Outstanding footballer whose career was blighted

(A slightly edited version was first published in the Irish Times October 18th 2014)

Hugh ‘Dick’ Doherty – born May 5^th 1921, died September 29^th 2014

Hugh ‘Dick’ Doherty, who has died in his home town of Buncrana, Co Donegal, was believed to be oldest surviving former Glasgow Celtic player. He also played with Blackpool at the time when they were one of the strong sides in the old English First Division. His career never flowered as it should due to World War Two, bad luck, and injury.

In the summer of 1939, Celtic’s chief scout was on holidays in Ireland. He saw the teenage Doherty, then with junior club Buncrana Celtic. The scout never spoke to Doherty: but, a few weeks later, Celtic wrote offering a trial in Glasgow.

He went over at the start of September 1939. The trial went well: then, on the day he was to sign terms, Britain entered World War Two. For safety, Doherty returned to Buncrana to work with his father. During the war, he played for Derry City, Derry Rangers, and Dundalk.

Then, after the War, he got another opportunity. Several Celtic players were on holidays in Donegal. He played with them in an exhibition match. As a result of his performances, Celtic signed him for the 1946-7 season. He played three games in the old Scottish First Division, and one in the Scottish cup.

Celtic let him go at the end of the season. Blackpool snapped him up. Doherty played outside right. However, Stanley Matthews, then the world’s best footballer, was Blackpool’s regular outside right. Doherty usually only played when Matthews was unavailable.

During one of those games, he injured his knee. Blackpool let him go. After a period of recovery, he signed with Raith Rovers in the Scottish League. In his first game, the knee gave up. That forced return to Buncrana.

Doherty was born in Buncrana in 1921, elder of two sons to John Doherty, a butcher, farmer, and greyhound-trainer, and his wife Madge (née McLaughlin). The family were nicknamed ‘Dick’ Dohertys. He received his education in the town’s National School, then St Columb’s College, Derry, before going to work with his father.

After leaving Raith Rovers, he resumed working for his father - and developing football in Inishowen. When he died, he was assistant treasurer of the Inishowen Football League.

Hugh ‘Dick’ Doherty is survived by his daughter, Deirdre, and sons Denis and Eamonn. He was predeceased by his wife, Eithne, daughter Ann-Marie, and son Anthony.

(An edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday World September 14th 2014)

Pizza box and vomit attracted police

A medical student who had planned to sleep in his car and catch an early-morning bus to Dublin has pleaded guilty at Omagh Magistrates Court to being drunk in charge.

A prosecution lawyer told the court the attention of police was drawn to a car in an Omagh car park when they saw a pizza box on the roof, and a mat covered in vomit at the driver’s door. They found Fearghal James O’Neill asleep in the driver’s seat. He smelled strongly of alcohol and, when tested, was over twice the drunk-drive limit.

A defence lawyer told the court that O’Neill had planned to catch an early-morning bus to Dublin in order to collect a passport. He said O’Neill was a first-year medical student in Dublin. Judge Bernie Kelly imposed a three-month driving ban on 19 year old O’Neill, of Lettergash Road, Dromore, and fined him £250.

(An edited version of this piece was published in the Sunday World September 28th 2014)

Man invented mugging to get benefit

An Omagh man who injured himself falling off a fence when drunk has pleaded guilty at Omagh Magistrates’ Court to wasting police time after he reported he had been robbed by two men. A prosecution lawyer told the court James Duffy later told police he was unemployed. “He thought that if he made up the story he’d get a crisis loan for Christmas,” the lawyer told the court.

The Court heard Duffy had arrived at Omagh Police station in the early hours of December 22^nd last. He was very drunk, bleeding from facial injuries, and bare-chested under a jacket. Duffy claimed two men on bicycles, one with a knife, had robbed him of his wallet on his way home from a pub. Police noted his account kept changing. Despite alleging he had been knocked to the ground, his clothes were neither dirty nor wet. However, the following morning he took a police photographer to the alleged crime scene.

Police later interviewed the manager of the bar where Duffy had been drinking. The manager said he had seen another man try to lift Durry over a high fence round the smoking area. Both men were very drunk, and the other man pushed Duffy too hard.  Duffy fell off the fence and suffer was injured by landing face-first on a hard surface. Duffy had left his clothes on the ground, and the manager gathered them up.

Within 24 hours of reporting the mugging, Duffy apologised to police for concocting the story. A defence lawyer said Duffy should be given credit for his early plea of guilty. “At the time, he was impecunious and on benefit,” the lawyer said.

Twenty-eight year old Duffy, of Clonmore Gardens, Omagh, was given a two-month suspended sentence. Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter ordered him to pay £1,034.17 costs incurred by police in the investigation.