Author name: oisinkelly

Dozens of checkpoints will be in place across the country this weekend as Gardaí gear up for one of the most dangerous periods on Irish roads. They’ll be on the lookout for speeders, drink-drivers, as well as motorists using their mobile phones. 3 people died over the May Bank Holiday Weekend last year – and

The North’s Deputy First Minister is warning Sinn Féin may withdraw its support for the police in Northern Ireland, if Gerry Adams is charged in connection with the murder of Jean McConville. Former IRA commander Martin McGuinness also said that the peace process is being undermined by what he described as a ‘small cabal’ in

A Convoy property, which had been dubbed the cheapest house in Ireland, has sold at auction at over twice its reserve of just 15 thousand euro. The detached four bedroom house was amongst 200 properties which went under the hammer at an Allsop Space auction in Dublin yesterday. The house at Magheracorran had a reserve

District Judge Barney McElholm told a woman at Derry Magistrate’s Court today that while ‘men may be essentially useless you can’t take a knife to them.’ He was speaking in a case involving Nicola McClaren (23) of Tullymnore Road in Derry who admitted possessing a knife in a public place on March 2. The court was

It’s been confirmed that Donegal’s islands will go to the polls one day ahead of the mainland in the European and Local Elections. Voters on the six Donegal islands, which have a total electorate of 753, will cast their ballots on Thursday May 22nd, with the rest of the county voting on Friay May 23rd.

The Government’s announced that 386 schools around the country are to get money for vital improvement works. 35 million’s being provided for the summer work scheme which will see upgrades of toilets and roofs in primary and secondary schools. This money is on top of 36 million announced in March for bigger gas, electrical and

Four seafood companies from Donegal are among a group of 20 that will share €2.4 million in grant aid under the 2014 Seafood Processing Business Investment Scheme. Taken in conjunction with private sector funding, Agriculture and Fisheries MInister Simon Coveney says the total investment will be almost €8 million in 2014. In Donegal, Earagail Eisc

A Donegal Councillor says he fully backs the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s call on Environment Minister Phil Hogan to publish a report on the issue of Water affordability. Cllr John Campbell says this report, which was compiled by the ESRI, has been with the Minister for some time. However, he says Minister Hogan won’t

An Independent candidate in the Donegal Electoral Area sys there needs to be a major overhaul of local government funding, and how taxes raised in the county are spent. Lawrence Mc Manus from Pettigo says the issue was brought home to him when he realised that there is a severe problem with illegal dumping in

A music and dance enthusiast from Derry has been jailed for supplying drugs, with a judge stating that he had exploited his position in the entertainment scene in order to do so. The 22-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had pleaded guilty to supply and offering to supply cocaine, MDMA, mephedrone and ketamine.

The Irish National Teachers Organisation is welcoming today’s announcement of the second round of approvals under Schools Summer Works Scheme. 386 projects were included in the first round, which has a budget of almost 36 million euro, for essential improvements including gas, electrical and mechanical upgrades. The second round, being announced today by the Minister

Over 200 properties are going under the hammer at the latest Allsop Space auction, which takes place at Dublin’s RDS today. Reserves range from 15 thousand euro for the family home at Magheracorran, Convoy, to an office block in Dublin 7 which is expected to fetch between 5.5 and 6 million euro. The auction catalogue

In the North, detectives are investigating a serious sexual assault on a 27 year old woman in county Tyrone. It’s believed the assault happened at a property in the Church Street area of Omagh at around 2am on Monday. Officers want to talk to the driver of a silver coloured taxi who collected three women

The country’s only official survey of listeners to radio in Ireland has delivered great news for Highland Radio. The latest JNLR/MRBI survey shows that Highland Radio has retained its position as Ireland’s No1 most listened to local radio station. The station has still the highest weekday audience of any independent radio station in the country.

A son of Jean McConville says he knows who abducted his mother, but won’t tell police out of fear that he or members of his family will be killed. His comments come as Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams continues to be questioned by Detectives in Antrim in connection with the murder. Michael McConville has been

Tributes have been paid to Ballybofey farmer Josie McDermott who died tragically yesterday. The 74-year-old had been working underneath a car at his farm in Glencovitt yesterday afternoon when it collapsed on top of him. The incident has been described as a ‘freak accident’. Local Parish Priest Patsy Arkinson has paid tribute to him:

Gardai in the Milford Area are urging people to be careful and lock their cars after overnight incidents in Termon and Kilmacrennan. Inspector Michael Harrison says it appears a gang went around a number of areas checking whether or not cars were locked, and items were taken from at least 13 cars that were open.

