Author name: highlandnews

Executive chair of the SFPA refuses to answer questions about recent court case

  The Executive Chairperson of the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency has refused to comment on the recent court case in Letterkenny at which a Killybegs based fish processor was acquitted on two charges relating to the alleged failure to ensure the accuracy of weighing equipment, by order of the judge who cited a lack of

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PSNI launch safeguarding investigation into Presbyterian Church

The PSNI says people impacted by safeguarding failures in the Presbyterian Church in Ireland will be “heard and supported”. Police in the North have opened a criminal investigation, which the church says it will be cooperating with fully. The church said last week that failings between 2009 and 2022 included situations where it failed to

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Carr welcomes council review of flood plains in Donegal

A West Donegal councillor says he’s hopeful a review of flood plains by Donegal County Council will see more land opened up for housing. Cllr Brian Carr was speaking after a comprehensive review of flood risks in the county was presented to members of the council’s Climate Action and Environment Committee. The committee briefed on

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Briefing sessions to be held on housing grants and supports

A series of public meetings is taking place over the next two weeks to brief people on the various housing grants available through Donegal County Council and other local agencies. Facilitators from Donegal Local Development Company and Inishowen Development Partnership will be at the meetings to discuss the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme, while the

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New cross border support scheme launched for people with mild mental health

A €9.6 million cross-border initiative designed to enable people with mild or emerging mental health difficulties, to access early intervention programmes has been officially launched. CCWP, the Community Connections and Well-being Project will operate on the border counties of the Republic and the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas in the North.

New cross border support scheme launched for people with mild mental health Read More »

Government re-iterates opposition to Mercosur deal

The government has re-iterated its opposition to the Mercosur trade deal. It comes as EU agriculture ministers meet in Brussels to discuss a range of issues, including the controversial trade deal with South America. There are concerns over its impact on Irish beef farmers, despite the European Commission insisting there are safeguards in the deal.

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Nine PSNI officers in Derry and Strabane assaulted over weekend

Nine PSNI officers were assaulted over the weekend in Derry City and Strabane. Three of these incidents happened in Strabane and one in the city which saw officers being kicked, punched, bitten and spat on. Five arrests have been made in relation to these incidents, one person was charged to court for offences including assault

Nine PSNI officers in Derry and Strabane assaulted over weekend Read More »

Omagh Bombing Inquiry being discussed at latest British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting

The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is meeting in Farmleigh House today. Tánaiste Simon Harris and Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan are in talks with Northern Ireland’s Secretary of State Hilary Benn and Under-Secretary of State Matthew Patrick. They’re discussing the joint framework on legacy issues, and the Omagh Bombing Inquiry. The two government’s are also issuing a

Omagh Bombing Inquiry being discussed at latest British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting Read More »

Councillor calls for new traffic measures in Fanad

Donegal County Council is considering installing traffic calming measures at Rossnakill, Fanad. The issue was raised at an MD meeting by Cllr Liam Blaney, who told Letterkenny Milford Municipal District that the area is becoming increasingly dangerous Officials said a speed survey can be arranged to assess the current issues at this location, with a

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Calls for Glenties MD to set up meeting with Tory Island co-op to discuss fire service

A West Donegal councillor is calling on Glenties Municipal District to set up a meeting with the co-op on Tory Island to discuss the fire service. Cllr Michael Cholm MacGiolla Easbuig says it’s important that a meeting take place as quickly as possible as part of what he says is an ongoing quest to secure

Calls for Glenties MD to set up meeting with Tory Island co-op to discuss fire service Read More »

Irish Hospice Foundation calls on the people of Donegal to support Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week 2025

The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network and the Irish Hospice Foundation are calling on the people of Donegal to get involved in Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week . The “Children Grieve Too” campaign has been launched to show that, when families, communities, and professionals have access to accurate, up-to-date information about childhood bereavement, they are better equipped

Irish Hospice Foundation calls on the people of Donegal to support Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week 2025 Read More »

Search for UK navy crew member missing off North West coast ends without success

A major air and sea search off northwest coast for a missing crew member from a UK navy fleet has ended without success. The individual was last seen on Friday night, prompting a two-day operation involving the Irish Coast Guard, RNLI lifeboats and UK naval and air units. The UK Ministry of Defence says an

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Housing Minister drafting plan that could enable older people to split homes into flats without planning permission

The Housing Minister’s drafting a plan which would enable older people to split their homes into flats, without planning permission. James Browne has told the Sunday Times he’s examining a proposal similar to one seen in the UK. He’s also scrapped plans to incentivise older people to downsize their homes, saying people need to have

Housing Minister drafting plan that could enable older people to split homes into flats without planning permission Read More »

Five young people dead and three injured following Louth collision

Five people in their early 20s have died following a two-car crash in Louth. Three people have been injured. This crash involved two cars, a Volkswagen Golf and a Toyota Land Cruiser. It happened shortly after 9 o’clock last night, at Gibstown just outside Dundalk. Five people from the Volkswagen car have died One man

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Major search operation continuing for crew member missing off North West Coast

A major search operation is continuing off the northwest coast for a missing crew member from a UK naval support vessel. Lifeboats, the rescue helicopter and an Air Corps plane are involved in the operation. The alarm was raised just before 9am yesterday morning, with the missing person last seen at around half past ten

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Police in Strabane investigating racially motivated hate crime

Police in Strabane are investigating what they describe as a “racially motivated hate crime” that occurred yesterday afternoon. It was reported that a man delivering leaflets in the Ballycolman Avenue/Columban Terrace area, at around 3.45pm, was verbally abused then physically assaulted by a man who had stopped and got out of a grey coloured car.

