THE ARCHIVES

100 years ago

It will be good news for thousands of households that the Government is moving in the direction of securing Germany’s approval of a large exchange of prisoners. No one who has read the sufferings of our men in the enemy’s hands and of the delight of those men who have had the good fortune to be liberated would raise any objection to an exchange even in favour of Germany if the enemy insisted upon an exchange on that basis. A beginning should be made with blind and disabled prisoners.

50 years ago

Two men charged yesterday with taking and driving away a car were acquitted – because the car had no engine. They also denied stealing parts of the car. A spokesman for the defence said: “This car was not a motor vehicle. It had no engine and would not be able to move under its own power.” The owner of the 1960 Ford Anglia said she parked it near her home after it broke down, and the engine was taken away for repair. One accused said they towed it away because they thought it was abandoned.

25 years ago

A historic second successive win in the Eurovision Song Contest left Ireland with a potential multimillion-pound hangover after a night of celebrating. The rules of the competition oblige the winning country to stage the following year’s event – and that could lead to problems for the Republic’s statebacked broadcasters RTE. Orchestrating the spectacular – at a converted show-jumping arena in the Cork town of Millstreet – was the most expensive venture entered into by the Irish network.

One year ago

Communities in the eye of an ash storm have lost trust in Scottishpower, according to a local MSP. As well as a raft of measures to dampen the ash lagoons, the energy giant has offered people who have suffered weeks of dust clouds a window cleaning and car washing service. But MSP Shirleyanne Somerville said: “A goodwill gesture is not enough.” A Scottishpower spokesperson has apologised for the dust lifts from the lagoons used to store waste from Longannet power station.