Author name: oisinkelly

  Gardai have seized a large quantity of cannabis plants and made four arrests as part of an ongoing investigation targeting cannabis cultivation in Co. Donegal. Cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €360,000 (pending analysis) were discovered, along with other items made and adapted for the growth and cultivation of cannabis, during a search […]

Gardai say they’re reviewing a decision to strike out a drink-driving case after a checkpoint was held to be unlawful. A Donegal driver who admitted drinking nine pints of beer the night before getting behind the wheel walked free from Letterkenny District Court yesterday. His solicitor successfully argued that the document authorising the checkpoint listed

A Strabane councillor says if there is evidence that people from Strabane are behind a spate of crime in Castlefinn and Lifford, then the gardai should be approached. Commenting on a number of recent break-ins in the Castlefinn area, local Sinn Fein Cllr Gary Doherty contrasted the large police presence in Strabane with what he

A man accused of murder has appeared in court in Derry to face further charges. Kieran Edward Joseph McLaughlin, of Ederowen Park in Derry is charged with the murder of Barry McCrory on October 10, last year. Today. he was back in court on seperate charges, as Ciara Ni Bhroin now reports. Earlier today, 58-year-old

The State is to pay 50 per cent of the costs incurred by the late Marie Fleming arising from her failed Supreme Court challenge to the law on assisted suicide. The seven judges who heard the case were informed that the parties were in agreement on the issue. The Court also affirmed an order that

  The Irish Road Haulage Association is warning that Donegal businesses may be forced to move their operations to Northern Ireland because of the difference in taxation in both jurisdictions. The cost of Road Tax for an articulated lorry is almost 10 times higher in the Republic than the North and from April the 1st hauliers

The N56 Cloghbolie to Boyoughter Road Scheme will be officially opened this afternoon, bringing to a conclusion what’s been described as a very important road safety project between Glenties and Dungloe. The NRA says this is a first step, and as funds become available, it wants to do more on that route. The 3.3 kilometre

The future of the Foyle Ferry is to be raised at a future meeting of the North South Ministerial Council. East Derry John Dallat MLA says he’s received assurances from Deputy First Minister Martin Mc Guinness and Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy that the service linking Magilligan and Greencastle will be on the agenda. He

Údarás na Gaeltachta’s End of Year Statement shows that the body created 64 jobs last year in Donegal. According to the reports, a total of 220 new jobs were created in the Donegal Gaeltacht in 2013 however job losses are taken into account, there was a net gain of 64 new jobs, an increase of

All members of Donegal County Council are being asked to sign a Charter of Conduct after there were further disputes and rowdy exchanges during the 2014 Budget process. A letter has been circulated by Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher, who hopes that if a charter were established, it would allow the Council business be conducted in

Emergency Services have attended the scene of a road traffic collision on the Letterkenny road outside of Lifford. Three cars were involved in the smash close to the Murlog junction just before 4pm on Monday Gardai, Ambulance and the Fire Service were tasked to the scene. There are no reports of any serious injuries. Traffic

Renowned Irish Times journalist Mr John Waters has been in Donegal to visit the site of the proposed Waste Water Treatment Plant and its associated discharge pipe in the town land of Carnagarve. The proposed development is would be located midway between Moville and Greencastle. Mr Waters was provided with details of the sewage plant

The signing of contracts between the HSE and Boyle Construction, Trentagh, Letterkenny for the construction of a new Primary Care Centre in Ballyshannnon took place today. The €7.9 million development, on the site of the former St. Catherine’s Convent, Townparks promises to deliver a modern centre for primary care services in the South Donegal area.

Fáilte Ireland says the ‘Wild Atlantic Way’ initiative has the potential to attract significant numbers of additional visitors into Donegal during 2014, building in the increase recorded in 2013. The tourism body’s CEO Sean Quinn says Donegal saw significant growth in visitor numbers last year, much of which can be attributed to the work of

It has been confirmed that the PEACE programme for the Border Counties and Northern Ireland will have a total budget of EUR 200 million for 2014. The purpose of the Programme is to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society in the Border Region and Northern Ireland and to promote reconciliation by assisting projects

The crew of Bundoran RNLI Lifeboat were tasked on Sunday afternoon for their first callout of 2014. An 18 foot pleasure craft with two persons on board which suffered engine failure off Mullaghmore Head in County Sligo. The alarm was raised with Malin Head Coast Guard shortly before 4pm on Sunday afternoon by mobile phone and

Searches are set to continue along the River Foyle in Derry today for a 19-year-old man from the City missing since Friday. Andrew Quigley from Fergleen Park was last seen in the Galliagh area at around 2am on Saturday morning. The 19-year-olds mobile phone and other items belonging to him were found on the Foyle

Fine Gael selected candidates at the weekend to contest two of Donegals electoral areas in the local elections. The party held selection conventions in Letterkenny and Glenties yesterday afternoon. In the Letterkenny/Milford electoral area sitting Cllr Noel McBride was joined by Letterkenny Town Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh and first time candidate Grace Boyle from Churchill on

The Justice Minister says the high number of violent deaths so far this year is “very disturbing”. Eight people have been killed in violent circumstances since the New Year and Alan Shatter says he has full confidence in the ability of  gardaí to investigate them. The latest victim, 42-year-old Michael Devoy of Balbutcher Drive in

The Transport Minister has urged SIPTU, Aer Lingus and the country’s airports to reach a quick deal over a pensions dispute. SIPTU is balloting members over whether to pursue industrial action over a deficit in the pension scheme shared by Aer Lingus and the three major airports. The Minister says any disruption to air travel

