Author name: oisinkelly

The father of a Lifford man seriously injured in a crash in Letterkenny last week has made an impassioned appeal for information. 23 year-old Darry McDaid remains in intensive care in hospital after the BMW he was driving crashed into road signs and a telephone poll on the Port Road just before 1am on Thursday […]

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has resigned with immediate effect. A Garda spokesman confirmed the resignation with the morning. His decision follows a political controversy over comments he made about Garda whistleblowers. Martin Callinan had been under pressure from government ministers to withdraw the comment, and deep divisions had emerged between the coalition parties over the

A former Derry swimming instructor has been jailed for four and a half years for ‘historic sexual abuse’ that occurred when he was in his late 40s and his victim was aged between 12 and 16. Brendan McGowan, now 69, of 7 Brewster’s Close in Derry had admitted nine counts of indecent assault, gross indecency

Oyster farmers in Donegal are being denied the chance to apply for EU grants and improve their business because the Irish government still has no working licence system in plasce. The IFA’s Aquaculture Executive Richie Flynn has told an IFA/BIM seminar that in order for farmers to play on a level pitch with other EU

The chair of the Joint Policing Committee in Donegal says he would like to see cross border links established between Community Alert groups in Donegal and neighbouring counties, as well as closer lines of communication between the groups within the county. He told a meeting Letterkenny last night that the JPC could act as a

It’s hoped that tourism in Inishowen will be boosted by the opening at the weekend of a major new attraction in Burt. A new visitors’ centre has opened in the grounds of An Grianan Hotel, exploring the history of the nearby Grianan Fort and Burt Castle. The Old Church Visitors’ Centre also explores the mythological

Parents of children with Diabetes in Donegal says they were shocked to learn that the HSE North West Service Plan for 2014 contains no funding to develop paediatric diabetes services in northwest. The information was relayed to over three hundred members of the public and politicians at a weekend meeting. The meeting also heard demands

A Donegal woman with depression and Bipolar disorder is said to be devastated after being told she may have to wait up to six months to see a HSE mental health specialist. The woman, and at least one other, were informed that their Out-Patient Clinic appointments in Falcarragh were cancelled due to staff shortage and a

Police are looking for a man in his early twenties following an armed robbery at a off licence in Strabane, on Friday. The incident took place at the premises in the Melmount Road area shortly after 9.30pm on Friday night. A masked thief entered an off licence armed with a knife, threatened two female shop

A Derry City Cllr has claimed that children as young as 8-years-old have been involved in a number of stone throwing incidents in the city. In the past week in Derry there has been a number of stone throwing incidents, with a number of taxi drivers reporting their vehicles being struck. The incidents have took

Parents of children with Diabetes in Donegal says they are heartened by the turnout at a public meeting the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny yesterday. The meeting was called to demand that the HSE appoint a dedicated Paediatric Diabetes clinical Nurse Specialist in Letterkenny General Hospital. An estimated 300 people along local politicians and T.Ds were

Calls are being made for a barrier to be erected on the road into Letterkenny following the car crash which has left a 23-year-old man in a critical condition in hospital. Darry McDaid has been in hospital since the early hours of Thursday morning when the BMW he was driving crashed into traffic signs and

The expansion and improvement of community alert and text alert schemes in Donegal will be the focus of a public meeting taking place in Letterkenny this evening. The event is being held in the Radisson Hotel, Letterkenny at 8pm. Guest will include Chief Superintendent Terri Mc Ginn, Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Paul Wallace and Vanessa

Two objects have been spotted in the Indian Ocean by Australian aircraft searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines plane. Satellite images and data have also identified possible debris in the area that may be linked to the disappearance of flight MH 370. A ship is on its way to recover the possible debris from the

A spokesman for the Garda Commissioner says he has no plans to issue a statement on the whistleblower controversy today. Martin Callinan has been under renewed pressure since the Transport Minister last week called on him to withdraw his description of whistleblower actions as ‘disgusting’, and other ministers backed the call. The issue is expected

The smoking ban is ten years old this week and the Health Minister says banning smoking in cars carrying children is the crucial next step. Health groups say the ban on smoking in workplaces, pubs and restaurants has saved thousands of lives and helped cut the rate of smokers in Ireland from 33 to 22

A Councillor is calling on the government to make more money available for Housing Adaptation Grants. Gerry Mc Monagle says a number of people approved for a Home Adaptation Grant by there council were later informed that  the council was not in a position to award the grant as it had no money. The Housing

There is a spat amongst two local election candidates over the issue of polling clerk positions being offered to people on the live register. The call was made by Labour’s election candidate Siobhan McLaughlin, but Labour has been accused of hijacking the issue by Peter Cutliffe who is a long time campaigner for the move.