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Multi-agency search operation underway for person missing of North West coast

A multi-agency operation is underway off the North West coast after a person was reported as missing from a vessel this morning. The alarm was raised after it was located off Tory Island. The Irish Coast Guard’s Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Malin Head received a distress alert from a UK Naval support vessel just

Multi-agency search operation underway for person missing of North West coast Read More »

Uisce Éireann continuing to restore water supply to Buncrana properties

Uisce Éireann says it is continuing work to restore normal water supply to homes and businesses in Buncrana following a mechanical issue at the Slurry Water Treatment Plant. As a result of these operational issues, customers in Buncrana and surrounding areas may be experiencing low water pressure or outages. Alternative water supplies are now available

Uisce Éireann continuing to restore water supply to Buncrana properties Read More »

Remembrance event for road traffic victims taking place in Letterkenny tomorrow

A remembrance event for road traffic victims is being held in Letterkenny tomorrow. The event will take place at 1pm in the Mount Errigal Hotel to mark Remembrance Day for Road Traffic Victims. This day is for families and communities to remember those who have lost their lives or been seriously injured on our roads,

Remembrance event for road traffic victims taking place in Letterkenny tomorrow Read More »

Donegal parents and guardians invited to partake in survey to shape the future of primary school provision

The Minister for Education has called on all parents and guardians in Donegal to take part in a landmark survey that will help shape the future of primary school provision in the county. The online survey is looking for the views of parents, guardians, and primary school communities on key aspects of school provision, including

Donegal parents and guardians invited to partake in survey to shape the future of primary school provision Read More »

Donegal man with previous convictions of rape and stalking sentenced to five years in prison for rape

A Donegal man with previous convictions has been sentenced to five years in prison for rape. The Central Criminal Court heard that 37-year-old Desmond Leitch of Castlefin was found guilty of rape at an address in Convoy in January 2018. Damien Leitch has two significant previous convictions, with the first handed down by the Central

Donegal man with previous convictions of rape and stalking sentenced to five years in prison for rape Read More »

Police investigating Derry ‘homophobic hate crime’ find no such crime occurred

Police in Derry investigating the report of an assault on the Peace Bridge last weekend, have concluded their enquiries. It had been reported that two men were attacked on Saturday last, in what was believed to be a homophobic hate crime. Following enquiries, Police say they are satisfied that no crime of that nature occurred.

Police investigating Derry ‘homophobic hate crime’ find no such crime occurred Read More »

7 Donegal Family Resource Centres to receive shared funding of over €100,000

7 Family Resource Centres in Donegal are to receive additional core funding of over €100,000. The Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley made the announcement today, with the investment going towards supporting the centres in their vital work with children and families. Cara House FRC, Moville & District FRC and The Forge FRC

7 Donegal Family Resource Centres to receive shared funding of over €100,000 Read More »

Government announces adaptation plan to strengthen communications networks

The Government has announced a new adaptation plan to strengthen communication networks, in preparation of more extreme weather events. It hopes to improve power and phone line infrastructure, to prevent damage caused by climate change. Earlier this year over 600 thousand homes and businesses were left without power following Storm Eowyn. The plan can be

Government announces adaptation plan to strengthen communications networks Read More »

Uisce Eireann tackling supply issues in Buncrana, Malin Head and Dunfanaghy

Uisce Éireann says is working to restore normal water supply to homes and businesses in Buncrana following a mechanical issue at Slavery Water Treatment Plant. They say customers in Buncrana and surrounding areas will experience low water pressure or outages today as a result. Water service crews have been deployed and are on site working

Uisce Eireann tackling supply issues in Buncrana, Malin Head and Dunfanaghy Read More »

Call for a review of ESB infrastructure in South Inishowen

An Inishowen councillor is calling for a review of the ESB infrastructure in South Inishowen after a series of power outages yesterday. This morning, there are still 300 homes, farms, and businesses without power in the vicinity of Tooban, Burnfoot and Inch Island, with a projected restoration time of midday today. Cllr Jack Murray says

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Ronan Keating to front new travel documentary about the Wild Atlantic Way

Ronan Keating is making a new travel documentary about the Wild Atlantic Way. The singer is the face of the new BBC Northern Ireland programme, ‘Ronan Keating’s Wild Atlantic’. It’s being described as a’ deeply personal journey along the west coast of Ireland’ – a place that Ronan says means so much to him and

Ronan Keating to front new travel documentary about the Wild Atlantic Way Read More »

Government to publish climate change adaptation plans, campaigners say more is needed

The government’s latest effort to tackle climate change comes in the form adaptation plans for 13 different sectors. Each individual plan, shaped by Met Éireann climate data, will published by the relevant minister over the coming weeks. The overall aim is to set out effective ways each sector – like agriculture, energy and tourism –

Government to publish climate change adaptation plans, campaigners say more is needed Read More »

DCC needs to provide toilets at major tourist attractions – O’Fearraigh

A West Donegal Councillor says a lot of very good work is being done to improve tourism facilities in Donegal, but one area in which the council is falling down is in the provision of public toilets. Cllr John Sheamais O’Fearraigh told a meeting of Glenties Municipal District that locations such as the Railway walk

DCC needs to provide toilets at major tourist attractions – O’Fearraigh Read More »