FLOOD CHAOS IN SOUTH WEST

SOUTH West Scotland was on flood alert last night after being battered by 70mph gales and torrential rain over the last 36 hours. Rivers across Dumfries and Galloway burst their banks and coastal towns were battered by huge seas. And last night Dumfries and Galloway Police said they were bracing themselves for severe flooding a at the midnight high tide. The Whitesands at Dumfries was swamped in the afternoon by floodwater from the River Nith and and Dumfries Police spokesman said: “We had to get all the cars off the car parks there as the waters came over from the river. The area is now closed and we are expecting worse flooding during the night. “The strong wind is also causing problems and the high tides are causing a lot of flooding.” SEPA said that heavy and prolonged rainfall over the next 24 hours and was causing severe problems and given that catchments are already saturated and river levels remain high, there iwas a risk of flooding from watercourses across the area. There was also serious flooding from the Kirkcroft Burn, a tributary of the River Dryfe, in Sibbaldbie near Lockerbie and the Rivers Annan, Esk, Dee, Urr and Cree all burst their banks flooding tens of thousands of acres of farmland. The main A75 Gretna – Stranraer Euro-route was badly hit by surface water and there were numerous minor accidents caused by the flooding. Dozens of minor roads in and around Dumfries, Lockerbie and Annan were impassible except for tractors and heavy goods vehicles. Police toured the A74M Glasgow – Carlisle motorway linking Scotland and England trying to get drivers to cut their speed. A Police spokesman said: “The surface water is causing us severe problems and we have had extra patrols out all day. We are tying to get drivers to slow down and take care.”

ROCK DEATH FAI AT KIRKCUDBRIGHT

AN INSTRUCTOR with the Abernethy Trust said she would not have used a gorge jump where a 15-year-old girl plunged on to rocks.

Helen Bollister told a fatal accident inquiry at Kirkcudbright into the death of Laura McDairmant of Wetherall, Carlisle, that she had raised concerns about the gorge jump at the Black Loch, near Newton Stewart.

And she said under cross examination by an agent with the Health and Safety Executive that if she had been in charge she would not have used the large jump which was around 30 ft.

“I would have asked for a technical adviser to look at it,” she said.

Laura plunged on to rocks at the Galloway beauty spot in  July 2006 while on an adventure holiday at the Aberneth Trust's Barcaple Outdoor Centre at Ringford, near Castle Douglas.

The girl died at Dumfries Infirmary 24 hours after the accident from brain injuries caused by cardiac arrest when she arrived at the hospital and also injuries from her fall on to rocks.

Miss Bollister, who said she had previous experience as a senior instructor, said she raised her concerns in 2005, a year before the accident to Laura. She had been with a group of six or eight when they went the Black Loch, near Newton Stewart, for gorge jumping in 2005.

She said that she had jumped from the first and smaller jump at the Grey Mare's Tale burn but she had not jumped from the second and larger onoe where the drop into the gorge was about 30 ft.

"I did not jump from the high one because I was scared. I jumped at the bottom pool but at the big one I had some concerns about the rocks at the bottom. I swam across the pool at the bottom because I wasn't sure about the rocks at the bottom of the jump and I wanted to make sure," she said.

She added: "What I was concerned about was how far you had to jump out. I was a little bit concerned but you couldn't tell from the bottom. I just wanted to check out how far you had to go out and to see if it was safe."

However, she said she was confident about the way the session was being run by the man in charge, Richard Farrell and went on: "If I thought t was not safe then I would have raised the issue. Once I saw the first one jump I was re-assured. I did not make my concerns known with Richard at that time because I didn’t want to undermine his authority.

"I was concerned about the step at the top of the jump and how people had to jump out. There was a little bit of a step down to where the people had to jump. You had to be careful that people did not slip on the approach."

She added: "My reason for going to the top was to  carry out a risk assessment for myself.  Having gone up to see for myself, at the end of the session I was still not entirely convinced."

She said she was not happy about what happened if someone didn't jump out and said they were really required to jump or they would fall and hit the rocks below.

Miss Bollister said she had raised her concerns with the chief instructor when they got back and although he sort of agreed with her, he was not overly concerned.

After being questioned about a statement she gave to police, Miss Bollister said had told them that the chief instructor was not happy with Richard using the big jump.

But she added: “My concerns related to the geography and layout of the second and larger jump and not to the way Richard was dealing with the children.”

The inquiry is continuing.

