Author name: oisinkelly

A Northwest MEP says the Government must cut red tape and bureaucracy to ensure that as much of the EUs CAP allocation gets to farmers as is possible. Following a vote in Europe yesterday it was confirmed that Ireland will receive 11 billion euro in CAP payments over the next 7 years. However Jim Higgins

Donegal County Council is being asked to improve safety for pedestrians at the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny. Councillor Mick Quinn is to bring a motion to the council on Monday calling for the council to priorities a footpath from Ballymacool to the Aura in the 2014 Programme. He also supports calls for a safer

The criminal Justice agencies in the North spend 30 million pounds every year investigating legacy issues arising from the Troubles. A new report on the past, to be revealed this morning, shows that the ongoing cost has a negative impact on current criminal matters. The report is published a day after the North’s Attorney General

Police have confirmed that a device left on an bus in Derry last night was viable. A man boarded a bus at around 6pm in the Ballymagroarty area and ordered the driver to take a bomb to Strand Road PSNI station. The bus was then abandoned by the driver on Northland Road. Over 40 families

Police are currently in attendance at a security alert in the Northland Road area of Derry after a suspicious object was left on a bus in the area. Northland Road has been closed between Branch Roundabout and Springvale Park.  A number of homes in the area have been evacuated. ATO have been tasked and there

The Government been accused of once again targeting the elderly in its efforts to save money. Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue says that a drastic national reduction in the number of grants paid out for the Housing Aid for the Older Persons Scheme has been mirrored in Donegal since the current government came

The North’s Regional Development Minister is being asked to implement measures to ease traffic congestion in Strabane’s Bridge Street. West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle raised the issue, saying the worst traffic bottle neck in Strabane is undoubtedly the narrow stretch of road on the Bridge Street approach to the bridge with traffic often coming to

The President of St Vincent De Paul in Letterkenny says the massive rise in people seeking help nationally is beng mirrored in Donegal. The charity has spent more than 40 million euro across the country so far this year, up from around 30 million euro during the whole of 2012. Speaking from Dublin, where she’s

The North’s Attorney General says there should be an end to prosecutions for Troubles-related killings. John Larkin told the BBC there should be no further police investigations, inquests or inquiries into any relevant killings that took place before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He said that means all deaths caused by

MEPs will today vote on whether to shut down one of their headquarters to save money. The European Parliament will vote to close its building in Strasbourg and move to Brussels full-time. The move would save 200 million euro a year – but the French government will probably veto the plan because of the economic

The future of Derry’s rail link to Belfast will be discussed when a delegation of business, community and political representitives from the city meets with the Regional Development Minister at Stormont. Derry’s Mayor, Cllr Martin Reilly will this afternoon lead a delegation from the city and the wider North West region to meet with the

The 53 year old man killed in a collision in Ballybofey last night has been named locally as John O’Donnell, of Curraghmone. A post mortem examination has been taking place today at Letterkenny General Hospital, and the road remains closed for a technical examination. Gardai are appealing to any witnesses to come forward. Meanwhile, gardai

No more snow is expected in Donegal this week, with Met Eireann predicting an improvement. The front which saw some snow in Donegal and the North West last night has moved over Scotland, parts of which have been hit with about two inches of snow. Here, temperatures have dropped as winter sets in, but no

Police in Derry are trying to trace the occupants of a jeep stolen from a house in Donegal at around 1.30 on Sunday morning November 17th. The silver Mitsubishi Shogun, registration 05-DL-8192, was seen in the grass area behind Knockella and Ederowen Park and in the Glendale/Ferndale area at approximately 9.30am and again at 2pm.

Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte remains in a critical condition at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin this evening after falling in the city in the early hours of Saturday morning. In a statement issued this evening, his family say they are extremely grateful and thankful to the people of Donegal and throughout the country, who have sent

It will cost 15 million euro to rebuild and restore services at Letterkenny General Hospital folllowing the summer flooding, and the same amount again is being spent on equipment and the costs associated with the provision of alternative services while the restoration is ongoing. Speaking at a media briefing in the hospital this afternoon, General

The Stormont Assembly has been told that former RUC officers must cooperate with the Police Ombudsman’s investigation into the Good Neighbour Bombing in the Creggan area of Derry. Foyle MLA Colm Eastwood made the call during a debate into the powers and functions of the ombudsman. He said in August 1988, three people died after

A difference of opinion has emerged over whether or not a new pedestrian crossing is to be provided in the village of Muff. Councillor Jack Murray says plans for the crossing have been agreed and that it would be in place by January 2014 at the latest. Cllr Jack Murray  praised the local community’s efforts:

