Author name: oisinkelly

A jury in the trial of a Donegal man accused of falsely imprisoning and raping his ex-girlfriend has been sent home for the long weekend after failing to reach a verdict. The thirty year old accused, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to the false imprisonment and rape of the woman at her […]

Following the bomb attack at the Everglades Hotel the newly elected independent councillor Gary Donnelly has said that Peter Robinson has done more damage to the economy than a bomb ever will. At last week’s local government election Mr. Donnelly topped the poll in the Moor ward and was elected to the new super council

Jack and Sophie were the most popular babies’ names in Donegal in 2013. Across the country, Jack is also the most popular boy’s name followed by James, Daniel, Conor and Sean. Emily is the most popular girls name followed by make  Emma, Ella and Amelia. According to the CSO Jack has been the number one

Funding has been allocated to provide new class rooms and other facilities at Moville Community College. Almost 1.7 million euro will be spent on five news classrooms, a science laboratory, a home economics room and a technology room. The work will include the provision of a learning support room. Deputy Joe McHugh says it’s great

It is claimed the Chair of the West/North West hospital group has shares in a company that compiled a controversial report on the future of maternity services in the region. Senator Mark Mac Sharry says Noel Daly’s reported involvement in the private company that was asked to carry out the report raises very serious questions

Management at Letterkenny General Hospital are today again asking people to avoid the Emergency Department today if possible. The hospital remains very busy today. There has been a lot of emergency admissions over the past few days and high bed occupancy levels are still causing delays in moving patients from the Emergency Department to the

Donegal Down Syndrome is calling on the government to restore all medical cards that have been removed from people over the past two years. The call comes following an announcement by junior health minister Alex White that the review of discretionary medical cards is to be suspended, pending a re-evaluation of the policy. It’s understood

Today is national slow down day. Gardaí and The Road Safety Authority are urging motorists to watch their speed on this – the most dangerous weekend of the year. Figures show a consistent number of fatal collisions over the June Bank Holiday. Road death figures continue to rise, with 74 people killed so far this

The bid to become the next leader of the Labour Party will become a two horse race today. Alex White is expected to announce his candidacy for the top job later this morning. The junior health minister will go up against Joan Burton, while a slew of other TDs are running for Deputy Leader.  

The trial of a Donegal man accused of falsely imprisoning and raping his ex-girlfriend has reached its closing stages at the Central Criminal Court. The thirty year old, who cannot be named, has pleaded NOT guilty to the false imprisonment and rape of his ex-girlfriend at her home in the early hours of April 6,

An explosion has occurred at a hotel in Derry, after a masked man threw a small bomb into its reception area. The Everglades Hotel, in the Prehen area of the city, was evacuated after the device was reported at a 11:15pm last night. The device exploded a short time later when army experts were working

The Government’s drawing a halt to the controversial review of discretionary medical cards that has seen children with down syndrome asked to verify that they are still sick. It’s being suspended while the H-S-E carries out a review of policy aimed at issuing cards on the basis of condition and not income. The decision was

The Emergency Department at Letterkenny General Hospital has issued a statement asking the public to avoid attending the emergency department this evening. The Emergency Department at the hospital is said to be currently extremely busy with above average numbers of very ill patients requiring admission to the hospital. The public are asked to avoid attending

Gardai have designated today a “Crime Prevention Day of Action”, with an emphasis on thefts from cars. Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Paul Wallace says there’s been a 47% increaze in such crimes in Donegal. That reflects a year on year increase across the board, with 24 reports in Buncrana compared to six over the same

Midlands North West MEP Marian Harkin has paid tribute to Pat The Cope Gallagher who has lost his seat following a four day count which saw the two of them separated by 275 votes. A recheck of votes began yesterday morning, and when, by 4 o’clock this morning, it became clear that the gap would

A former Irish soldier has pleaded guilty at Derry Crown Court to biting a man’s nose during an unprovoked assault in Derry last year. 25-year-old Barry Fitzgerald, from Doire House, Carrigans admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. The incident happened outside a fast food takeaway on 14 April 2013. Fitzgerald, who has resigned from

The Health Minister says he has no intention of downgrading maternity services in West and Northwest insisting instead that he wishes to see them further developed and improved He was speaking during a Fianna Fáil motion in the Seanad calling for the protection of obstetrician-led maternity services at regional hospitals. It follows claims that a

Marian Harkin has been returned to the European Parliament after a recheck of ballots in the Midlands North West constituency. After four days of counting and 18 hours of a recheck, Fianna Fáil’s Pat the Cope Gallagher conceded defeat at 4 o’clock this morning – securing Marian Harkin’s election to the European Parliament. Ms Harkin

A further 18 primary care and health centres in Donegal will introduce a tobacco-free campus policy from next Tuesday. It follows 18 primary care and health centres in the county becoming smoke free in December of last year. The latest centes to become smoke free zones are Cappry, Cloghan, Killygordon, Stranorlar, Newtowncunningham, Raphoe, St Johnston,

The Derry regeneration company ILEX is expressing concern following another incident of vandalism on the Peace Bridge. In the early hours of Monday mornin, a glass panel overlooking the railway line was smashed. Paul Doherty is Facilities Manager with ILEX. He says while the reinforced glass panels are shatter resistant, they are not designed to