 

 

 

'NEWS' OFFICE TO CLOSE

AILING newspaper group Trinity Mirror is to close its only office in the Stewartry. 

They have confirmed that the Galloway News Office at Castle Douglas on the Station Yard site will close and staff are expected to move to Dumfries by September.

It is the latest in a series of cutbacks and closures over the past year at Trinity Mirror titles across the country.

They say the lease on the Galloway News site in Castle Douglas will not be renewed and staff will be transferred to Dumfries.

It will be first time in the 151 year history of the paper that they will not have an office in the Stewartry which is the circulation area of the 'News'.

Like many other titles the News circulation has been dropping over the past couple of years

Around eight staff work at Castle Douglas.

The group has also announced the closure plans for a number of offices across Scotland.

CLIFF BOY SURVIVES 120ft FALL

A 10-YEAR-old boy had a miracle escape on Sunday after plunging 120 ft down a cliff face on the Solway Firth.
The 10-year-old from Warminster in Wiltshire  badly bruised leg as well as cuts and bruises after slipping and falling at Castlehill Point, at Rockcliffe, about five miles south of Dalbeattie.
The boy had been out walking with his mother when he slipped and rolled down the the grassy cliff face before hitting rocks on the bottom half.
A massive rescue operation began after the boy's mother was able to alert the emergency services.
A Rescue 177 Royal Navy Sea King helicopter from Prestwick, Kippford Lifeboat, two coastguard teams, police, and paramedics were called out. Doctors were also flown in to treat the boy.
The boy was seriously injured and had to be stabilised and winched to safety before being flown 25 miles to Dumfries and Galloway Royal INfirmary.
When the emergency services arrived the boy was found to be within a small cove to the east of Castle Point and appeared to have sustained serious injuries.
A Coastguard spokesman said: "Due to the inaccessible location, the casualty was treated by Paramedics and Doctors and stabilised before being moved by the CRTs to a more accessible area on the beach.
"He was then winched into Rescue helicopter and taken to DGRI for further treatment.
The area is popular with tourists but Coastguards have warned about the dangers of the cliff faces which rise to more than 150 feet in place.
Liverpool Coastguards co-ordinated the rescue and a spokesman said: "The boy was very lucky but he appears to have been seriously injured. In many cases people are not so lucky when they plunge so far."
A spokesman at DGRI said the boys condition was stable.

TEENAGER DIES IN HORROR CRASH

A TEENAGER who was killed in a horror crash on the A75 was due to make his debut with a local amateur football team this weekend.

Danny McQueen, who was a rear seat passenger in the car, was a promising footballer and was due to make his debut with Terregles Amateurs, a Dumfries Youth League side.

Also in the crash were two other Terregles U17 side Jamie McGarry and Chris McLauchlan who are being treated in hospital for extensive injuries.

Their match against Dalbeattie Star due on Sunday was called off after news of the horror crash.

The Terregles coach, Stephen Bowie said: "We decided whenever we heard about the tragedy. There was no way we could play it and we're grateful for the Youth Association and Dalbeattie for agreeing to this.

"It was a terrible accident and tragic for all those people and their families."

He added: "Danny had been away on holiday but was back and due to play at right back tomorrow. He looked and was due to play to make his debut for us.He had plenty of place and looked promising.

"We don't know much about the condition of the other two boys who also played for the club. No one wanted the game to go ahead after this."

The teenager who died was in a Honda car which crashed early on Saturday morning.

Four of his friends are in hospital after the crash on the notorious A75 Gretna - Stranraer Euro-route.

Dumfries Police said that the four other injured youths were off a similar age.

Two of them are fighting for the lives after their Honda Civic went out of control and careered along the road near Douievale, just east of Collin Services, Dumfries, around 1.45 am on Saturday.

The car with the five young men from the area, careered along the road, overturned, hit two trees before coming to rest in te middle of the road.

It left a trail of debris for more than 50 yards before coming to rest.

Passing motorists rushed to help and called the emergency services including two units from Dumfries and Galloway Fire and Rescue Service along with the emergency rescue vehicle.

They had only a mile to travel to the scene of the crash where they helped release the trapped driver and assist the injured.

But the 16-year-old from Lovers Walk, Dumfries, was found to be dead and two others were badly injured. Two others were less seriously injured.

After treatment at the scene all four were taken a mile to Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.

A Dumfries police spokesman said: "Two of the men are very seriously ill in hospital. Unfortunately one of the passengers died."