A Northwest MEP is calling on the government to instigate a significant effort to have Northern Ireland exempt from the new HGV tax. The UK tax, which will see hauliers crossing from the south into Northern Ireland charged £10, comes into effect from April. Some Donegal Hauliers says they will be forced to move their

The Fianna Fail party has passed a motion from Donegal North East delegates calling for active and serious participating and engagement in the political process in Northern Ireland. The motion was passed without debate at The Fianna Fáíl Ard Fheis which is taking place this weekend. The party’s leader Micheál Martin has now confirmed Fianna

Gardai have renewed an appeal for information into a single vehicle crash in Letterkenny which left a young Lifford man in a critical condition in hospital. 23 year-old Darry McDaid was driving a silver BMW which crashed between the Polestar and Dry Arch roundabouts in the early hours of Thursday morning – he’s still being

A Donegal County Councillor is calling on ferry operators to come forward if they are interested in running the Lough Swilly service. It links Buncrana with Rathmullan A closing date for tenders for the ferry was March 12th, but Donegal County Council has received no applications to date. Councillor Liam Blaney says the service is

A Strabane family have welcomed the announcement that a vaccine that protects against a deadly form of meningitis is set to be introduced in the UK and Northern Ireland. Meningitis charities said more data had led to today’s decision, and it was a “wonderful outcome”. About 1,870 people contract meningitis B each year and one

Veteran Cllr Victor Fisher has quit Fianna Fail after claiming he was “shafted” by the party he has served for 45 years. The former Mayor of Letterkenny says he is deeply hurt that he was not asked to stand for election by the party in the forthcoming local elections. And the local businessman said he

Gardai are currently investigating an incident at Burnfoot where the body of a man has been discovered. The man, believed to be aged in his forties and from the local area, hadn’t been seen in recent days. The body was found at Carnashannagh, Burnfoot, and it has been removed to Letterkenny General Hospital were the

The Donegal Diabetes Parent Support Group is holding a public meeting on Sunday in Letterkenny as part of the campaign for the retention of a full time nurse to deal with children who have diabetes. Parents say there will no longer be a specialist nurse available to them, and that will dilute the care available.

A Lifford man is still in a critical condition in hospital this today after he was in a car accident in Letterkenny in the early hours of yesterday morning. The 23 year old was driving a car which collided with a wall between the Polestar and Dry Arch roundabouts. No-one else was in the car

An overturned lorry at one of Strabane’s busiest roundabouts has caused major traffic disruption today. The lorry overturned on Bradley Way, blocking the roundabout near Asda in the town, affecting mainly traffic travelling on the busy A5. A PSNI spokesperson said the area would suffer from “major disruption” until further notice. There is currently a

The outspoken Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan says he believes he’s in with a “very good chance” of being elected to the European Parliament. The Roscommon/South Leitrim deputy confirmed this morning he will be a candidate in the Midlands-North West constituency. Luke Ming Flanagan says he’s conducted a poll which suggests he’ll have enough support

It’s emerged that no submissions have been made from Ireland to a major EU consultation on the possible health implications of pylons. Speaking after a meeting with EU Health Commissioner Tonio Borg, North West MEP Jim Higgins said he was told there had been a total of three submissions made to the study, none of

Fianna Fail’s Ard Fheis gets underway later today. They’re the last party to hold the event before the European and local elections. They’ll set out their stall to voters on the economy, healthcare and crime with the theme – ‘Recovery for All’. Speaking to Highland Radio News as he prepared to leave for Killarney, Donegal

A protest takes place this afternoon in Coleraine following last week’s announcement that almost 250 DVA jobs in the town are to be transferred to Swansea. The trade union NIPSA says the government must understanding that the people of Coleraine will be be defending these jobs and the service, the campaign is far from finished.

Police in Derry have confirmed that two officers filmed lifting a drunk woman into a bus lay-by on St Patrick’s Day have been moved from any duties that bring them into direct contact with the public. The incident happened in John Street on St Patrick’s Day. Police say the decision to reposition the officers is

A County Derry gas fitter has been sentenced to two years in prison and two on licence for the manslaughter of two teenagers in 2010. 52-year-old George Brown, from Ballygawley Road, Aghadowey, admitting killing Neil McFerran and Aaron Davidson and a string of other charges, including health and safety breaches. The pair died after they

A man who was rescued from Lough Ree after a boating accident yesterday afternoon has died in hospital. The man in his 20’s was one of two who were taken from the water and brought to Portiuncula hospital in a critical condition. He was later transferred to University College Hospital in Galway where he passed

The lobby group Into the West is calling on the North’s Regional Development Minister to clarify his intentions for the old Waterside Railway Station in Derry. Yesterday, it was confirmed that the outcome of a public consultation on the future of rail services showed a clear majority in favour of refurbishing and reopening the facility.

The Transport Minister says he doesn’t share or agree with the criticisms of the Garda whistleblowers. Leo Varadkar is describing the actions of Sergeant Maurice McCabe and former Garda John Wilson as distinguished. He is also calling on the Garda Commissioner to withdraw his “disgusting” remark made in relation to the whistleblowers. Minister Varadkar says

Donegal has been allocated 1.5million euro under two packages announced by Minister Simon Coveney today. 700 thousand euro has been granted to Killybegs for Phase 1 of a small craft harbour while Donegal County Council has been given 751 thousand euro to repair 28 piers and harbours damaged by the severe winter storms. The biggest

There has been a slight increase in land values in County Donegal but the figures show that very little land is being sold in the county publicly. The figures show the average price paid for land in Donegal increased by 4.4%. The statistics are contained in the annual land price magazine published by The Irish

A Councillor says a road closure in Letterkenny today, which led to significant traffic jams and delays for motorists, underlines the importance of the proposed Bonagee Link Bridge Road. The road was closed after a 23 year-old man was critically injured in a single vehicle collision on the Port road between the Polestar and Dry

Seven primary and post primary schools in County Donegal will benefit from the Summer Works Scheme 2014. The schools are part of a national investment of almost €36 million in the first round of school improvements and will receive funding to carry out small and medium scale building works. The schools which had their Summer