2014 is drawing to a close but it’s not quite time to say out with the old and in with the new just yet.
Instead, it’s the right time to look back over the past 12 months and discover what the most popular stories and galleries on The Courier website were last year.
Whether it was angry scenes on the stump or running battles for bargain TVs, 2014 was an unforgettable year.
1) Drivers urged not to pay private parking fines.
This story from March was our most popular story of the year by a country mile. Motorists across the UK took heart from claims that tickets issued by private parking firms are “unenforceable”.
2) Black Friday chaos closes supermarket.
Black Friday is an import from the US but has now arrived in the UK and this video – an apparent amalgamation of riotous scenes at one Dundee branch of Tesco and another supermarket – shows how some shoppers went crazy for sale items. The video was viewed more than 50,000 times on our website in a single day.
3) “It’s horrendous” Highland Perthshire gamekeeper’s plea after thieves kill golden lab puppies This heart-breaking story is less than a month old but was the third most-read on our website this year. Thieves stole six puppies and left three dead behind them after raiding Kennels in Killiecrankie.
4) Fife man faces crippling costs after motorbike he sold was involved in fatal accident When Fife man Paul Duffy sold his motorcycle he forgot to cancel his insurance. A few days later the bike’s new, uninsured, owner was involved in a fatal accident leaving Paul to foot the bill.
5) Furious scenes as Jim Murphy’s 100 Streets in 100 Days tour hits Dundee The independence referendum was the story of the year in Scotland and this video shows tempers reaching boiling point in Dundee as Jim Murphy MP rolled into town to try to defend the union. Any story about the independence referendum attracted fierce arguments below the line.
6) Supermarket shoppers’ response to carrier bag charge Asda be seen to be believed By now, everyone is used to that annoying moment when you realise you have forgotten a carrier bag and will need to pay for a new one. But when charges for carrier bags were first introduced one Dundee supermarket had to attach electronic tags to its baskets to stop shoppers walking out with them.
7) Man in court accused of burning dog to death in Kirkcaldy woodland Another tale of animal cruelty: this time how Alastair Graham appeared in court accused of burning a dog to death. He was eventually sent to prison for 45 months.
8) Basket cases on the rise after introduction of carrier bag charges Yet more carrier bag-inspired craziness about the lengths people went to in order to avoid paying for carrier bags.
9) Facebook troll behind bars after claiming he killed missing Fife man Allan Bryant Sick internet troll Stewart McInroy admitted sending a message to the father of missing Glenrothes man Allan Bryant Jr claiming he had tortured and killed his son.
10) Man facing second winter in car after escaping neighbour problems The internet forgets nothing, which is why this tale of a man forced into drastic measures to escape a dispute with his neighbour was our tenth most popular story of the year, despite being published in October 2013.
11) Roof collapses during Olympia swimming pool demolition When metaphors attack: this story about things going dangerously wrong during the demolition of the old Olympia swimming pool made a splash online.
12) Amazing moment as mum finds out her son is a secret Dundee student and is about to graduate You never need to look far to find bad news stories. This tale, on the other hand, was a real heartwarmer as Rhonda Blair discovered her son Liam had been living a double-life – and was about to graduate from university.
13) Expectant mother-of-two says inability to use computer has left her without cash for food or heat Welfare cuts including the so-called “bedroom tax” have been hot topics all year. In this story, we revealed how pregnant mum-of-two Angela Foley had her benefits docked because she did not know how to use a computer programme supposed to help her find a job.
14) Fined Dundee driver tells court he’ll pay in coppers Former motorcycle champion John Leech believed his find for running a red light was an injustice and so protested by attempting to pay his £120 fine in 1p and 2p pieces. The money was refused – but he won plenty of support online.
15) Doctor advises boy to stay at home because Grove Academy is ‘unable to control’ pupil A story that struck a chord with parents and pupils alike: schoolboy Jack Hogarth suffered so much at the hands of bullies at school that his doctor said it would be bad for his health if he was made to go back.
16) “Like a pack of wolves” trouble flares ahead of Dundee United v Aberdeen game The bad old days of football hooliganism are mostly over but Dons fans caused chaos on their last trip to Dundee.
17) ‘We do not have to give a reason’ DUSA defends action after video of bouncer refusing entry goes viral Once upon a time a bouncer just had to say “your name’s not down, you’re not getting in” or “I don’t like your face” and all you could do was trudge home alone like a two-bit Morrissey. Now, mobile phone cameras are enabling disgruntled punters to fight back, like Dundee entrepreneur Jamie Shankland did here.
18) Sixth years suspended over leaving day mess at Auchmuty High Pupils at this Glenrothes high school celebrated the end of their school days by staging a mini-riot.
19) BBC 5 Live struggled to find enough No voters for Dundee independence debate Ah, the heady days of early September when there was a referendum in the air and strangers used the opportunity to bark at each other online while hiding behind pseudonyms. Glorious times. And the two sides came together to thrash out the issues in Dundee. There was only one problem: not enough No voters could be found in Scotland’s Yes City to balance the audience. Remarkably, this is only the second referendum-related story in our top 20.
20) Man detained after woman suffers serious injuries in Kirkcaldy Job Centre incident A huge police presennce at this incident sent thousands of readers to The Courier website to find out what was happening. In picturesOur photo galleries are a popular feature of the website and these five proved to be the cream of the crop this year.
1) Rewind Festival campers get into the 80s groove We may look back and cringe at some 80s fashions, but the Rewind festival is always an excuse to dress up and party. Our photo galleries from the event are always hugely popular.
2) Inside JD Wetherspoon’s revamp of Jolly’s Hotel in Broughty Ferry The transformation of Jolly’s Hotel in Broughty Ferry hit the right spot with our readers.
3) Spittal of Glenshee Hotel devastated by fire It took firefighters three hours to put out the blaze at this remote hotel. Our gallery revealed the full extent of the damage.
4) The crowds at T in the Park 2014 The final T in the Park at Balado was as popular as ever – as were our photos of crowds at this year’s events.
5) Dundee Race for Life at Camperdown Park Around 3,000 people took part in this year’s Race for Life, which raises money for Cancer Research UK. Even more people checkout out our gallery of photos from the event.