Author name: oisinkelly

North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher says the government’s decision not to apply for EU Solidarity Funding in the wake of the extreme weather is “ludicrous and rash”. Mr Gallagher has today called on the Government to re-think its decision and apply before the end of this week as the deadline set by the

It’s emerged that maternity services across the West and North West could be facing a major overhaul, with services being retained in Letterkenny and Galway, at the expense of Sligo, Roscommon and Mayo. It’s understood this is the recommendation contained in a draft consultants report which is yet to be published. Sligo based Senator Marc

A West Donegal Community Activist and independent local election candidate says billboards advertising his Dungloe office have been removed from the outskirts of the town for the second time in eight days. Michael Mac Giolla Easpaig says the removal of the boards is a politically motivated act by people who wish to silence him and

There’s been widespread condemnation of an incident in Strabane last night in which police were attacked in the Ballycoleman Estate when they went to the scene of a sudden death. What’s been described as a gang of youths threw stones and other missiles at police cars outside the house. Local Councillor Patsy Kelly says it

Gardai in Ballybofey are investigating the sudden death of an 18 year old man at his home in Admiran Park in Stranorlar yesterday evening at approx. 8 p.m. . The body remains at scene and the office of the State Pathologist has been notified. A post mortem will take place this morning.

A Burnfoot filling station has reopened following an overnight security operation which ended with army experts removing a suspicious object from the scene. The object was discovered in a flat over the filling station last evening, and gardai called in the army EOD. Gardai say an investigation is continuing, but the filling station has now

Gardai have arrested a man and seized a firearm during a raid on a house in Ballyshannon. During the search, as part of an ongoing investigation Gardai search, a rifle was recovered. A male aged in his 40s was arrested at the scene. He is currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences against the

Letterkenny General Hospital’s Chaplaincy Team has this evening released a joint statement in response to ongoing speculation as to whether or not a Catholic Chapel will be retained at the hospital. There was further speculation today with newspaper reports that campaigners who want the chapel retained are concerned over its future following a meeting at

  Army bomb disposal experts are en route to Inishowen to deal with a suspicious device . An area of the Burnfoot was sealed off early on Monday evening after the object was reported to Gardai. The army are due to determine if the object is a hoax or viable device. No-one has been injured and there

Efforts are underway to try and find out who was responsible for dumping large electrical items and other rubbish at Inishowen Head at the weekend. The items included a dishwasher and electric organ. Members of Greencastle Coastguard risked their safety to remove the items which will no be disposed of by Donegal County Council. It

Gardai say they believe they know the gang responsible for a series of attacks and robberies on older people in their homes and expect to make arrests soon. It is thought a gang of six people are responsible for the majority of the robberies in rural areas of Donegal in recent weeks. Superintendent Michael Finan

A body has been recovered from the River Foyle by the Foyle Search and Rescue team. The body was taken from the river at around 9 o’clock this morning next to the Sainsbury’s car park off Strand Road. The body has not yet been formally identified, but a search has been ongoing for teenager Andrew

The Golden Eagle Trust is expressing concern about the future of rural Donegal following the publication by Teagasc of a major analysis of census figures. The figures were published as a Department of Agriculture review of its Rural Development Programme copmes to a close, with tomorrow the closing date for submissions. The programme will dictate

Donegal County Council says early results of air pollution monitoring carried out by the HSE’s Environmental Health Service show a significant reduction in the air pollution levels in Letterkenny. This reduction, the council says, can be directly attributed to the introduction of the “Smoky Coal Ban” to Letterkenny in May 2013. The council has praised

A Donegal Councillor says it’s important that the courts send a clear message to criminals that terrorising local communities will not be tolerated. Cllr Paul Canning says a recent case in which a sentence was appealed actually saw the judge decide to increase it, and that was an important message to send out. Cllr Canning

The Donegal North East TD who chairs the Oireachtas Oversight Committee is being warned not to prejudge the outcome of any investigation into the GSOC allegations. Sinn Fein’s Padraig MacLochlainn is calling for an independent inquiry into the issue. Justice Minister Alan Shatter is due before the Oversight committee on Wednesday and committee member, Charlie

The centre of Ballyshannon is reopening to traffic this morning after being sealed off for four days becauase of concerns over a wind damaged clock. The 136 year old clock over a jewellers shop was damaged by strong gusts on Thursday, and left in a dangerous condition. Yesterday, workers mounted a 30-metre high crane to

The Tánaiste is insisting the Justice Minister did not mislead the Dáil in relation to the GSOC bugging claims. The comments from Eamon Gilmore come ahead of an appearance by Alan Shatter before an Oireachtas Committee on Wednesday where he will answer questions. But the coalition is continuing to reject calls for an Independent inquiry.

