Author name: oisinkelly

The Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement has re-iterated the importance of dealing with the North’s legacy issues. Justice for the Forgotten – a group representing victims of the Troubles – will attend a meeting of the committee today to give their perspective on the manner in which

The Department of Health says it’s satisfied that the nearest available ambulance was dispatched to the incident which led to the death of Maura Porter. Ms Porter was struck by a car at 5.40pm on Monday the 30th of December at Churchtown suffering serious head injuries. It took 50 minutes for an ambulance to arrive

An Oireachtas banking inquiry could be hampered because of missing documents in the Department of Finance. That’s according to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty, who says an urgent investigation is needed to see what documents about the bank guarantee have gone missing. The Department of Finance says it can’t find two documents which discussed a potential

A County Tyrone man has been jailed for 10 years for having guns and explosives, and being in a dissident group calling itself the IRA. Gavin Coyle, of Culmore Park in Omagh, admitted having four AK-47 assault rifles and ammunition along with explosives, bomb-making material and parts for improvised mortars. Gavin Coyle admitted to being

Police in Strabane have issued a warning about the use of laughing gas for recreational use. Officers have said that a parent in the town found their child buying canisters online for a rave party. Police said this was the first report that they have received of this type of substance abuse. Nitrous oxide has many

A Donegal North East Deputy is to raise the overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny General Hospital with the Health Minister. A spokesperson for the INMO yesterday said that the overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny General Hospital had worsened, with patients being treated on trolleys in corridors at the hospital. All patients south of the Twin Towns are

The man behind a new chemist which is planning to slash prescription drug prices for Irish customers says anyone could follow their lead. Healthwave has just opened in the Dundrum suburb of Dublin. The company is going to price drugs at around the same level as competitors in Northern Ireland. They will put less of

The Vatican’s former Chief Prosecutor of Clerical Sexual Abuse says countries must investigate members of the clergy who cover up child abuse. For the first time the Vatican is facing questions in public from the UN Committee on Children’s Rights amid historical allegations of prolific child abuse in the Catholic church. An Irish victim of

Police in Tyrone say they believe they know the identities of the men behind the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr in Omagh almost three years ago. The 25 year old died in a booby-trap car bomb outside his home in Omagh on April 2nd, 2011. A senior detective involved in the investigation told the BBC

Highland Radio understands that Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte has been transferred to a Dublin hospital in a critically ill condition. On November 16th, Senator Harte was found unconscious close to his Dublin apartment in the Newmarket Square area of Dublin 8 with life-threatening head injuries caused by a “tragic fall.” The father of four underwent

The INMO say the overcrowding crisis at Letterkenny General Hospital has worsened, with patients being treated on trollies in corridors at the hospital this week for the first time since 1998. All patients south of the Twin Towns are now being diverted to Sligo, but the INMO says it is now approaching capacity. Attempts were

Donegal County Councillor Barry O’Neill has called on the ESB to remove all fencing that has been erected along Assaroe Lake at the Knather Road in Ballyshannon and along both embankments on the River Erne in the Town Centre. Cllr. O’Neill has made a formal complaint to the Planning Department at Donegal County Council which

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh has welcomed the announcement of 12.5 billion euro in funding for the Agriculture and rural sectors. The money – which comes from Common Agricultural Policy and exchequer funding will be dispersed between now and 20-20. Along with direct payments to farmers there will also be schemes for farm investment to grow

A Letterkenny Town Councillor is lending his support to an online campaign to help save and restore the Church Lane area of the town. Councillor Gerry McMonagle is backing the campaign groups efforts to enhance the tourist value of the area. One of the main issues affecting the lane is derelict buildings with their owners

A young man involved in a rampage of thievery and burglary by a gang which terrified residents of the Rosses in West Donegal offered Dungloe District Court yesterday an extra €1,500 compensation in addition to €1,600 he already paid into court. Ryan Boyle, 22, of Lower Keadue, Burtonport, was given three months prison suspended for two

A 43-year-old man has appeared at Dungloe District Court, accused of possessing child pornography. The court was told it would take at least a half-day to try the case. Inspector David Kelly said there were 14 Garda witnesses in the case and some of the evidence would be of a technical nature. The man, who

Counties along the West Coast are being encouraged to apply for EU funds to help contribute towards repairing areas damaged by the recent storms. North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher says he is confident that Ireland will receive EU financial assistance to help with the repair work. Speaking after what he described as a

Donegal Relay for Life 2014 has been formally launched, with a focus on the fact that 1,000 people a year are now diagnosed with cancer in Donegal. Under the banner “A Thousand Reasons to Relay”, the Irish Cancer Society and the local organising committee are urging teams to come together and register for the event

Over a million euro has been allocated to provide a new bridge on the Ballybofey to Glenties road at Elactagh. A temporary ‘Baily Bridge’ was erected in 2012 at a cost of 50 thousand euro and was described at the time as an embarrassment with some lorries and buses getting stuck on it. Work on

A man and a woman have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with robbing a chemist in the city on January 10. Elaine Bradley (41) of Altcar Park and David Comiskey (41) of 31a Chamberlain Stret both in Derry are charged with stealing a quantity of prescription drugs on that date. Bradley was also charged

The new system for issuing driving licences in Donegal has been described as a disaster. Letterkenny Town Council heard claims last night that people are experience huge delays in having their application processed in the local office before facing a long wait for their new license to arrive by post. In October last year, two

A Strabane Councillor has warned that someone will be killed after claims that groups of children are playing ‘Chicken’ with traffic in the town’s centre. Councillor Patsy Kelly has raised the issue having been contacted by concerned residents and taxi drivers. Its claimed that groups of up to five youths are running straight out onto

