Bygone days

April 24 2003

Horror crash claims three lives

THREE men died when the car in which they were travelling struck a wall on Beechvalley Road at the junction of Manse Road and Windmill Road, Dungannon, on Easter Sunday. They were Barry Martin Colin McDonald (20), of Dunavon Heights, Dungannon; Neil Morrow (20), Drumglass Way, Dungannon, and John Paul Reilly, Sycamore Drive, Enniskillen.

The funeral took place of a former chairman of Cookstown District Council who served for 24 years on the local authority. Victor McGahie, who was 85, died suddenly at Sperrin Court, Cookstown. He was an Ulster Unionist councillor and had represented the Ballinderry area.

A new £16.9m extension to Antrim Area Hospital to enable acute provision for the Mid-Ulster area was given the go-ahead.

Police renewed their appeal for information about the murder of a Dungannon taxi-driver, a year after the man’s death. Brian Henry McDonald, known as Barney, was murdered in Donaghmore on April 17 last year.

A storming second half performance and four stunning goals helped Tyrone book their place in the Allianz National Football League final. They defeated Fermanagh 4-11 to 1-11.

Deaths: April 20, Maria (Iny) Clarke; April 17, Victor Morrison McGahie, formerly of Ballymaguire, Stewartstown.

25 Years Ago

April 21 1988

‘War’ declared on hospital plan

COMMUNITY activists in Mid-Ulster and north and east Antrim officially declared war on a health board plan for a new £40 million area hospital. Three MPs, Ian Paisley, William McCrea and Roy Beggs, unveiled part of the battle plan to overturn an 11-year-old decision by the Northern Health and Social Services to site its area hospital in Antrim.

Unipork, Northern Ireland’s biggest bacon producer, launched a strong challenge against Dutch and Danish imporsts in an effort to recapture a sizeable slice of the local market.

A 22-year-old man escaped a murder attempt at Ballyronan. Police said a device exploded under the man’s car at 7.30am. It went off under the passenger seat when he turned on the ignition outside his home. The man, who has no connections with the security forces, was only slightly injured.

The congregation of 1st Magherafelt Presbyterian Church was celebrating 250 years of worship and witness.

Sperrin Metal Products Limited, Draperstown, received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement. The company which was celebrating its 25th anniversary, employed 60 people. Almost 55 per cent of its total production was sold outside the UK.

Rev Dr Ian Paisley, Moderator of the Free Presbyterian Church, officially opened a new church in Cookstown.

Robert Dunlop was much fancied for the top honours at the Cookstown ‘100’ but he was expected to face difficulty with push starts in the Unlimited race. Other leading contenders included Brian Reid, Philip McCallen, Phelim Owens and Mike Swann.

Deaths: April 17, Hannah E. (Nina) Allen, Ballinasollus, Cookstown; April 7, George Ashfield, Hillhead Road, Castledawson; April 19, Margaret Hogg, Stewart Avenue, Cookstown; April 13, John Smyth, Magherafelt.

50 Years Ago

April 20 1963

Easter blue skies

WITH continuous heavy rain over all parts of Northern Ireland on Sunday, the weather made a remarkable recovery and Easter Monday turned out to be the best day of the year so far, with blue skies and warm sunshine.

County Derry Health Committee are still undecided as to whether or not domestic water supplies throughout the county should be fluoridated.

A South Derry family, Mr and Mrs James O’Neill and their three children, were rendered homeless when fire destroyed their thatched farmhouse at Dunglady, Upperlands.

Dungannon Rural Council instructed their architect to prepare plans for the 20 new houses at the 150-year-old Granville village as a first stage in the provision of a new model village. It will be a satellite of Dungannon 1.5 miles distant.

Michael McSwiggan, the Rainey Endowed captain, gave another sparkling display for Ulster schoolboys in their 21-6 win over Munster schoolboys at Ravenhill.

Deaths: April 13, Martha Bell, Drumnaglough, Cookstown; April 14, Margaret Matilda Crawford, Hamilton Road, Bangor; April 9, Alexander Crawford, Mullaghboy, Magherafelt; April 15, Mary Freeman, Church Street, Cookstown; April 12, James May, Victoria House, Tobermore; April 8, Mary J. Mills, Rocheville, Cookstown; April 13, Lydia McAteer, aged 7.5 years, Mousetown, Coalisland; April 13, Alexander Payne, Coolsara, Desertmartin; April 15, Luscinda Sampson, Tullygare, Cookstown; April 14, Margaret Scott, Annaghmore, Castledawson; April 11, Thomas Sonner, Fairhill Road Cottages, Cookstown.

75 Years Ago

April 16 1938

Hospital deputation

A DEPUTATION was appointed from Cookstown Board of Guardians to interview the Ministry, who had not acceeded to the Board’s request for a hospital to be built at Cookstown. The members on the deputation were the Chairman, Senator Duff, JP, Mr William Leeper, DL, and Michael Early.

Mr William Henry of the Maghera Milk Recording Association, was awarded the Belfast Co-operative Society Cup for his herd of four cows which averaged 11,749lbs of milk and 463lbs of butter fat in the lactation period.

At a special meeting of Magherafelt Presbytery, Mr John Winchester and Mr Matthew Elliott were ordained as elders of Knockloughrim Presbyterian Church.

At a meeting of Magherafelt Technical School Committee, Miss Shiels, BSc, of Knocknakielt, Maghera, was unanimously appointed botany teacher at the school.

At a meeting held in Coagh, football enthusiasts in the area decided to run a Coagh and District Summer Football League, and to put up the Elliott Cup for competition. Appointment s made in connection with the League were: president, Mr J.P. Duff; vice-president, Dr A. Brown; hon secretary, Mr W.D. Duff; hon treasurer, Mr A. Hickie.

Deaths: April 8, Elizabeth Carson, Oughterard, Rock.

OLD photographs are welcome and can be left at our Magherafelt office, 14 Rainey Street, telephone 028 79631780 or email [email protected]