Firefighters had to use cutting equipment to free the dead and injured.

The road was closed for 12 hours as police accident investigators carried out enquiries and diversions were set up on the busy route.

Later in the day a number of the injured boys' friends visited the hospital. One of them said: "Everyone is shocked by Danny's death. He was a popular young lad and we are all just stunned by the news."

The youngsters had been out for the night and were returning to Dumfries. They had just come off the Collin bypass, the only dual carriageway stretch on the 10-mile Euro-route when the accident happened on a straight section of the road.

Dumfries fire station manager Gordon Peacock said: "We had two pumps and the emergency rescue vehicle at the scene for some time. They helped free the driver using cutting equipment and assisted at the scene with the casualties along with the paramedics and police.

"It was a very nasty incident and a difficult one. We worked with the paramedics to ensure the driver was released but it took a bit of time."

A police officer who was at the scene added: "It was a very serious accident. Only one vehicle was involved in the crash and it was fortunate that no other vehicle was involved or it could have been even worse."

KEEGAN FINED AND BANNED

FOOTBALL star Kevin Keegan has been banned from driving for six months.
The former England manager was also fined a total of £800 by magistrates yesterday (THUR).
Keegan, 57, was given the ban at Carlisle Magistrates Court when his points tally reached 12 and he was banned under the totting up process.
The football legend who address was given as  Hale, Altrincham, near Manchester, was caught speeding near Carlisle.
He was 'clocked' by a police road safety camera on near Carlisle on August 27 last year.
He pleaded guilty to travelling at 36mph in a 30mph limit on the A69 at Corby Hill.
At a previous sitting of the Court magistrates heard that the former international soccer ace, who also managed the England side and was with Newcastle United last year, already had nine points on his licence.
Keegan, who did not appear personally in court, was awarded an OBE, It was stated in court that he had attended a very stressful meeting at Newcastle United Football Club and his head had been in turmoil. It was also
 statement - described in court as being from his partner was read out to Carlisle Magistrates which said: "He had just come out of a very stressful meeting with Newcastle United Football Club and his head was in turmoil.
Keegan said the A69 was a very difficult road in terms of speed restrictions because it continually changed.
He moved into management at Newcastle United in 1992, again returning the club to the top-flight, as champions. After promotion, Keegan's Newcastle finished in second in the First Division in 1995–96, before leaving the club in 1997. After a spell at Fulham, he took charge of the England team in 1999 but resigned in the autumn of 2000, following a loss against Germany in World Cup qualification.
He then took over as manager of Manchester City in 2001 and spent four years at the club before resigning in 2005.
He had been out of football for almost three years when he returned to Newcastle United for a second spell as manager in January last year but this lasted only eight months and he resinged last September after days of speculation regarding a dispute with the club directors.
Keegan won three First Division titles, two UEFA Cups, two FA Cups and the European Cup at Liverpool and also gained his first England cap in 1972.

£450 FINE FOR CITY PLAYER

A COURT has heard how a former Santos player's football career is in tatters after he admitted assaulting a referee.
Jean Ferreira, 28, received a serious injury when he was playing in Italy, which had ended his professional career.
Although he played for East of Scotland Premier League side Edinburgh City after partly recovering from his injury he became a qualified referee and hoped to take up a career as a whistler.
But last May as he played for City in an East of Scotland Premier League match against Dalbeattie Star at Islecroft Stadium, he snapped and attacked whistler Alistair Aitken.
Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court heard how Mr Aitken from Annan, Dumfriesshire received a burst lip, swollen side of the face and a loose tooth after the incident at Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie.
Mr Aitken was in charge of the and after a foul midfielder Ferreira was called over by the referee who is a brother of Queen of the South star Andy Aitken.
He was punched in the face by Ferreira and fell to the ground before being helped by players and officials.
Ferreira of Royston Avenue, Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to assaulting Mr Aitken on May 22 last year by punching him on the face, causing him to fall to the ground and striking his head on the ground.
At his last appearance the Brazilian claimed the referee had called him 'a wee foreign bastard' and this had provoked him. But the Crown refused to accept this and a hearing was fixed so that evidence could be led.
But yesterday (FRI) Ferreira's agent, Ray Mixon said he now fully accepted that it was not the referee that had made the remark. He had now been told that it was not Mr Aitken and he accepted that Mr Aitken was completely innocent.
The Court was told that Ferreira was being called over by the referee to be 'red carded' after a foul when he attacked Mr Aitken. Mr Mixon said that although the accused had thought it was the referee who made the remark, he accepted that he should never have done this.
"He said he had turned round to give the referee his number, bent down to tie his lace and when he heard the remark, he thought it was the referee and reacted.
"He was taken to the dressing room where police were called and his last remarks to the officers were that he had not been able to apologise to the referee," said the agent.
He added that Ferreira had been a professional player in Brazil with Santos and was a qualified referee. He had gone to Italy where he received a severe injury and had trained as a chef.
Mr Mixon said: "Ferreira has no previous convictions and had never been sent off in his career. He is a qualified referee but he has been banned by the SFA until the end of 2010 which has put his life in tatters.
"Not only was the offence out of character but he accepts it was totally unacceptable. His life has been badly affected because he cannot take part in football."
Sheriff Kenneth Robb said there was no getting away from the fact that this was a serious assault. "If you had thought he had spoken about you like this, there were other avenues to follow.
"I take into account the effect this has had on your football career and I'm satisfied that this offence can be dealt with by way of a fine," said the Sheriff.
He told Ferreira the fine would £450 although it would have been £600 if he had not pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

