Author name: oisinkelly

A UUP MLA has hit out at comments from John Downey made during his first interview since his trial collapsed. Speaking to the Donegal Democrat this week John Downey said he remained committed to the peace process and wants to see the establishment of an international truth commision. He also said that he is a […]

Two men have been arrested after a restaurant in Bridgend was burgled in the early hours this morning. The men broke into Harrys resteraunt in the border village at around 2 o clock this morning. They were arrested shortly afterwards by Gardai. They are currently being held in Garda custody in Buncrana Garda Station.

The coalition says nearly 45,000 ICT jobs will need to be filled between now and 2018. An extra 1,250 college places a year are being made available from this year to train people with the required skills. Almost 2000 work permits a year will be issued to those with ICT skills. There will also be

Aer Lingus is to sue SIPTU over its planned industrial action which was struck down in the High Court earlier this week. On Wednesday the High Court prevented SIPTU members holding a four hour stoppage. However Aer Lingus says the the threat of the strike has left it severely out of pocket. Industry Correspondent with

Two members of the Cabinet say they have every confidence in the Garda Commissioner. Martin Callinan is under pressure after the Garda Inspectorate report into the quashing of penalty points. It found he presided over a dysfunctional system with consistent and widespread breaches. Jobs Minister Richard Bruton and Education Minister Ruairi Quinn say Mr. Callinan

Staff at Largo Foods in Gweedore have been called into a meeting with management this afternoon. Staff have not been informed why the meeting has been called but there are concerns being expressed that job losses could be announced. Largo foods describes itself as a  leading manufacturer and distributor of premium snack-foods – its has

  Swilly Rovers have been fined and banned from hosting SFAI cup games after a review found some fans did take part in racist chants in a recent cup game. The SFAI review centred on a U-15 Evans Cup game between Swilly Rovers and Castlebar Celtic played on March 1st. An SFAI committee reviewed the referee’s report

Gardai are investigating after shots were fired at a car in Carrigans in the early hours of this morning. A man with a legally-held firearm discharged a number of shots in the Station Road area after he heard loud bang outside his home. It is understood the vehicle which was in the area at the

The British Government has confirmed today that over 300 jobs will be lost with the centralisation of the Driver and Vehicle Agency to Swansea in Wales, almost 250 of them in Coleraine East Derry MLA John Dallat, who’s been campaigning for the retention of the DVA centre in Coleraine says the decision demonstrates very clearly

An Irish scientist hailing from Donegal town will light up Times Square New York next month with his striking image of a lung cancer cell surrounded by a green glow. The image was taken by Dr Martin Barr, Clinical Scientist and Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Trinity College Dublin and

The Environmental Protection Agency says “it’s unacceptable” that raw sewage is entering rivers and bathing areas. The EPA says it’s found that waterways in 42 locations around the country are being put at risk of pollution because of the lack of waste water treatment plants. They include Bundoran in Donegal, which is now the subject

Donegal fishermen are set to have their mackerel quota for the North East Atlantic almost doubled after an agreement was reached last night. At an EU meeting in London attended by represetatives from Ireland, Norway and the Faroe Islands an agreement was reached to increase the mackerel quota for Irish fishermen. The deal will see

Calls have been made for Letterkenny Town Council to host a food festival in the town. A Taste of Donegal food festival in Donegal Town and the Foyle Food Festival in Derry has seen thousands descend there over the last few years. And it’s hope a food fesitival in Letterkenny would see a similar boost

The impact of policies imposed by the IMF, ECB and European Commission – the Troika – on four bailout countries has been heavily criticised in two European Parliament reports. The reports followed a four month inquiry by two European Parliament committees. They looked at how Troika policies impacted on Greece, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus. Northwest

John Downey has said he remains committed to the peace process and wants to see the establishment of an international truth commission. The 62 year old, who is based in Creeslough, had ben charged in connection with the 1982 Hyde Park bombings in which 4 soldiers died, but the case against him collapsed when a

A drink-driver who killed a pregnant Co Donegal woman in a car crash has been sent back to jail after a judge ruled an original sentence was unduly lenient. 31-year-old Kevin McArdle of Longfield, Carrickmacross, was given four years in prison, with the final year suspended, at Monaghan Circuit Court in October 2011 for dangerous

Over half of burglars gain entry through unlocked front or back doors. That’s according to the latest figures compiled by the Gardai as they aim to help people make their homes more secure. Today is National Crime Prevention Day of Action and to mark the event, Gardai raising awareness about home security. In Donegal, local

Banba’s Crown on Malin Head is going to be turned green for two days this weekend to mark St Patrick’s Day. It’ll join iconic attractions such as Sydney Opera House, the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower. Over 100 thousand people visit Malin Head per year and it is hoped those figures will be

A Letterkenny Town Councillor says incentives need to be introduced in an effort to revitalise the town’s Main Street. Jim Lynch says that area has become a ghost town and something needs to be done to bring it back to life. He has welcomed news that Letterkenny Chamber wants to employ a Town Centre Manager,

The Chairperson of Omagh District Council is calling for a review of car parking charges in the town, saying that the high number of parking tickets issued over the past year is a turn off to shoppers. Councillor Martin McColgan says drivers in Omagh received the most parking tickets in County Tyrone, with 3,979 issued

The sustainability of the Post Office network is to be examined this morning. The joint Oireachtas committee on transport and communications, will discuss how expanding the products and services An Post currently provides can secure it’s future. The number of post offices has reduced by almost 50 per cent over the past 13 years, and

