6.4.2000 News from Wigan

News Report Archive 6th April 2000

RAPE TRIAL HALTED

The trial of a former Athletics coach who faces allegations of raping schoolgirls has been sensationally halted after he collapsed in court.
Paramedics were called to Bolton Crown Court at 2pm on Monday when George Kirk, 76, of Roundmoor Road, Standish collapsed with a suspected heart attack.
The case involving several clams of rape and indecent assaults, was to begin just minutes later.
Recorder Anthony Gee QC, adjourned the proceedings until later in the week when the court will receive an update on the defendant's health before deciding how to proceed.
A spokesman at Bolton Royal Infirmary said Mr Kirk's condition was "stable".
Staff were alerted to the emergency by one of Mr Kirk's two daughters. They found him ashen faced and with no use of the right side of his body. His pulse was very faint.
Kirk is the former coach of all girls running group the Eagles, based at the old Woodhouse Stadium, Beech Hill. the allegations against stretch back as far as the 1970s and 1980s. It is not the first time the case has been adjourned. Kirk has failed to turn up numerous hearings because of ill-health. Just last week the trial had to be put off because he did not appear in court.

MAN IMPALED ON SPIKED FENCE

A Golborne man fell from a drainpipe and was impaled on a fence after trying to break into his own home when he lost his keys.
Philip Corrigan, 44, was attempting to get to an upstairs window at his Heath Street house during the early hours of Saturday morning when the drainpipe he was holding during the climb gave way. Mr Corrigan tumbled backwards and became impaled on his wrought iron fence, with a four-inch long ceremonial spearhead completely embedded in his left buttock.
His condition is today described as stable at Wigan Infirmary and emergency staff have spoken of how lucky he was to have survived the accident.
Neighbours alerted the emergency services after hearing his terrified screams. One said, "I heard this noise, looked out of the window and couldn't believe what I was seeing...it was a horrible accident, the type you wouldn't wish on anyone."
Ambulance staff administered painkillers and set up a drip to prevent Mr Corrigan going into shock while still impaled. Then specialist cutting equipment was used to free him. It was eventually decided to cut the fence away with the 'spear' still embedded in Mr Corrigan and for it to be removed under surgery at Wigan Infirmary.
Green watch sub officer Derek Pooley, who oversaw the operation said, "This was a delicate operation but I m glad to say that it went well. Although he was obviously in agony he was very brave and didn't make a lot of fuss. I would say that in my experience he should count his blessings because I can't think of another part of the body that could safely take a full four inches of spear without it being life-threatening."

