Author name: oisinkelly

Over 15,000 people are claiming the dole in the Derry, Limavady and Strabane areas according to latest figures. The latest statistics from Stormont released this morning show that the three Northwest disctricts make up a total of 23.5% of the overall Northern Ireland unemployment rate. In Derry 5,581 people are on the dole. This is […]

The Department for Regional Development  has been given more time to make submissions in a legal case over the A5 dual carriageway. Last week, a judge said the department had not carried out a proper Habitats Directive assessment. The case was due to heard today but the case was adjourned as a DRD barrister was

A North West MEP has welcomed last night’s Council of Ministers’ agreement on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. Jim Higgins says he believes Simon Coveney has done a good job on securing a deal which will be to the benefit of farmers. In terms of direct payments, to Irish farmers, the amount will

The former head of the North Western Health Board and current Chair of Alcohol Forum has said Ireland’s alcohol culture is now of epidemic proportions. Pat Harvey was speaking as first National Alcohol Conference got underway in Dublin. It’s entitled “The Power of Local Community in Reducing Harmful Drinking”. In his previous role with the

The Minister for Agriculture has hailed the deal on the reform to the Common Agricultural Policy as a major step forward for all in the agri-sector. The agreement follows two days of intense talks in Brussels chaired by Simon Coveney. The deal will now have to be finalised by the EU Council, the European Parliament

Richie Boucher’s pay, pension and benefits package has been described as “beyond belief”. Bank of Ireland’s annual report for 2012 revealed today that the CEO was paid 910 thousand euro last year. In total the bank’s directors collected 2.5 million euro between them. Sinn Fein’s Finance Spokesman, Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says Mr. Boucher and

A man who stole from charity boxes at a church in Eglington in Derry has been refused bail. 20 year-old Bernard Cooke from Lettershandoney Avenue in Eglinton, appeared in court in Belfast charged with burgling St Brigid’s Church on Racecourse Road on November 29 last year. Prosecutors said he kicked in a door to the

A man in his 20s and a juvenile are  due in court in Letterkenny later this morning on charges relating to an assault in Falcarragh on St Patrick’s night which has left a local man in a critical condition. They were arrested yesterday by Gardai investigating an assault on 47 year-old Patrick McLaughlin on Falcarragh’s

Donegal’s TDs have been called upon to ask in the Dail why the Maritime Casualty Investigation Board will not co-operate with a Northern Ireland investigation into the deaths of two Glengad brothers It was confirmed last week that Northern Ireland coroner John Lecky is to write to the PSNI inviting them to investigate the mysterious

A man has been arrested by Gardai investigating an alleged assault in Falcarragh at the weekend which has left a man in hospital in a critical condition. The man, in his 20s and from the local area, was arrested this morning and is being held at Glenties Garda Station for questioning – investigations are ongoing.

Teams searching for a missing teenager in the River Foyle are now looking for a second man. It is believed he went into the river on yesterday morning while crews were looking for missing 18-year-old Kieran McKeon. The body of Mr McKeon’s 21-year-old companion, Alexandra O’Brien, was found in the river last Thursday. Mr McKeon

A man has drowned after he was washed off rocks at Mullaghmore Head while fishing with friends in Co Sligo. The Bundoran RNLI lifeboat was tasked by Malin Head Coast Guard to attend the scene, but were stood down as gardaí and ambulance crew assisted the man. The foreign national, in his 50s, was brought

A Derry Councillor has called on those involved in attacking buses in the Galliagh area of Derry to stop immediately. Over the past ten days there have been a number of attacks on buses which resulted in Translink withdrawing its service in the Galliagh area for a time over the weekend. Windows of buses have

A public meeting against Croke Park proposals will be held in the Mount Errigal hotel this Tuesday evening. The four leading trade unions opposed to the proposals for an extension to Croke Park are hosting the meeting as part of their nationwide campaign. Senior figures from the INMO, The IMO, The CPSU and Unite will

Three men have appeared at Derry Magistrates Court charged with assisting in arranging a meeting addressed by a member of a proscribed organisation. The three were released on conditional bail, to appear again on April 25th. Eamon Mc Dermott was in court……..