At present one in six properties in the town centre is empty because of the economic downturn. Now, the local Town Council and Letterkenny Chamber are backing the creation of this new position, while stressing that the manager will be independent of both. A ‘Town Team’ will also be appointed to back up the Town

More than 60 new high-end jobs are to be created as part of a 4.5 million euro investment at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Work has commenced on the new 20,000 square foot Science Park building which Jobs Minister Richard Bruton says will help develop science, research and innovation in the North West region. An additional

The Letterkenny Town Mayor has announced details of his Mayor’s project for 2014. His plan is to commission a new town clock and also to renovate the large plaza to the front of An Grianán Theatre where the new clock will be situated. The new clock will be made from steel and the design is

Hundreds of families are to receive incorrect letters saying their are in arrears of up to €200 for the household charge. Revenue have admitted that people will wrongly recieve letters over the coming days telling them to pay the charge. Revenue has said there was a mismatch between the data of the Local Government Management

14 jobs are to go in Strabane with news that Quantum Hosiery is to transfer its operation to England. The company took over Adria when it closed, and kept a number of high end administrative jobs in Strabane. Local MLA Michaela Boyle says this is a major blow for the town and its environs, and

Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams has spent the night in PSNI custody after being arrested in connection with the murder of Jean McConville. The mother of 10 became one of ‘The Disappeared’ after she was abducted and murdered by the IRA in December 1972. 65 year old Louth TD Gerry Adams said last night he

A Co Tyrone doctors’ surgery is facing criticism from politicians and the Electoral Commission after charging people £15 to have a postal vote form signed. An elderly man from Strabane was quoted £15 from a local GP practice to have his postal vote form filled in. The elderly gentleman in question is unable to go

The government has been accused of deliberately timing the banking inquiry to distract from its ongoing problems over water charges. Sinn Féin says many senior bankers are still facing criminal trials – and that it doesn’t know why the inquiry is being organised now. Enda Kenny has confirmed that the Dáil and Seanad will be

A tragic accident in Ballybofey has killed an elderly man in his 70s. He was killed while he was working on a car at Glencovitt, it has been reported that he died after the car came down on top of him while he was working beneath it. Gardaí and emergency services are at the scene,

Police in Derry are investigating an arson attack on cars parked at the Lenamore Business Park in the city. Two cars were burnt out and four others damaged in the incident at about 3 o’clock this morning. Anyone with information is asked to call police on the 101 non-emergency number, or contact Crimestoppers.  

The Public Expenditure Minister says the Banking Inquiry is now “imminent”. It comes after former Anglo directors Willie McAteer and Pat Whelan learned yesterday that they’re unlikely to face jail for issuing illegal loans to the “Maple Ten” customers to buy shares in the bank. Willie McAteer and Pat Whelan have been remanded on bail

It’s been claimed that there are only eight gardai based along the banks of the Foyle in Eastern Inishowen. Fianna Fail local election candidate Mary Mc Cauley says garda numbers have now fallen to such an extent that station in Moville is often closed when it should be open. She say’s she’s been approached by

Jobs Minister Richard Bruton will meet with local businesses at an open forum in Letterkenny tomorrow morning. The event at the Station House Hotel begins at 8 o’clock, with businesses invited to attend and discuss their concerns and issues with the minister. Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says he wants this to be

The recipient of this year’s Tipp O’Neill Diaspora Award will be the President of the Massachusetts Senate Therese Murray. The award is a joint initiative of Buncrana Town Council and Donegal County Council to pay tribute to one of Inishowen’s most famous descendants. The award is given to a selected person or people who are

Three Donegal schools have been selected for additional accommodation and emergency works. Junior Gaeltacht MInister Dinny Mc Ginley has confirmed funding for the three projects. Gweedore Community School has been allocated a new classroom of 49 metres square and the doubling of accommodation in the Arts room, Gleneely National School, Killygordon has been given approval

Donegal County Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill has called on all local election candidates to declare their stance regarding windfarms. He said he was fully behind the motions which would place turbines at a defined set back from homes and would exclude them from sensitive environments. And he said there was a need to protect the public,

A County Tyrone teenager who killed his father will spend at least ten years of a life sentence in jail. 19-year-old Sean Hackett, was cleared of murdering his father, 60-year-old Aloysius, at their family home in Augher in 2013. Instead, he was convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility. The judge said that Hackett

The PSNI has confirmed that it is re-examining the case of the IRA murder victim Lexie Cummings who was gunned down more than three decades ago. A part-time member of the UDR, the 39-year-old was fatally shot in Strabane, Co Tyrone in June 1982. No-one has ever been brought to justice. In March 2012 DUP

With no clarity from government on what the level of water charges will be, a Letterkenny area election candidate says once the people accept the principle of water charges, then the costs could rise sharply in future years. Billy Banda, who is contesting the election for the People Before Profit Alliance believes an initial charge

The EU Commission is being asked to address an anomoly in Irish law which means VAT is charged on equipment bought by mountain and lowland rescue teams, and also on defibrillators purchased by charities, community groups, and sports clubs. North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher is one of a number of members who made

  One of two candidates contesting the local elections in Donegal for Direct Democracy Ireland is pledging that of elected, people will be consulted on what issues should be raised in the council chamber and what the priorities of the council should be. Eilis Haden, who is contesting the election in the Inishowen area says

The woman who was recorded being left at the roadside by police in Derry last month has been remanded in custody for breaching her bail conditions. 23-year-old Bridget Mongan, from Stanley’s Walk in the Bogside area of the city had been on court bail charged with assaulting her brother in Altnagelvin Hospital’s high dependency unit