The trial of a Donegal man accused of the murder of four British soldiers in the Hyde Park Bombings in London in 1982 gets underway on Friday. 61 year old John Downey is accused of killing the four men in an IRA bomb attack. The Household Cavalry members were killed as they rode from their

Irish Water CEO will explain today how the agency spent 50 million euro on consultants last year. John Tierney will appear before the Oireachtas Environment committee to discuss spending and set up costs. Tomorrow evening he will appear at the Public Accounts Committee to discuss ways for TDs to scrutinise its spending in future. The

Two investigations have been launched into the death of a young boy in a lift shaft in Galway yesterday. 3-year-old Solomon Soremekun was with his mother and two siblings at the Hynes Building on St. Augustine Street when he became separated from them and entered the lift shaft. Ambulance crews and the fire service attended

Donegal County Council has been saved after Independent Cllr John Campbell dramatically backed a revised council Budget for 2014. Just after 8.30pm on Monday, new budget proposals from Fine Gael members, Labour and Independents including John Campbell was put to the floor. The vote was tied 14 – 14, as Fianna Fail Cllr Rena Donaghey

There is suspected outbreak of the Winter Vomiting Bug at the Department of Psychiatry at Letterkenny General. As a result, and following consultation with the HSE’s Department of Public Health and Infection Control personnel, the Department of Psychiatry will remain closed to routine admissions and visitors until further notice. The follow public information has been

Fianna Fail have this afternoon confirmed that they will not be supporting Donegal County Council budget proposals. Cllrs are meeting for the fourth day to try and adopt budget proposals for the year ahead. If the budget is not adopted by midnight, then the County Council will collapse for the first time in its 118

In an effort to ease overcrowding at Letterkenny General, patients from the south of the county are being diverted to Sligo General Hospital while GPs have been asked ‘treat people in the community.’ This morning, the hospital had 27 people over its bed complement, many of them on trolleys, and some on chairs. The Management’s

The Canadian Astronaut who Tweeted about Ireland from space and has now become a Tourism Ambassador for the Country has been visiting Donegal today. Commander Chris Hadfield has been taking part in a tour of Inishowen and earlier met with students at the Gaeilscoil in Buncrana. His visit is part of a promotional drive by

The Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital has denied that there is an effort being made to remove the Catholic Chapel from the hospital. A major petition was launched at the weekend seeking to retain the chapel, amid suggestions that the facility which has been closed since last year’s flood would not be replaced. The Letterkenny

Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has lost his High Court challenge against an investigation by the Standards in Public Office Commission into alleged duplication of expenses claims. The case relates to an investigation concerning travel and subsistence claims made by Mr Ó Domhnaill between 2006 and 2007, when he was a member of Donegal County

Fianna Fail has claimed that a member of its party was sent an intimidating email from a fellow Councillor at the weekend. It’s claimed that Independent Councillor Frank McBrearty sent the email to Fianna Fail’s  Councillor David Alcorn at 446am on Sunday morning. It is not the first time tempers have flared between the Independent

Gardai in Ballyshannon are investigating following a major theft at the weekend. A five-figure sum of cash was stolen in break in at the home of a business family in the Assaroe View area of the town. Nobody was in the house at the time when thieves struck on Saturday evening. Gardai are seeking information

Donegal County Council’s budget meeting has reconvened at County House with a huge media presence in the building. It’s the fourth day of the meeting which remains deadlocked, with Fine Gael, Labour and some Independents supporting the budget, while Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Independent Cllr John Campbell oppose it. Earlier this morning, Independent Councillor

The INMO is seeking a meeting with management at Letterkenny General Hospital to discuss the number of patients on trollies and in temporary locations at the hospital. This mornng, the hospital is 27 people over its bed complement, many of them on trollies, and some on chairs. INMO Spokesperson Maura Hickey says this is a

The North’s Environment Minister has called a special meeting of the Road Safety Council at Stormont. The road safety forum, which includes government agencies, the PSNI and other emergency services will meet in Parliament Buildings tomorrow. Minister Durkan said he decided to convene the special meeting of the Road Safety Forum after five deaths in

Fianna Fail in Donegal have issued a statement calling on the government parties and other independents on Donegal County Council to back their attempts to secure more money for the county and secure answers to important questions about the future of water provision. Fianna Fail say so far, they’ve not received sufficient answers to change

Representatives from Irish Water are to appear before the Oireachtas Environment Committee this Tuesday to answer questions about their spending on consultants Last week, it emerged that the body spent over 50 million euro on consultants in its first year. The body has defended its spending, saying it can save the state over 2 billion

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an armed robbery in the Park Avenue area last evening. At approximately 8.40pm, two men, one armed with a wheel brace, entered a newsagents and demanded money. They made off with a sum of cash in the direction of Upper Nassau Street. No-one was injured in the

  Donegal’s Mayor says he hopes the authority will survive beyond tomorrow’s last chance budget meeting, which could see the council dissolved if it fails to adopt a budget.   The council has already met over three days and nights, and adjourned 21 times, but remains deadlocked. Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein and Independent Cllr John

Sinn Fein Cllr Ciaran mc laughlin has described the €50 million spent on consultants by irish water as a national scandal. “This waste of public money is a national scandal and cannot be justified”. Despite spending €100 million so far to set up irish water, this monster quango is already out of control. Water services

There’s fears other key Government documents may be missing after the Department of Finance admitted it cannot locate two letters relating to the banking crisis. The revelation was made to Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty on foot of a Freedom of Information request. The Department of Finance says two out of eight key documents concerning the

The Health and Safety Authority has launched an investigation into the death of a young man in an accident at a Killybegs fish factory yesterday. 21-year-old Kara McCole, who worked at Sean Wards Fish Exports, tragically died after he became trapped in machinery. Kara normally worked in company’s factory in Miltown, but was working in Killybegs