Author name: highlandnews

  A 31 year old Slovakian man has been charged with the murder of Ashling Murphy. Jozef Puska of Lynally Grove, Mucklagh, Co. Offaly appeared before a special sitting of Tullamore District Court last night. Kacey O’Riordan reports from Tullamore: Shortly after 8pm last night, Jozef Puska was brought before Judge Catherine Staines. He’s charged

  The National Public Health Emergency Team will meet today to discuss easing restrictions over the next few weeks. Health officials will make recommendations to Government ahead of a Cabinet meeting tomorrow. Taoiseach Micheál Martin told a meeting of his Parliamentary Party last night the country is now well beyond the peak of the Omicron

  The Letterkenny and Derry Chambers of Commerce say 2022 will be a crucial year for the North West City Region. Chambers on both sides of the border have met to discuss their shared priorities for the North West over the course of the coming year. The meeting comes as the Chambers submit their joint

Operations at Killybegs harbour will be disrupted this evening as Fórsa members at the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority take part in a 24 hour work stoppage from midnight. The action, by 110 inspectors and clerical staff, will affect operations at six sea fishery harbours across the country, including Killybegs. The action is in response to

12,138 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening. 6,843 positive PCR tests have been reported along with 5,295 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal. 52 Covid related deaths have been reported over the past week.

The security alert in the Galliagh Park area of Derry has now ended. A suspicious vehicle in the area was examined but nothing untoward was found. It follows a report of a vehicle being hijacked in the Bracken Park area of the city around 9pm last evening. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the hijacking

A second man has been arrested in connection with the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy. The 23 year old teacher from Offaly was laid to rest yesterday. Gardaí have arrested a man in his 30s for potentially withholding information relating to the investigation into the murder of Ashling Murphy. He is being questioned

  Cabinet has given the go-ahead for an extra Bank Holiday on March 18th this year. It will move to St Brigid’s Day from 2023. Ministers also approved a once off, tax free € 1,000 bonus for frontline healthcare workers who were in Covid exposed clinical settings.

People aged 16 years and over are being reminded to get their Covid booster vaccine. Anyone who has had their primary course of the vaccine is now eligible for a booster. In a statement Damien McCallion, HSE Lead Vaccination Programme, said: “Nearly one million people have had a COVID-19 booster in the last 4 weeks.

  There were 34 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. Five people were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 29 were waiting on wards. Meanwhile the number of patients with Covid-19 at the hospital has dropped to 45. There are two patients with the virus in ICU.  

A police operation is ongoing this morning in the Galliagh Park area of Derry. It’s understood that the operation is centred on a white van parked in the residential area. The security alert follows a report of a hijacking in the nearby Bracken Park area of the Galliagh estate last night. A number of homes

  Local authorities in all coastal counties have been told they must keep dogs off their their Blue Flag beaches if they want to maintain the coveted international award. Dogs, apart from assistance dogs, are already banned from the country’s 93 Blue Flag bathing areas under the strict criteria set down by the Foundation for

  A man in his 30s remains in Garda custody this morning over the murder of Ashling Murphy. He was arrested at a Dublin hospital yesterday, where he was being treated for a number of injuries. Gardai investigating the 23-year-old’s death arrested the man on suspicion of the murder at St. James’ Hospital yesterday. He

A woman arrested in Derry by police investigating the activities of the New IRA has been released pending a file to the Public Prosecution Service. The 36 year old was questioned about the discovery of a suspect device in a parked car. It was found in the Creggan Heights area of Derry in September 2019.

11,683 new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening, 5,767 through PCR tests and a further 5,916 positive antigen tests registered through the HSE portal yesterday. As of 8am today, 979 patients were in hospital with Covid 19, 93 of them in ICU. Latest available figures for Legtterkenny University Hospital show 49 infected patients,

It’s emerged that gritter services have been withdrawn from the Ballymagroarty area of Derry until further notice following an attack on Monday evening. The gritter was pelted with stones, but the driver was not injured. Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan described it as a disgraceful attack on someone going about their job to make the

The stretch of the N15 which had been closed between Laghey and Ballintra since yesterday afternoon has now reopened. Two people were seriously injured in a collision at Coxtown near Laghey yesterday afternoon at around 4.15 ; a technical examination of the road has taken place today.

There are 4,081 new cases of Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. Six people have also died from the virus in the latest 24-hour period. 412 Covid patients are in hospital, with 28 in intensive care. Over 3.6 million vaccines have been administered in the North.

Gardai have received a report from a farmer in the Ballybofey area in relation to a number of sheep that have been killed on his land in recent weeks. A number of his sheep were killed over the course of a few days and investigations are ongoing into the matter. Lambing season has begun and

Gardaí investigating the fatal assault on Ashling Murphy have arrested a male in his 30s on suspicion of murder. The male is now detained in Tullamore Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. Earlier today, the 23 year old was laid to rest following a funeral mass attended by the President,

  Advertising signs have been damaged in the Kilmacrennan area. The incident is believed to have happened at Ballykeeran in the early hours of yesterday morning. Shortly after 2.20am, Gardaí were alerted to the fact that an advertising sign in a trailer along the roadside at that location was on fire. Upon their arrival at

The Health Minister says he wants Covid restrictions lifted at the earliest possible opportunity. Stephen Donnelly said he wouldn’t speculate on what NPHET will decide after its meeting on Thursday. There’s hope in Government health officials will recommend an easing of restrictions around hospitality and live events.

  A technical examination is due to be carried out on a stretch of road between Laghey and Ballintra following a serious crash yesterday afternoon. Gardai say that the road is expected to stay closed until later this afternoon. Gardaí and emergency services attended the scene of the two vehicle collision which occurred at Coxtown

  It’s been revealed that there are currently over 2,650 derelict dwellings in Donegal.   The latest report from GeoDirectory also shows that 385 new residential address points  in the county were added to its database last year. The report has also found that a further 574 residential buildings were under construction in the county in Q4

  Police have seized approximately £20,000 worth of drugs in the Strabane area over the last few weeks. A number of drug related operations have resulted in 11 arrests, 13 people reported to the PPS, and six vehicles seized. Police are continuing to appeal to the community to report any suspicious activity to 101.

  An investigation is continuing into a crash near Dunfanaghy yesterday. The collision between a car and a tractor happened at Casey Glebe, Dunfanaghy at approx. 12.10pm. The driver of the car was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital to be treated for injuries which are not believed to be life threatening. Gardai are appealing to