfactory and inconvenient for them.

Mr Maxwell said that people in Ardglass would be happy with either full or part-time facilities. “Just as long as they have somewhere close where they can borrow books,” he said.

“Library facilities would also be a boost for the large numbers who come to the village over the holiday periods.”

DRUMANESS — Youngsters from the Drumaness Youth Football League have won their battle with Down Council to have their playing fields reopened.

Hundreds of youngsters, together with their parents, picketed the village’s Recreation Hall last Wednesday night when several councillors and council officers were in attendance.

Placards calling for the pitches to be reopened were the order of the day as the youth league showed their strength in a last-ditch bid to make the council see sense.

As expected, the meeting proved stormy with the youth league officials putting forward their case in no uncertain manner.

But it wasn’t until the next day that a satisfactory arrangement was made between Mr Herbie Cranston, the league’s organiser, and Mr Leonard Lawson, from the council’s technical services.

ANNSBOROUGH — Local politicians have called on the Department of Education to speed up its efforts to acquire land in Annsborough for the development of new playing fields.

The Department has ben trying to acquire the site for a considerable time and more recently has been preparing a vesting order for the land.

However, this has been delayed and although a Department spokesman assured Down Council that the vesting order would be issued shortly, councillors called for the process to be speeded up.

SAINTFIELD — With plans for this year’s Saintfield Show to be finalised later this month, organisers have announced that there will be prizes in four different lists of events.

In the agricultural section there will be over 100 classes for agricultural horses, hunters, breeding and young stock, ponies, donkeys, cattle, sheep, goats and novelty events. 

The home industries section will have 101 classes for baking, handwork, knitting and flower arranging.

Other competitions will include show jumping and dog obedience tests. Indeed, some of the show jumping events will be used as qualifier rounds for the Dublin Show, so competition is expected to be keen.

Another big attraction at the show will be the £100 special prize to be presented by the British Simmental Cattle Club for the best cross-bred Simmental in the show and reserve.

PORTAFERRY — Some people seem to be born lucky — particularly if they are born into the Thompson family from Portaferry.

A member of the family has just won a price in the Premium Bonds, making it the 30th time that a Thompson has won a bond in the draw.

“My daughter, Mrs Mary Hamilton, of Clabby Road, Fivemiletown, has just won £25,” said Mr James Thompson, of Ferry Street.

“It was her fourth win. I have already won nine times and other members of the family have made up the rest.

“I am afraid to say that we have yet to win the big one. We have never won more than £50.”

KILLINCHY — Killinchy Young Farmers hold the first of their summer outings on May 10. All members are asked to be at Killinchy Crossroads for 7pm sharp. 

The club would like to send their best wishes with Glynis Connery when she leaves on May 13 for a five-month tour of Canada.

SPA — Members of Spa Young Farmers’ Club held their annual seed-time service in 1st Ballynahinch Presbyterian Church on Sunday. The service was conducted by the Rev J Lamont and the lessons were read by Betty Young and Noel Sufferin.