Author name: oisinkelly

An East Derry MLA has voiced his disappointment at the news that the police have suspended their investigation into the 1972 Claudy bombing. Last year marked the 40th anniversary of the attack where three bombs exploded in the Derry village killing nine people. No group has ever claimed responsibility for the attack but the IRA […]

People in the North East Inishowen area are being urged to consider volunteering at Carndonagh Community Hospital to improve the social lives of residents there. In the recent HIQA report which identified problems at the hospital, lack of social activity was highlighted, and the Carndonagh Hospital Liaison Group says volunteerism is a way in which

North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher has told a conference in Letterkenny that the European Commission must address the gravity of the illicit trade problems we face in Ireland.” The conference, which particularly focussed on the issues of smuggled and counterfeit cigarettes, was told that legitimate businesses are giouig to the wall because they

A siege in Burnfoot has ended. Gardai had surrounded a property on the Brae Road, near Iskaheen Parish Church overnight. Following a murder in Derry on Thursday, armed Gardai and the Irish Army had surrounded the property yesterday evening but by 4am this morning it had become clear that the house was empty. The hunt

Gardaí have surrounded a house in Burnfoot where Kieran McLaughlin, the man wanted by the PSNI for questioning about yesterday’s murder of Barry McCrory in Derry, is thought to be hiding. Members of the Garda’s Armed Response Unit are on the scene and the road, known locally as the Brae Road, has been closed since approximately 5pm.

A commitment’s been given that five beds will be reopened at Carndonagh Community Hospital on Monday week next. The secretary of the Carndonagh Community Hospital Liaison Group Joe Hegarty has indicated the group was given the commitment during a meeting today with hospital management, during which other issues including x-ray, physiotherapy and day services were

A viable mortar type device has been found by police during a security alert in Derry. About 1,000 people had to leave their homes because of the alert and several roads were closed. The police said the “intent was to kill or injure”. Cllr John Boyle said this security alert caused much destruction, and he

The Chairman of the Glenties Windfarm Information Group has hit out at the CEO of North West Wind, after he claimed that the Glenties Windfarm Group had minority support. Speaking on yesterdays Shaun Doherty Show, the CEO of North West Wind, John Gillespie said that the Glenties Windfarm Information Group do not represent the views

About 1,000 people were asked to leave their homes due to an overnight security alert in Derry. Army bomb disposal officers are at the scene. Most people have now been able to return to their homes. Police cordons have been reduced in the area and the only road still affected is Lawrence Hill. It’s understood

The nephew of an 89-year-old woman who died in hospital yesterday, has said those who carried out a burglary on her home three months ago are responsible for her death. Suzy Arthur was at home at Tullyrap just off the road from Letterkenny to Lifford with her sister Iza at 5 o’clock on the evening

Police investigating the murder of Barry McCrory in Derry yesterday have released the name of a man they want to speak to. Officers have requested information on the whereabouts of 58-year-old Kieran McLaughlin who is described as being 5’7″ tall, of medium build, with blue eyes and grey hair. He is believed to be wearing

A European arrest warrant is being sought against the brother of double killer John Gallagher in connection with a car ramming incident in Donegal earlier this year, a solicitor has claimed. 47-year-old John Gallagher, appeared in the dock of Strabane Magistrate’s Court this morning ahead of a contest against a harassment charge tomorrow. Gallagher faces

The CEO of North West Wind has hit out at the Glenties Windfarm Information Group and said they don’t represent the views of everyone in the area. The Glenties Windfarm are opposed to wind turbines being erected in the area. And over the past couple of weeks the group have collected over 700 signatures in

  There’s been further contact between Donegal County Council and the selected contractor to finalise arrangements to bring the Dungloe and Glenties sewage scheme to construction. After a meeting with Donegal County Council officials today, Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher says when this detail between DCC and the contractor is finalised, contact documents will then be

Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh has told the Dail that more capital projects should be started to boost the economy, and there are several ready to go in Donegal. During questions to Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin, Deputy Mc Hugh quoted the economist John Maynard Keynes, who argued that the best way to

Up to 300 new engineering jobs are set to be announced for Omagh. A major seven figure capital investment by global engineering manufacturer Terex Finlay is expected later this morning. The multi-million pound investment will create upwards of 300 new jobs over the next two years. The news follows yesterday’s announcement that Omagh-based engineering firm

The KFO is welcoming new scientific advice recommending a 67% rise in mackerel quotas, but says the fear is that the Commission will see this as opportunity to do a deal with Iceland and Faros at the expense of Irish fishermen. In the EU parliament today, North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher hit out

A West Donegal councillor is rejecting suggestions that money set aside for the Dungloe and Glenties Sewage Schemes may be lost. Earlier today, the Dungloe Action Group said it is to meet with Donegal County Council officials tomorrow to discuss the delay in the commencement of the schemes. At the beginning of August this year,