SuperValu, Aldi and Lidl are increasing their sales as other retailers lose their share of the retail market. While Tesco is still the biggest supermarket chain it has seen a drop of 6.6 percent of the market share. Kantar Worldpanel, which compiles the figures, says Supervalu has been the big winner over the last 12

A third of Irish women do not use any form of contraception. That is according to a Behaviour and Attitudes survey on behalf of Bayer Healthcare. The study also found just over a quarter of women use condoms, with the same figure relying on the pill. Dr. Shirley McQuade from the Dublin Well Woman Centre

A man in his early 20s has been charged in relation to a number of burglaries in Buncrana over the weekend. A number of cars were broken into on the Cloncool estate in the town on Friday night and following a Garda raid on a house yesterday morning, two men were arrested. The man will

A delegation from the Donegal Truckers Group will head to Stormont and the Dail in the coming weeks, to express concerns over the proposed Road User Charge. That’s according to the groups spokesperson Christopher Gallagher, who was speaking following a meeting in Letterkenny on Sunday afternoon. From April the 1st, hauliers in the south will

A man in his 40s has been released without charge in relation to the murder of Andrew Allen in Buncrana two years ago. The man was arrested on Wednesday as part of the investigation into Andrews murder, however was released from custody on Thursday night without charge. Recently Gardai stated that they believe they have

Met Eireann is warning that temperatures are due to dip below freezing tonight as many people still remain without power. Around the country, 60-thousand homes still have no electricity, while some will be forced to endure another night of the cold and darkness as ESB networks warns many faults won’t be repaired this weekend. In

A Derry councillor is urging people to be careful about what they flush down their toilets after NI Water yesterday dealt with a serious blockage in the Galliagh area. Cllr Brian Tierney says a crew spent much of yesterday clearing blocked drains at homes in Glencaw Park and Leafair Gardens, after several days of blockages

The IFA is urging the Agriculture Minister to process environmental and weather related payments to farmers as quickly as possible. The association’s Donegal Chair PJ Mc Monagle says the extreme weather since the start of the year, coupled with the start of the lambing and calving season, is making conditions for farm families around the

Fine Gael has added Buncrana Mayor Cllr Peter Mc Laughlin to the ticket in Inishowen for the forthcoming local elections. Cllr Mc Laughlin left a selection convention earlier this month claiming he had been shafted, after it emerged that approaches had been made to Independent Buncrana Cllr Nicholas Crossan to run on behalf of the

Three weather warnings are in place from Met Eireann this evening. An orange flood warning is in place for the entire country, with almost two inches of rain forecast within 24 hours in some areas. Parts of Leinster, Ulster and Connacht are also under a snow and ice warning, with over an inch of snow

A Donegal County Cllr is reiterating his calls for a independent judicial public inquiry at Letterkenny General Hospital after a report showed significant evidence of non-compliance with HSE procurement policy at the hospital. An internal HSE audit has found several areas of non-compliance, the report found that the hospital breached compeition and transparency rules between

Met Éireann says an Orange flood warning is in place across the country with yet another Atlantic storm set to hit Ireland today. Further heavy rain and strong winds are expected – and there’s a snow and ice warning in place for higher ground. Meanwhile, over 75-thousand people were still without power overnight after Wednesday’s

Medical experts are hailing a new early-warning system as a major breakthrough in diagnosing Irish cancer patients. The National Quality Assurance Intelligence System is being used to review and improve the accuracy of tissue testing when diagnosing cancer. The system was established after a number of cases in the last decade where cancer wasn’t spotted

The North’s Justice Minister has praised the work being done by the Omagh Street Safe project, after attending a training session with volunteers this week. The project offers support to those who may be vulnerable while socialising in Omagh town centre on Saturday nights, and is being extended to Friday nights from tonight. Minister David

A pensioner has been beaten and robbed in his home here in Co Donegal. The latest incident happened between 6pm and 7.30pm on the Station Road in Glenties last evening. The elderly man was left in an extremely distressed state. Gardai in the town are investigating the attack. Anyone who saw anything suspicious in the

The future of Bunbeg Post Office is to be raised in the Dail later this month as part of a motion being moved by the Technical Group. Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle says the motiion will outline how the government can help preserve rural post offices by opening up the possibilty of more banking

Derry Magistrates Court has been told today that post mortem and forensics reports are not yet available in a murder case. 58 year old Kieran McLaughlin of 60, Elaghmore Psrk in Derry is charged with murdering Barry McCrory on October 10. He is also charged with maliciously wounding a man two days previously. A solicitor

The Minister for Health has admitted that there is a particular difficulty in filling vacant senior posts at Letterkenny General Hospial. Concerns over staffing at the Hospital, and the resulting impact on services, was back on the agenda in the Dail this morning when the issue was raised by Donegal Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie McConologue.

Public consultation into the delayed A5 dual carriagewat will begin April. The news was this week confirmed to West Tyrone MLA Declan McAleer who sought assurances from the  that the Executive remains committed to the A5 project. In response to a question from Declan McAleer, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness stated that the Executive remains

A new Summer School is to open to honour the principal of the Four Masters of Donegal who drafted annals which tell the history of Ireland from the earliest times. A simple Franciscan Friar, Brother Mícheál Ó Cléirigh, is to be honoured at a school in Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal, close to his birthplace in 1590

 The communities of Manorcunningham and Dromoghill have said they will stand “shoulder to shoulder” with those targeted in a recent spate of break ins. Over a thousand people turned out for a public meeting in Manor Community Centre last night. The meeting was so packed, that people had to stand outside the main hall in

The Minister for Justice is to be asked to explain what he intends to do, to deal with allegations of bugging at the headquarters of the Garda Ombudsman Commission. The Oireachtas Committee on Public Service Oversight is to invite Alan Shatter to appear, as a matter of urgency. TDs have also asked GSOC to hand