The Garda Traffic Corps in Donegal says it will be seeking to have more areas included in the list of black spots monitored under the GoSafe camera scheme. This week four new Donegal zones were added to the list, they are Cappry, Keeldrum Upper, Kilmacrennan and Trentaboy. Speaking to Greg Hughes on today’s Shaun Doherty

A search is continuing for a second missing person in Derry after the body of a woman was recovered from the River Foyle last evening. Police, backed by Foyle Search and Rescue and an Irish coastguard helicopter began a missing persons search yesterday morning after personal belongings were found on the Foyle Bridge. They say

A bid to break the world record for the most people in one place with the same first name will go ahead in Stranorlar on Sunday afternoon. Everyone with the first name Patrick, Patricia or derivations of those names is being urgd to take part, over 1,096 people are needed to secure the record. The

There’s bad news on the weather front for those planning to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in Donegal this weekend. A cold and wet day is forecast with temperatures no higher than 6 degrees. There will parades in Letterkenny, Buncrana, Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Donegal Town and the Twin Towns to name but a few. Forecaster with Met

As Property Tax valuations continue to feature in the news this week, Environment Minister Phil Hogan says more than 450,000 households still haven’t paid the Household Charge. Responding to Dail questions, Mr Hogan said the national compliance rate is now at 72pc, with 1.167 million homes registered. Donegal remains the county with the lowest registration

The Communications Regulator is to carry out a fresh assessment of mobile phone coverage in Donegal using new technology and testing methods. The assessment was confirmed during a meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications yesterday, at which Donegal Deputy Joe Mc Hugh quizzed Comreg about a number of issues. Afterwards, he told

It’s been confirmed that a second neurologist will be appointed in the Northwest. A neurologist was to have been appointed by the HSE in Sligo last year, but it proved difficult to fill the post until now. The appointment will come as a welcome relief to the hundreds of people in the region who have

Three men are due at Derry Magistrates Court today charged with assisting in arranging a meeting addressed by a member of a proscribed organisation. The three, aged 50, 42 and 27 were arrested earlier this week in connection with alleged offences at an Easter Commemoration at the City Cemetery last year.

Three men have been charged with assisting in arranging a meeting addressed by a member of a proscribed organisation. The three, aged 50, 42 and 27, are due to appear before Derry Magistrates Court tomorrow. It is believed the charges are in connection with an investigation into terrorism offences at the Easter commemoration at the

Northern Ireland coroner John Lecky is to write to police inviting them to investigate the mysterious sinking of a fishing boat which killed two Glengad brothers. 70-year-old Daniel and 68-year-old Francis McDaids boat sank close to the mouth of Lough Foyle exactly five years ago today. A Maritime Casualty Investigation Board report in the Republic

A libel action brought by John McAreavey against the Irish Daily Mail over pictures of his wife has been settled. The still photographs were taken from CCTV footage presented in court last year, pictures which Belfast High Court has been told were ‘potentially misleading’. 27-year-old Michaela Mc Areavy was murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius

The number of MRSA cases in Letterkenny General Hospital has decreased in recent years. The latest figures show that there were 19 occurrences of the illness in 2008 and just six cases in 2012. This represents a 68% per cent reduction in instances over the last four years. There has also been a large decrease

Pope Francis won’t be calling on his predecessor Benedict 16th today as had originally been reported. The Vatican says he probably won’t see him tomorrow either, but does say a meeting will happen in a few days. On today’s Shaun Doherty Show on Highland Radio, Bishop Philip Boyce said he believes Pope Francis will be

A spokesperson for the Communications Regulator Comreg has said they are not aware of any deficiencies in broadband connectivity for businesses in Donegal. Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh raised the issue during an Oireachtas Comnmunications Committee meeting this morning attended by the regulator and some of his senior staff. He asked the regulator

Sinn Fein representatives in Donegal have announced details of upcoming local initatives to challenge the property tax. They’ve outlined plans to distribute tens of thousands of leaflets in order to build support for a Sinn Fein bill which will be going through the Oireachts to repeal the property tax. They will also be asking everyone

Two men were arrested in Derry yesterday as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity. The arrests followed a number of house searches in the Creggan area of the city yesterday morning. A PSNI spokesperson said the arrests were made in connection with an investigation into a commemoration in the City Cemetery on Easter

Diversions around Burnfoot have been lifted after a serious collision on the Buncrana side of the village shortly after 3 o’clock this morning. A 33 year old man, who was driving a van, sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Altnegelvin Hospital. We understand his injuries are not life threatening. Diversions via Barrs quarry stayed

Argentine Jorge Mario Bergoglio was tonight elected pope – the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. The 76-year-old, from Buenos Aires, has chosen to be known as Pope Francis. After announcing “Habemus Papum” – “We have a pope!” – a cardinal standing on the balcony

White smoke has risen from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel at the Vatican, signalling that Cardinals have chosen a new pope. We’ll find out who will be the next leader of the Catholic church when they appear on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica – possibly within the next hour.