40 new jobs are planned for Omagh in a £3.1million expansion by engineering firm Telestack, £444,000 of which will be provided by Invest NI. Welcoming the announcement, local MLA Declan Mc Aleer said the plan represents a vote of confidence in this area, he’s hopeful that as many these new skilled jobs as possible can

Two Derry men have pleaded guilty to possessing a pipe bomb found by police during a surveillance operation in the city in September 2011. 56 year old Eugene McLoone from Abercorn Road and 48 year old Daniel Martin Joseph Doyle of Bluebell Hill Gardens both pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to having the device

Gardai have issued a warning to bus company owners around the county after a number of school buses stopped at check-points where found to be unsafe. Increased Garda checks on school buses in Donegal have found that many are not road worthy. Of a total of nine buses stopped at one check point this week,

The Dungloe Action Group are to meet with Donegal County Council officials tomorrow to discuss the commencement of the Dungloe sewage scheme. At the beginning of August this year, Donegal South West Deputy, Dinny McGinley said the work would begin within a fortnight. But two months on and works have still not begun. Spokesperson for

Vandals who threw every lifebelt on Derry’s Peace bridge into the river Foyle have been condemned. Foyle Search and rescue crews discovered all the lifebelts had been vandalised during a patrol at 1am on Sunday morning. It is second time in four months that the lifebelts have been vandalised. In July it was warned anyone

The European Parliament is calling for a ban on Menthol cigarettes and other fruit-flavoured tobacco products. However they’re proposing that the ban would not come into force for several years. MEPs yesterday voted on a number of draft laws to make tobacco products less attractive to young people. The MEPs supported calls for laws to

Local Gardai at Letterkenny have issued a warning to parents of small & teenage children following a number of reports of approaches to children. Garda Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Paul Wallace stated, ’We have had a number of reports of approaches to children by male persons driving cars particularly in the Inishowen area but also

A man’s been arrested in County Antrim in connection with the attempted double bomb attack near Derry City Council’s offices last year. The man has been taken to the Antrim Serious Crime Suite for questioning. The 40 year old man was detained this morning by detectives from the Serious Crime Branch who are heading up

The Vice President of the INTO is in Donegal today for a meeting to discuss the campaign to reduce class sizes and protect smaller schools. Brendan O’Sullivan says Donegal has a far higher proportion of 1 to 4 teacher schools, and the highest proportion of minority schools in the country, but it seems these facts

 Pickets are in place outside Letterkenny General Hospital today as Non Consultant Hospital Doctors withdraw services from 51 hospitals across the state. More than 3,000 doctors are taking part in the move following a long running dispute with the HSE over working hours. Hospital Management at Letterkenny General say that the Emergency Department and other

Ballybofey has the highest proportion of vacant commercial premises in the country, according to figures published this morning by property analysts GeoDirectory and DKM Economic Consultants. 28.2% of all commercial premises are vacant in Ballybofey, compared to a national average of 12.3% The figure for Donegal as a whole is slightly above the national average

Police in Derry are appealing for information following a serious road traffic collision on the Buncrana Road last night. Shortly after 8.30pm it was reported that a collision had occurred between a car and a male pedestrian. The 17 year old male pedestrian was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. The Buncrana Road was closed

Donegal man Frank Larkin has been elected Chairperson of Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland, a national campaigning body for people with disabilities. He was elected at the organisation’s annual conference at the weekend, and says he will be hitting the ground running with the budget wext week. In 2009, Mr Larkin ran as a candidate in

Sinn Féin has announced its team of candidates to contest next year’s ‘super council’ election which will see Derry and Stabane councils merge. The 21 candidates were named at a selection convention held in the party’s Rath Mór constituency office over the weekend. It is the first time candidates for both Derry and Strabane have

Pickets are in place outside Letterkenny General Hospital this morning as Non Consultant Hospital Doctors withdraw services from 51 hospitals across the state. More than 3,000 doctors are taking part in the move following a long running dispute with the HSE over working hours. The 24 action got underway at 7 o’clock this morning, but

It’s been confirmed that five beds will reopen at Dungloe Hospital from Monday of next week. Five more remain closed after the total number was reduced from 35 to 25 in May. After a public meeting in Dungloe over the summer, a deputation met with the HSE management to make a case for the reopening

Ninety percent of those eligible to pay property tax have now done so, with the joint lowest compliance rate in Donegal, where 84% have paid. Natonally, two hundred million euro had been collected by the end of September, according to the latest figures from Revenue. In Donegal, 5.2 million euro has been declared and 4.7

With winter fast looming on the horizon, HSE West is today launching its Flu Vaccination Programme, urging people in at-risk groups to get vaccinated. The HSE estimates that over the last eight flu seasons, between 200 and 500 people in Ireland died each year from flu related illness, and up to 1000 people could die