Be safe not sorry. That is the message from the Irish Cancer Society ahead of European Cervical Cancer Prevention Week. Around 328 Irish women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Ireland every year with as many as 98 dying from the disease annually. Nurse with the Irish Cancer society Eileen O’Donovan says prevention is the

The EU has approved a military mission to the Central African Republic (CAR). French troops are already trying to keep peace in the troubled African state. Conflict has escalated in the CAR with almost 1 million people fleeing the violence. The Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore has already ruled out Irish involvement in any EU mission. “I

There has been a sharp increase in the number of dogs being stolen in the county over the past number of months according to Donegal Pet Rescue. The latest incident came when a German shepard was stolen in St Johnston last week, only to be reunited with its owner following a social media campaign. This

A Donegal county cllr has called for the establishment of an independent public inquiry into the flooding disaster at Letterkenny General Hospital. The hospital was devastated by flash flooding in July last year, taking out 40% of the hospital’s capacity. Cllr Frank McBrearty Jnr stated the importance of understanding why this was allowed to happen

A search has been launched following the discovery of personal items on the Foyle Bridge in Derry this morning. Police received reports of the items at around 7.40am and that a man had possibly entered the water. Foyle search and Rescue have been leading the search operation, and have been assisted by the Irish coastguard

Police in Derry are appealing for information following a robbery at a business premises last night. The incident took place in the Pennyburn Industrial Estate at 11.40pm. A masked man pushed his way into the premises and, following a struggle with a female member of staff, made off with a cash box containing a sum

The mother of a Donegal man who tragically died after taking legal highs in the UK, hopes a new website set up in her sons memory will help raise awareness about their dangers. 20-year-old Jimmy Guichard suffered a heart attack and brain damage after taking legal highs bought from a headshop in Kent last October.

A Derry MLA says the North’s Housing Minister is losing the confidence of the people after failing to spend £17 million in funding this year, despite there being 3,000 people in need of housing in Derry alone. SDLP MLA Colm Eastwood says it is “absolutely shocking” that the Department for Social Development is giving money

Fine Gael are to hold their selection convention for the Letterkenny/Milford electoral area tomorrow afternoon. It will take place in the Radisson Blue Hotel and will be chaired by Northwest MEP, Jim Higgins. The four candidates at the convention are County Cllr Noel McBride, Letterkenny Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh, Churchill businessman Charlie McClafferty and former GAA

A 34 year old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with the armed robbery of two bookmakers premises in the city earlier this week. Daren Sweeney, whose address was given as 11, Greenwalk in the city was charged with robbing McLean’s bookmakers on the Strand Road of £360. He is also charged with

The County Museum is trying to track down the clock that used to stand in the Market Square in Letterkenny. Curator Caroline Carr says the clock, which stood in the square since the late 19th Century disappeared sometime around the 1950s, and they are trying to track it down. It’s part of an exhibition marking

A new Local Area Hackney licence scheme has been introduced, with North West MEP Jim Higgins saying this could be an important response to tackling rural isolation in Donegal. The pilot project, which is supported by the EU and coordinated by the National Transport Authority will allow low cost entry into the hackney sector in

The North’s Deputy First Minister is being accused of trying to “scupper” a peace deal. The comments come from the Orange Order, after Martin Mc Guinness claimed they were acting alongside the UVF and PUP. First Minister Peter Robinson has reacted angrily, saying Mr McGuinness has a “visceral hatred of the Orange Insitution” and is

An independent investigation into the ambulances service has been brought forward three months due to the serious issues involved. Health Minister James Reilly confirmed the move by the Health Information Quality Authority during a meeting of the Oireachtas health committee. Dr James Reilly said he believed standards are being maintained in the vital frontline service.

Derry will stage its first UK City of Culture legacy event tonight. There will be performances from former Westlife star Shane Filan, Little Bear and the Clameens. The event starts at 730pm at the Peace Garden on Foyle Street. The concert, which will be hosted by Edith Bowman from BBC Radio 1, is a free

    Funding has been made available to Donegal County Council for a range of private housing grants in 2014. Minister for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan has announced an allocation of €780,000 expressing hope that an additional allocation will be made available later this year. Welcoming the announcement, Donegal Deputy Dinny McGinley said the

A 37-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with the robbery of a bookmakers premises in Derry last month. Barry Crossan of 142, Creggan Heights in Derry was charged with robbing a bookmakers of £390 on December 14, he also was charged with carrying a handgun or imitation gun on same date. Crossan

  The Government has said the staffing crisis atLetterkenny General Hospital is a matter for the hospital management and the HSE. The issue was raised in the Dail today by Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn. He quoted the INMO which said yesterday that overcrowding at Letterkenny General Hospital had worsened, with patients being treated on trolleys in

  A British MP has called for a review of the status of legal highs in the UK after several deaths including that of Donegal man, 20 year-old Jimmy Guichard. He suffered a heart attack and severe brain damage shortly after smoking a mystery substance. His mother Karen Audino travelled from Donegal to Kent to

New EU proposals on energy targets may seriously jeopardise pylon and windfarm expansion plans according to North West MEP Marian Harkin. She says the EU Commission will shortly announce new energy proposals that will lessen the need for EU states to source energy from renewable supplies such as wind energy. Up until now, the EU

Two bookmakers premises in Derry were robbed last night. Shops at Foyle Street and Strand Road were targeted bringing to seven the amount of bookies shops robbed across the city in recent weeks. At 6pm a man entered a bookies on Strand Road armed with a suspected firearm demanding money, half an hour later a