FIRE HITS DUMFRIES GOLF CENTRE

POLICE are probing a fire at a top golf course which caused more than £100,000 worth of damage. Specialist golf course equipment was destroyed in the blaze at the Pines Golf Club on the outskirts of Dumfries. The green keeper's shed at the golf centre was found ablaze in the early hours of morning. Two loud bangs woke people in the vicinity and passing motorists raised the alarm. Dumfries and Galloway Police are appealing for any witnesses to the incident, which they say they are treating as suspicious. Police say the blaze was severe and firefighters from Dumfries just managed to prevent the flames spreading to nearby woodlands. Detective Constable Stephen Bell said: "There were two large bangs heard in the area around 0230 GMT and local witnesses contacted police and fire staff. "The extent of the fire was severe and we are lucky it did not spread to the nearby woodland area." DI Bell said investigations were currently ongoing to establish the cause of the blaze. He added: "The damage caused is believed to be in excess of £100,000. "That is a huge amount in any means and it will take a great deal of work to repair or replace the damaged equipment." He said officers were keen to speak to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident or witnessed any suspicious behaviour." The Pines Golf Centre includes an 18-hole golf course, a floodlit driving range where the resident pro is Richard Smith. * MEANWHILE Police at Stranraer are probing a fire which claimed the life of a 62-year-old man in the town. The man was found in a house at Fairway and died soon after. Police say that their initial investigations suggest that there are no suspicious circumstances to the death. Police say the name of the dead man will be released once all family members have been notified.

ARMSTRONG WINS GALLOWAY HILLS

From Bob Geddes Dalbeattie

RALLYING

JOCK Armstrong of Castle Douglas won the Armstrong family sponsored Galloway Hills Rally based at Castle Douglas yesterday (SUN).

Driving a borrowed Subaru Impreza, Armstrong , partnered by Kirsty Riddick from Haugh Urr, raced to victory over the five-stage event. They finished more than three minutes ahead of second placed Donnie MacDonald/ Neil Ewing (Mitsubishi Evo 9) from Inverness.

Third place went to Craig McMiken and Christine Sanderson from Newton Stewart, also in a Mitsubishi, who were only eight seconds behind McDonald.

Defending champion, David Bogie from Dumfries dropped out on the third stage after crashing off at the same bend as Armstrong. But Armstrong, who was only seconds in front of Bogie at this time, was able to get back on to the road with the help of spectators and raced to an easy win.

As usual there was a strong challenge from Northern Ireland with almost 30 crews out of the total entry of 70.

The McHarg International Challenge award for the first team of three from the same country went to Scotland with Armstrong, McDonald and McMiken taking the trophy.

RESULTS:

1, Jock Armstrong/Kirsty Riddick (Subaru Imreza) Castle Douglas 49min21sec; 2, Donnie MacDonald/Neil Ewing (Mitsubishi Evo 9) Inverness 52.36; 3, Craig McMiken/Christine Sanderson (Mitsubishi 9) Newton Stewart 52.44; 4, Richard Dickson/Sandy Dobie (Subaru Impreza) Dumfries; 5, Shaun Sinclair/Chris Hamll (Mitsubishi Evo 6) Oban; 6, David Wilson/Warwick Wilson (Mitsubishi

FIGHTING PLAYER IN COURT

A REFEREE has refuted claims that he made a racist remark at a player he was red-carding.