Motorists are being advised to exercise extreme caution on the roads this morning after overnight snow and dipping temperatures left a number of routes in a dangerous state. A number of minor accidents and vehicles becoming stuck have been reported. Emergency services are currently attending a collision on the back of Errigal Road. It is

Sinn Fein’s Justice Spokesperson says the fact that Gardaí will need an extra budget in order to stay running for the rest of the year proves that Justice Minister Alan Shatter is not in control of his brief. TDs will be asked to approve an extra 50 million euro in funding, after the Department of

Sinn Fein says Donegal County Council must reinstate public access to Carrigart beach. A disputed right of way to the beach has been blocked off by a contractor developing in the area. Sinn Fein Councillor Mick Quinn and Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn have now visited the site and met with locals – they are  calling on

The High Court has granted leave for two mothers of children with Down Syndrome to challenge the law on the provision of resource teaching hours to children with the disability. One of the women is a Donegal campaigner for the rights of Down’s Syndrome children. Down Syndrome is not currently recognised as a disability by

Donegal County Council has been announced as top Local Authority in this years All Island Pride of Place Competition. The prizegiving for the all island competition, which honours the community and voluntary sector, took place in Derry’s Venue at the weekend. As well as Donegal winning the local authority award, a number local projects won

People in the Braehead Road in Derry are being urged not to approach any suspicious objects after a search today. Police say they received a report that something may have been left in the area, but nothing has been found in searches of the area. They say if someone does come across an object, they

A West Donegal community activist, is claiming he has huge support in the run up to next years local elections. Micheál Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, who will run as an independent activist next year, opened his constituency office in Dungloe on Saturday. Up to 200 people turned out for the opening. And Micheál Cholm Mac

A Donegal County Cllr has raised concerns about policing along the border after there was a spate of break ins over the weekend. There were a number of incidents reported in and around Manorcunningham and Newtowncunningham. A number of vehicles and sheds were broken into along a stretch of road at Ballybegley. A handbag was

A 15-year-old has been shot in both legs by masked men in Coleraine. The three men entered a house at Glebe Avenue at about 5am this morning and shot him. One of the men was also carrying a baseball bat. The teenage victim has been taken to hospital. Police have appealed for anyone with information

Senator Jimmy Harte remains in a stable but serious condition in Dublin this morning after a fall at the weekend. Although there is said to be a slight improvement in his condition today. The Labour politician was found unconscious at Newmarket Square in Dublin with life-threatening head injuries in the early hours of Friday morning.

The Football Association of Ireland has paid tribute to the late Conor Boyle, the young Rosses teenager who tragically died in England two months ago. The18 year old Donegal man passed away in September, two weeks after a road traffic accident in England. Conor was a keen sportsman and played soccer and gaelic football. On

A 38 year old man is being treated in hospital following an attack in the Glenvale Park area of Derry in the early hours of this morning. The man sustained facial injuries which are not believed to be life threatening Two men, aged, 40 and 42 have been arrested in connection with the attack, which

There’s been widespread condemnation after a police patrol was targetted in a pipe bomb attack in Strabane. A major security alert began in the Ballycolman estate at 8.30 last night following reports that a device had been thrown at police earlier that evening. It emerged a member of the public lifted the device and placed

A convicted rapist who went missing while out of jail on licence has been jailed for six months at Belfast Crown Court for leaving the juridstiction without informing the police. 29-year-old Joseph McCabe went missing from a hostel in the North on April 2nd, and two days later, telephoned the hostel manager to say he

Donegal Senator Jimmy Harte is said to be critically ill at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin this evening. The 55 year-old was found collapsed in the South Inner City area of Dublin in the early hours of Saturday morning. He had earlier attended the Ireland v Latvia soccer international at the Aviva on Lansdowne Road. Senator Harte

It has been confirmed that two Donegal landlords have been convicted and levied with €10,000 in fines and costs for not registering with the Private Residential Tenancies Board. The PRTB has confirmed that further cases will be brought before the courts throughout 2013 and 2014 for failing to register tenancies. In the first case proceedings

Buncrana Town Council is to ask if there is a health risk associated with the water meters being installed aross the country on behalf of Irish Water. Cllr Ciaran Mc Laughlin raised the issue, saying he understands that the meters constantly emit electromagnetic radiation, and with one being installed at every home, he wants the

Former Taniaste, Mary Coughlan has not ruled out a return to politics. Ms Coughlan has remained out of the limelight since she lost her seat in the General Election in February 2011. At that time she was the biggest name to lose her seat in the General Election. But speaking publicly for the first time

Dozens of women attended a meeting in Letterkenny today which was aimed at encouraging more women to get involved in politics. Currently in the county all the elected Deputies and Senators are male, while there are only two female representatives on Donegal County Council. The event was hosted by current and former female politicians such