Two men have been charged following a drugs seizure in the city yesterday. The men, who are aged 40 and 30, were charged with being concerned in the supply of a Class B drug; cultivating cannabis; obstructing police; and possessing a Class B drug. They were charged to Derry Magistrates Court today. The charges follow

Gardai will be focusing on speed over the bank holiday weekend, with gardai in Donegal saying there will be several checkpoints on national primary roads in the county, starting on Friday morning. Because of the high frequency of fatal collisions between Ballybofey and Donegal Town since the beginning of last year, gardai say there will

A Donegal woman has died in a tragic accident while on holidays in Greece. Mother-of-two Bernadette Donaghey, from Arlands, Burtonport, was in Greece with her family for her nephews wedding. Ms Donaghey who was in her mid-40s, fell down a flight of steps a fortnight ago, she later died in hospital from her injuries. Police are

Back by popular demand!! Win a week in the sun for a family of four in the BIG Highland Holiday Giveaway! Fly direct from Ireland West Airport Knock to the Algarve and spend a week in a luxury villa with a jacuzzi and pool. You’ll be just minutes from the beach, with water parks and

A Donegal man who logged into his ex-girlfriend’s Facebook page and posted an insulting status has gone on trial for falsely imprisoning and raping her. The man, who cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to the false imprisonment and rape of his ex-girlfriend at her home in the early hours

Ireland ranks third in the EU for the number of drug-related deaths. Confirmation of the statistic comes just days after health officials warned people to steer clear of a batch of potentially lethal drugs under the names ‘Double Cross’ or ‘Double Black’ drugs. Their potential involvement in an incident at weekend house party in St

Invest Northern Ireland have confirmed that seven businesses are still interested in locating at an empty business park in Strabane. In December 2012 Invest NI released a similar statement, but the business park on the Melmount Road still remains vacant. Last evening a Sinn Fein delegation met with officials, and were told by the Chief

A full recheck will take place this morning in the Midlands Northwest European constituency – following the announcement of the eighth count in Castlebar last night. After the distribution of Matt Carthy’s surplus, Independent Marian Harkin stands on 106,520 votes with Pat the Cope Gallagher on 106,245. The recheck process starts at 10 this morning.

Pat The Cope is now 31,003 votes behind Marian Harkin in the battle for the final European seat in the Midlands North West constituency. Fianna Fails Thomas Byrne was eliminated after the sixth count, his 64,057 votes will now be distributed. Independent Luke Ming Flanagan and Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness have both been elected. There are

The result of the fifth count in the Midlands North West European constituency has elected Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness for the European parliament. Ms McGuinness has 135,698 votes after she got an astonishing 72% of Jim Higgins’ available transfers – 28,009 out of 38,429 transferrables – to put her ahead of Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy

The Fouth Count has been completed in the Midlands-North-West constituency, with outgoing Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins eliminated. Sinn Féin’s Matt Carthy is less than than 5,000 away from the quota of 129,290, with Fine Gael’s Mairead McGuinness 20,000 votes away. The final seat will be between outgoing MEPs Marian Harkin and Pat The Cope

A St Johnston Priest has said that the village has been left devastated by the death of 22-year-old Oisin Crawford. Mr Crawford died in a flat at Main Street, in St Johnston, in the early hours of yesterday morning. It is believed he died during a party and that four of his friends were taken

Senators from all sides are being urged to support a Fianna Fáil motion in the Seanad this week calling for the protection of obstetrician-led maternity services at regional hospitals. The motion condemns proposals contained in a confidential HSE internal report to dismantle obstetrician-led maternity services in the West and North West region, and calls for

Strabane Cllr Patsy Kelly has confirmed that he is still a member of the SDLP. Rumours were rife on social media over the weekend that Cllr Kelly was no longer a member of the party. Another Strabane SDLP candidates wife had stated on Facebook that she was disappointed that the party had no Cllrs elected

The HSE is warning drug users to avoid a new batch of dangerous ecstacy-type pills – known as “Double Cross” or “Double Black”. It comes as gardaí investigate the death of  22-year-old Oisin Crawford at a house party in St Johnston . It is believed officers are looking into whether he had taken the drug or

It’s now certain that Sinn Fein will have four MEPs, Lynn Boylan. Liadh Ne Riadha and Matt Carthy in the three constituencies in the Republic, and Martina Anderson in Northern Ireland. Last night, she retained her seat after topping the poll there, and as the count continues, it looks as thought it will be “as

A Former Donegal Labour Councillor has said the resignation of Eamon Gilmore as the party’s leader is too little to late. He’ll stay on until a successor is elected and says he wants to contest the next election. Deputy Gilmore says he takes full rersponsibility for Labour’s disastrous performance in the local, European and Dail

Counting in the European Elections Midlands Northwest constituency will resume at 9 o’clock this morning. Independent Luke Ming Flanagan was the first MEP for the region elected yesterday – meaning there’s now three seats left to be filled. Speaking in Castlebar after his election last night, Luke Ming Flanagan said his campaign was about people