Referee Alistair Aitken from Annan was punched in the face as he was about to red card Brazilian Jean Ferreira during an East of Scotland Premier League match.

Jean Ferreira, 27, of Royston Place, Edinburgh, has admitted assaulting the referee but claimed he only slapped the whistler who had called him a foreign b.......

Procurator fiscal depute Bob Morrison told Sheriff Kenneth Robb that the accused had been disrespectful and claimed he had been called a ‘wee foreigner.

Mr Morrison said the referee had denied the accusation and had again written to the Court saying he did not make any remark.

 Sheriff Robb has ordered special hearing to take place at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court next January.

The Sheriff said that as the two versions from the Crown and the accused were quite different, a proof in mitigation would be appropriate way of dealing with it.

The Court heard that the whistler was left with a burst lip, swollen side of the face and a loose tooth after the incident at Islecroft Stadium, Dalbeattie in May when Dalbeattie Star were playing Edinburgh City.

The fiscal said Mr Aitken was refereeing them match when he called over City midfielder Ferreira with the intention of red-carding him. But he was punched in the face by Ferreira, fell to the ground and was then helped by players and officials.

Ferreira had been ordered to appear personally in Court after pleading guilty by letter to assaulting Mr Aitken at Islecroft Stadium, by punching him on the face, causing him to fall to the ground and striking his head on the ground.
Police were called to the ground during a night game on May 22 this year and the accused was detained and interviewed. He claimed that he had got the ball in a normal tackle. Mr Morrison said Ferreira claimed he had slapped the referee after he had been disrespectful and called him a 'wee foreigner.'
Ferreira told the Sheriff: “I know I did something wrong and not have hit him. I was angry and hit him. I was kept in the dressing room and was not able to apologise to the referee. My team mates told me later that it was not the referee but someone from the other team.”
Sheriff Robb deferred sentence and called for reports to be prepared on the accused.

Colin McRae and son dies in Helicopter crash

Police have confirmed that rally driver Colin McRae and his son were among four people killed in a helicopter crash near his country home.

Ben had been at the McRae house playing with Johnny shortly before the crash, Strathclyde Police said.

The helicopter came down within the grounds of the family home in Jerviswood, near Lanark, at about 4.10pm on Saturday.

Colin McRae's father Jim, who was also a racing driver, issued a statement on behalf of the family saying: "It is unbelievable that Colin and Johnny's lives have been taken so prematurely and in such a tragic manner.

"Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie. Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty."Our thoughts are also very much with the families of Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan."

Ben's parents issued a statement saying they were "absolutely devastated" at the loss of their "charming, fun-loving and caring wee boy".

Chief Superintendent Tim Love said witnesses had a described the helicopter making the noise of a "train" shortly before it crashed.

Abune them a

DALBEATTIE BUTCHER IS TOP HAGGIS MAKER

AN Irishman has won the the top award in Scotland - for making HAGGIS.

Butcher Alan Elliot of Dalbeattie Fine Foods in the South West of Scotland didn't know what haggis was until he took over "Cavens" butchers shop in the town three years ago.

The 2007 Haggis Championship was decided in a competition sponsored by Grampian Oat Products held at the Scottish Meat Trade Fair in Perth. The outcome was a win for the South West Scotland Champion, Alan Elliot of Dalbeattie Fine Foods but there is something Irish about that!

The Scottish Haggis champion of 2007 didn't know what haggis was until he took over an existing butcher's business in High Street, Dalbeattie, in Dumfries and Galloway on his 19th birthday in 2004.

Alan comes from Cookstown in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland and had worked in a local butchers business there from the age of 15. On taking on the shop in the town of 4,000 people that was once, a port, bobbin mill and a granite quarrying centre, Alan inherited a haggis recipe that he has since almost totally re-invented.

"I'm really delighted to win this award for haggis is something I just learned about when I came over here," said Alan yesterday (SAT).

The result of his efforts in changing the haggis recipe has paid dividents and it now is a chieftan' aboon them aw. Alan first picked up the South West Scotland title and went on to rise above the other contenders to be acclaimed Scottish Champion 2007.

 Meanwhile another butcher in Dalbeattie, only 100 yards away from the top haggis maker won the South West Scotland award for the best pork sausage.

Scott Carson who has a butchers shop in Mill Street, Dalbeattie, took over the shop from his father Stuart and it was previously run by his grandfather Tom.