ROTTWEILER KILLS YORKSHIRE TERRIER

A Wigan man has told how his girlfriend's tiny Yorkshire terrier was killed by a Rottweiler.
Mechanic Derek Ainscough, 19, was getting ready to go out for a meal celebrating girlfriend Lisa Livesley's birthday when he spotted the beloved pet being grabbed by the rottweiler on school fields immediately behind her home on Redbook Road, Ince. He picked up a garden rake, leapt over the fence and chased the snarling dog away from the crushed body of the dying Timmy, as the screams of terrified young children and onlookers rang out across the Britannia Bridge Primary School site.
A vet later confirmed that Timmy had had his spine snapped in half and suffered horrific internal injuries in the rottweiler's powerful jaws.
The rottweiler's owner, Anthony Hill, 30, of neighbouring Winifred Street, Ince, admitted two charges under the dangerous dogs act when he appeared before Wigan magistrates last week. He will appear again for sentence on May 17th.
Derek, who works at Lathom Van Hire, said, "I picked up the rake and jumped over the fence and I shouted at the rottweiler to leave Timmy alone. It looked at me and then backed off and I could see that Timmy was still alive although he was in a bad way. There were some children nearby, I would say they were five or six years old, they were screaming. It was an upsetting thing for them to see."
Eighteen year-old Lisa'a parents Tony and Jacqueline Livesley have been deeply shocked by the incident at the back of their home.First Manchester bus driver Tony bought Timmy as a present for his wife eight years ago describing the terrier, like so many of his breed, as a fearless character and an 'irreplaceable' pet. He is too upset to buy another dog.
Tony added, "It wouldn't be so bad if we had had an apology because then I would have put it down to fate and left it at that, but we haven't had so much as a single 'sorry'. There have been two other occasions when this rottweiler has come onto my land and squared up to Timmy but fortunately on both those occasions I was there and when I shouted it took off.
"But this time, Timmy slipped through a little hole in our fence and, being scared of nothing, like all terriers, he would have gone straight up to the rottweiler. It was very upsetting when Derek brought him back inside the house. He was shaking and he had no use of his back legs. He was trying to get up. He looked at me, you could tell he knew it was the end. That is something none of us ever want to go through again."
The owner of the rottweiler, Tyson, has hit back at the criticism saying his pet had been grossly misrepresented.
Anthony Hill said, "I can't believe all this devil dog business--he's just a great big teddy bear as anybody around here will tell you."
Wigan magistrates heard last week that Britannia Bridge school headmaster Mr Hugh Carey evacuated his school playground after Tyson, Mr Hill's three year-old dog, came bounding and barking up to the 3ft 6ins high school yard perimeter fence- as well as attacking little Timmy.
But Mr Hill insists that he has always denied that Tyson represented any danger to the public and could produce "loads of witnesses" to prove it. However, because the case has already been adjourned three times previously he decided to admit the allegations to bring matters to a speedy conclusion. But he claimed, "There is no way on earth this dog is a danger to anyone. He's very well known around here and I am always getting kids knocking on the door asking if they can take him out because he is totally soft.
"I know some rottweilers can be nasty but it is just not fair to paint them all with the same brush. This dog is great with kids and when my sister comes round with hers they spend all the time pulling at him and playing with him and he never complains, he's great with them all."
Mr Hill said that he was sorry if Tyson had inflicted fatal injuries on neighbouring Yorkshire terrier Timmy, but he hadn't witnessed the incident so he didn't want to comment.

MOTOWN STAR DROPS IN FOR CRIME FIGHT

Pupils at Golborne High school dazzled Motown singer Edwin Starr with their 'war on crime' performance.
The 10 minute show is Wigan's entry in the On the Beat 2000 finals, an event organised by Greater Manchester police, aimed at reducing crime.
Soul singer Starr demonstrated his commitment to young people by re-recording part of his famous song 'War' for pupils to use as part of their production's soundtrack.
The school has won the preliminary heats in Wigan and will be performing War on Crime in the finals at Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.
Edwin Starr could not make it to the finals so the students decided to stage a private performance just for him. The show highlights the evils of car crime, excessive drinking and drug pushing and demonstrates how to combat it.
Headteacher Steve Turner said, "On the Beat 2000 has presented our pupils with a marvelous opportunity to work closely with each other as part of a team, to understand the true meaning of co-operation and to have a really enjoyable time preparing for the competition. It has also raised their awareness of crime and the fact that they can make a difference to tje community in which they live."

EYESORES TO BE REMOVED

These three semi-derelict houses adjoining Hindley's Monaco Ballroom in Atherton Road have become an increasingly incongruous addition to Wigan Council's showpiece public hall.
Since a car parts business vacated thr ground floor of the houses almost eight years ago, it's windows have boarded up and plastered with fly-bills and obscene graffiti.
Ward councillor Alf Robinson has fought a long battle to get the buildings refurbished or removed, but has found his calls falling foul of the Hindley Conservation Area status which protects the area against the bulldozer. But this week councillors could finally signal curtains for the eyesore. The policy and resources (land and property) sub commitee will discuss three options. These include:
i)Demolishing one of the houses but rebuilding and refurbishing the other two as offices and storage facilities for the booming Monaco.
ii)Selling one of the homes and retaining the other two.
iii) Demolishing all three and then landscaping the entire house.
Coun Robinson commented, "I am delighted that something concrete is now going to happen with these buildings because they are a real eyesore which is dragging the area down. I've had many complaints over the years about tyhe state of disrepair they have fallen into, but the situation has been complicated by the Conservation Area status.,br>"Speaking on behalf of the leisure department, I would like to see two of the houses retained and used for the Monaco because the hall has never been busier. It's now being used from dinnertime until late at night every day by all members of the community, with everything from tea-dances to shows and concerts."