The Emergency Department at Letterkenny General Hospital reopened to patients from 8 O’ Clock this morning. Flood damage last July affected 70 per cent of services, and ruined almost 40 per cent of the hospital’s capacity building. Extensive refurbishments have been carried out over the past couple of months. General Manager, Sean Murphy has praised

North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher has told the European Parliament that proposed changes to the Leader programme here are unnecessary, and will hamper rather than stimulate local development. Minister Phil Hogan is seeking to align the Leader companies more closely with county councils as part of a streamlining of local development structures. However,

A Donegal Councillor has called on the Justice Minister to encourage increasing sentences for serious crime. Alan Shatter has criticised the judiciary for not giving enough consideration to imposing community service over a prison sentence. But Councillor Paul Canning says the minister should be encouraging more lenghty custodial sentences – he has given the example

Justice Carol Hallett has been appointed to conduct an independent review of the administrative scheme for dealing with On the Runs. The review was commissioned in the wake of the collapse of Donegal man John Downey’s trial in London last month. John Downey had been suspected of the 1982 IRA murder of four soldiers in

Donegal County Council is to build four single rural houses in various parts of the county under the latest scheme announced by Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan. The minister today launched a 68 million house building initiative as part of a stimulus package for local authorities. 560,000 euro of the total is to be invested in

Moville born priest Father Eugene Boland is to resume his ministry in the Diocese of Derry, almost two years after being cleared on indecent assault charges at Derry Crown Court. Fr Boland, the Parish Priest in Killyclogher, stepped aside in August 2010 on foot of allegations made against him. He was cleared in the civil

Two men, both aged 20, have been charged with 18 offences each including hijacking, arson, robbery and GBH with intent. Both men are due to appear at Derry Magistrates Court later today. The charges are believed to be in connection with a hijacking in the De Burgh Terrace area on Sunday morning last.

Calls have been made on Letterkenny Town Council to find funding to improve the road infrastructure in and around the town. Cllr Ciaran Brogan raised the issue in a motion yesterday evening. He says that the road in Glencar is especially in need of repair after it was badly damaged in flooding last July. And

A Donegal County Cllr has called on the local authority to look at the options regarding the newly launched Gateway Initiative Scheme by the Government. The scheme will pay long-term unemployed people €20 extra a week in benefits for working for their local authority. In all, 3,000 long-term unemployed people will be selected to work

Two men aged 40 and 32, arrested in relation to pipe bomb attacks in the Waterside area of Derry in the early hours of Saturday morning have been released unconditionally. The men were arrested yesterday morning, and their release has been confirmed this morning by the PSNI. Two Romanian families were targetted in two houses

A man’s been has been shot in both legs in a paramilitary attack in the Brandywell area of Derry. At around 10 o’clock last night, two men entered a house in Kerrigan Close and shot the man who is in his 20s. He is being treated at Altnagelvin Hospital, where his injuries are not believed

A meeting takes place in Letterkenny this evening to discuss what’s described as the exploitation of residential care staff by health employers. The unions IMPACT and SIPTU have called the meeting claiming that residential care staff are routinely expected to work 63 hour weeks, well above the legal maximum of 48 hours. The unions also

Two men have been arrested by police investigating pipe bomb attacks in the Waterside area of Derry in the early hours of Saturday. The men, one aged 40 and the other 32, were arrested in the city this morning. The PSNI are treating the bomb attacks as hate crimes. Two Romanian families were targetted in

The government has made 15 million euro in funding available to renovate vacant council houses. Local authorities are being asked to submit their proposals for funding under the scheme by 28th March. Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan says the money will bring up to 500 vacant local authority units back into use this

A cross-border manhunt has been launched after an armed gang attempted to rob a petrol station in Bridgend. Three men – armed with a suspected gun and a sledge hammer – attempted to rob the Texaco Filling Station in the cross-border village at around 640am yesterday morning. It’s understood they fled in a white ford

None of the Garda stations which closed in Donegal more than a year ago have been sold off yet. Culdaff and Brockagh Garda stations closed at the beginning of 2012 and were officially listed as for sale afterwards. But none of them, or any other Garda station in the country which shut and was put

Letterkenny Chamber is seeking a meeting with local councillors and other bodies to discuss plans to employ a Town Centre Manager to identify gaps in the retail make up of the town centre. It’s part of an initiative to employ a ‘Town Team’ which will look at how to revitalise the revive the Main Street

Two men are being questioned after a 63-year-old man had his van hijacked in Derry yesterday morning. Tom Agnew told the BBC he suffered a broken cheekbone after he was punched in the face by thieves who forced him out of his van in De Burgh Terrace at 10 o’clock yesterday morning. The vehicle was

The family of a 51 year old woman whose body was found at Creevy, near Ballyshannon at the weekend has paid tribute to the Bundoran RNLI and the people of the town. Siobhan McGread had been missing for 17 days since she was last seen at the cliff-top Roguey Walk in Bundoran last month. A

The body of a woman has been recovered at Creevy, near Ballyshannon, It’s believed to be the remains of Siobhan McGread, 51, missing for over two weeks since she was last seen at the cliff-top Roguey Walk, Bundoran. A number of air-sea searches were held in the past two weeks in an attempt to find Ms McGread who was

Two pipe bombs have partially exploded outside two houses in Derry overnight. Shortly after 1.35am it was reported that a pipe bomb had exploded outside a house in the Lapwing Way area. Four adults and one child who were in the house at the time were not injured. At approximately the same time another pipe