Author name: oisinkelly

The Cabinet is meeting now to sign off on a package of measures around water charges. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore says the charges will be “fair and reasonable” after the standing charge was dropped and extra allowances are to be given to children and those with medical needs. A final decision on the charge will be […]

It’s been confirmed that President Michael D Higgins will visit Buncrana in September to present the 2014 Tip O’Neill Irish Diaspora Award. It was confirmed last week that this year’s recipient will be Senator Therese Murray, President of the Massachusetts State Senate. Her nomination has been widely welcomed in Donegal and further afield, with Taoiseach

A new effort could be made this summer to resolve a number of issues in the north’s peace process. It’s reported today that the Irish and British governments want all sides back around the talks table to focus on areas covered by the Haass talks at the end of last year. Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore spoke

Fianna Fail in Donegal wants 10% of the local property tax paid in each housing estate to go towards essential works in the area. That is according to Stranorlar area local election candidate Claudia Kennedy. She says the money would be used to to fix poor lighting, fixing potholes and tackling anti-social behaviour……….

A Buncrana councillor is calling Transport Minister Leo Varadkar to clarify the status of Cockhill Bridge, and where the application for a replacement bridge sits in his department’s priorities. The minister recently claimed that Donegal County Council had not applied for funding for a new bridge since 2010. However, Cllr Ciaran Mc Laughlin says he’s

A woman has been arrested by police investigating a stabbing in County Derry. The 42-year-old man was attacked overnight in Strand Road, Coleraine. The incident was reported to police at about midnight last night. He sustained stab wounds to his back and was taken to hospital for treatment to his injuries, that are not believed

A child involved in a collision in County Donegal, in which a woman died, has been transferred to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. 38-year-old Siobhan Hutcheon, from Ardmore in Muff, died in the incident that involved a car and a bus. It happened at about 330pm yesterday afternoon on the road between Letterkenny and

A woman in her 30s – from Derry – has tragically died after her car collided with a bus in Co Donegal. The accident happened at around 330pm on Sunday in Ardee, Newtowncunningham. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body was taken to Letterkenny General Hospital for a post-mortem examination. It’s understood

The Sinn Fein Leader is likely to be released from custody this evening and a file sent to the public Prosecution Service. Gerry Adams has been held by the PSNI at the serious crime suite in Antrim since Wednesday evening. Deputy Adams was being questioned in relation to the disappearance and death of Belfast mother

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