Dungannon Herald: All Our Yesterdays

25 YEARS AGO/1996

Sad deaths

WIDESPREAD regret was evoked throughout Pomeroy and the Mid-Tyrone area at the death of John Joseph (Jackie) Lambe, Cavanakeeran, Pomeroy, at his residence, peacefully.

Sincere sympathy is extended to his bereaved wife, Maureen, son, daughters, brother, sisters, brothers-in-law, nephews, nieces and large family circle.

Donations in lieu of flowers to Pomeroy Health Centre.

Meanwhile, the people of Ballygawley and surrounding district were saddened to hear of the death of Francis Lenny of Loughan’s Road, Goan, Ballygawley.

He is survived by his wife, Maureen, brother Edward, and sister, Philomena.

His funeral took place to St Mary’s Church, Aughnacloy for Requiem Mass and burial afterwards in adjoining cemetery.

Pretty wedding

ROMANCE was in the air as Mr and Mrs Aarne Hamalainen tied the knot in St Colmcille’s Church, Carrickmore. The bride is the former Tara Kelly, daughter of Pat and Anna Kelly, Toronto, Canada (formerly from Creggan, Omagh, and Toonebridge).

The matron of honour and bridesmaids were sisters-of-the-bride. The best man and groomsmen were friends of the groom.

Flower girl, Leanne McGurk (cousin-of-the-bride) and page boy was Donal Maloney, cousin-of-the-bride.

The reception was held in Glenavon House Hotel, Cookstown.

Targeted by burglars

ST Matthew’s Primary School, Garvaghy was targeted by burglars in the early hours of the morning.

Classrooms were ransacked and a number of items, and a sum of money was stolen.

50 YEARS AGO/1971

Had gunshot wounds

WHEN a car was stopped near Aughnacloy at 3am, one of the occupants was found to have gunshot wounds.

At a special court in Dungannon, two Coalisland men were each charged under the Special Powers Act with failing to inform the security forces that a person had a gunshot wound.

Sergeant Raymond White, RUC, Coalisland, said in evidence that he had been at a road block at 3am when a car was stopped. There were three men in it, and they were asked to leave the car.

It was found that the passenger in the rear seat was suffering from gunshot wounds. All three men were detained.

The injured man was removed to hospital.

Tar sprayer destroyed

A TAR sprayer, worth between £7,000 and £10,000 was destroyed by a bomb at a Carrickmore quarry.

The blast, caused by an estimated 20lbs of gelignite, was at a quarry owned by John Hadden.

Shortly before 9am, a 20lb gelignite bomb was found at the rear of Phil Madden’s filling station, Lower Main Street, Strabane.

It was rendered safe by an Army explosives expert.

100th birthday celebrations

A PATIENT in the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital, Omagh, celebrated his 100th birthday.

He is Edward Gorman of Eskra, and the birthday boy has been a patient in the hospital for 19 years.

A special birthday cake was baked by the catering staff, and there was a small party attended by relatives, patients, and members of the hospital staff.

75 YEARS AGO/1946

Facing famine death

WHILE no responsible Chinese government representative will give an estimate of the number of Chinese likely to die in this  year’s threatened famine, unofficial estimates say that it is likely approximately 50,000,000 are facing death from slow starvation.

Farming landlords and peasants alike face empty rice bowls this winter.

Death of 102-year-old

THE death has occurred at Drumhirk, Castlecaulfield of Cairns Wiggins, formerly of Loughans, Aughnacloy, at the age of 102. He was engaged in the farming industry all his life, and retained the use of his faculties until the end.

Attacked by cow

W DAVIDSON, Favor Royal district of Augher, has been admitted to Tyrone County Hospital suffering from injuries sustained when she was attacked by a cow she was milking in a field adjoining her home.

Awarded prizes

IN the Great Northern Railway’s ‘Brighter Sessions’ competition, five Tyrone stations have been awarded prizes. They are: Newtownstewart; Victoria Bridge; Dromore Road; Beragh; and Donaghmore.

Destroyed by fire

A HAYSHED, a quantity of flax, and about five tons of straw, owned by Mrs Davison, Dunnabraggy, Cookstown, were destroyed by fire. NFS from Cookstown attended, but water shortage hampered fighting operations.

Military huts disposed

A TOTAL of 34 military huts at Erganagh were disposed of at an auction, conducted by R B Holmes. Prices ranged from £15 to £30.

100 YEARS AGO/1921

Train burned

THE hearing of malicious injury claims was commenced at Omagh Quarter Sessions before County Court Judge Linechan.

The Great Northern Railway Company claimed £4,200 for damage sustained in connection with the burning of a number of waggons and goods, after the morning goods train from Belfast to Omagh, Strabane and Derry had been held up between Pomeroy and Carrickmore.

W Wilson, guard, said that he was in charge of the train in question. The train stopped between Pomeroy and Carrickmore, and a number of armed men held him up.

They ordered him out of the van, and they made an examination of all the waggons. There were about 15 men at the place, and they set some of the waggons alight.

Five waggons and the goods in them were totally destroyed.

Subsequently, witness assisted in detaching the burning waggons from the rest of the train.

Lowry Kyle, engine driver, said that saw two lights on the line between Pomeroy and Carrickmore. A man on the bank fired at him, and subsequently, he saw about six bullet marks on the side of the tank.

He was taken off the train and was kept prisoner while the waggons were being set on fire. Witness added that the men treated him ‘alright’.

Evidence of the damage to the rolling stock and the permanent way was given by Michael Cromin, inspector, and J Wakeman, inspector. A decree for £1,951 was granted.

Flooding woes

CONSIDERABLE flooding took place in many parts of the Clogher Valley district following a heavy downpour of rain, which continued incessantly.