Author name: oisinkelly

Convicted murderer Brian Rattigan has become the first person in the State to be found guilty of drug dealing from behind bars. The 32-year-old, formerly of Cooley Road in Drimnagh, has been convicted of the possession of €1 million of heroin for sale or supply while an inmate in Portlaoise Prison. When Gardai raided his […]

The 16 Irish stores of retailer HMV are to close with the loss of 300 jobs. The news comes after the receiver of the music chain in Ireland issued a statement confirming that the shops – which had been temporarily closed – will not re-open. Deloitte says the stores had been closed by HMV prior

Fianna Fáil has moved to distance itself from a controversial slur on travellers by a member of the party. Donegal County Councillor Seán McEniff had demanded the segregation of travellers from settled communities. It follows the burning of a house allocated to a traveller family in Ballyshannon yesterday. Local TD and Sinn Féin justice spokesperson

The latest bid by Ryanair to take over Aer Lingus is being blocked by the European Union (EU). The low fares airline says it was told during a ‘state of play’ meeting with the European Commission that its approach will be prohibited. Ryanair says the decisions being made despite it meeting every competition concern raised

The High Court has said it is ‘good news’ that 5 investors have expressed interest in struggling homeware chain B&Q Ireland Ltd. Declan McDonald of Pricewaterhouse Coopers has been appointed as examiner to the insolvent business which employs 690 staff across Ireland. There was no opposition to the company’s petition for court protection from its

Sinn Fein has again called on the Fianna Fáil leader to outline what measures he intends to take following controversial comments made by one of the party’s councillors about travellers. Donegal County Councillor Sean McEniff today repeated his call for the segregation of travellers from settled communities. Councillor McEniff was reacting to the burning of

Strabane District Council has agreed to increase its district rate for the coming year by 3.76%. In a statement, the council says the increase reflects its ongoing commitment to invest in community, leisure and recycling facilities. This means that local ratepayers will see an average increase in their domestic rates bill of £22 in the

A Letterkenny Town Councillor has called for renewed efforts to improve facilities at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny. The Town Council had approved plans for the development of the college but that decision was successfully appealed to An Bord Pleanala. It is now feared that the project is back to square one in terms of

There’s been another aggravated burglary in Inishowen, this time at Cullen’s Shop and Filling Station at Cockhill in Buncrana. At around 7.30 last night, a man entered the premises and threatened a staff member with a knife before making off with a sum of cash. Garda investigations are continuing today. Local Cllr Ciaran Mc Laughlin

Gardai  are investigating a  suspected  armed  robbery at a shop in Inishowen. At around 7.30pm  on  Monday evening a man armed with a knife entered Cullen’s shop in Buncrana demanding money. He escaped on foot with an undisclosed sum  of  cash. No one was physically injured in the incident. Gardai  continue to hunt the  man.

Derry City Council has agreed a 1.98% increase in the annual rates, stressing that this is the lowest rates increase ever recorded for the city. The Chairperson of the Policy and Resources Committee, Cllr. Paul Fleming said the increase represented in real terms 31 pence increase per week to the average residential ratepayer. He says

Donegal County Council says  that 60% of householders have now registered properties for the Household Charge. This represents an increase on the figures released nationally at the weekend. This is made up of 38,288 properties that are recorded on the Local Government Management Services database; 546 householders who have registered for a waiver and a

Meanwhile, in Stormont today, members of the Assembly paid tribute to the Constable Philippa Reynolds The DUP’s Gregory Campbell tabled the matter of the day, saying his prayers were with Constable Reynolds’ PSNI colleagues and her family. Justice Minister David Ford said Constable Reynolds died doing the job “she was so enthusiastic about”. Sinn Fein’s

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has accused the Can’t Pay Won’t Pay Group of attempting to hijack a protest which was held in Sligo at the weekend. CPWP have demanded an apology from the union claiming they were prevented from joining the 6,500 strong protest against austerity. In a statement the group voiced their

Traveller support group Pavee Point has issued a statement on the overnight house fire in Ballyshammom. The group says – if the incident is arson – it’s disgusted and disappointed to learn of the development. Pavee Point has called on the gardaí to protect traveller families in Donegal, after this, the third such incident in

Two men have appeared in court on charges relating to the death of a policewoman killed in a crash involving a stolen car in Derry. 27-year-old Constable Philippa Reynolds, died in the collision on the Limavady Road shortly before 4am in the early hours of Saturday morning. The men in court were Shane Frane (25)

A cross border project to enhance business opportunities in the renewable energy sector will hold its firstc meeting for members and prospective members tonight. The Renewable Energy Business Network is being led by Donegal County Council, and is intended to maximise opportunities in the renewable energy sector for businesses across the North West employing 50

Letterkenny General Hospital has reduced the number of patients on trolleys from January this year compared to January 2012 by 61%. The length of stay was also reduced from 8.6 days to 5.3 days at Letterkenny General in 2012. Nationally the number of patients on trolleys fell by 32%. Donegal North-East Deputy, Joe McHugh says

Campaigners from the Cant Pay Wont Pay Group have claimed that they were harassed by stewards and Gardai at an anti-austerity protest in Sligo over the weekend. In a statement released this morning the group have voiced their anger and their disappointment at the way they were treated at Saturdays march. Up to 6,500 people took part in the

A priest who quit his parish claiming he was being bullied has left the area, despite pleas for him to stay. 74-year-old Fr Bill McGeady shocked the people of Glencolmcille when he said he had suffered physical and mental abuse. Parishioners who wanted him to stay marched to the parochial house in an effort to

There has been a suspected arson attack at a controversial house in Ballyshannon. Members of the fire service were called to the scene of a house fire in the Parkhill area shortly before 3am this morning. The house in question has been the root of much controversy in the town, as Donegal County Council recently

Two men have been charged over the death of a policewoman killed in a crash involving a stolen car in Derry. 27-year-old Constable Philippa Reynolds, died in the collision on the Limavady Road shortly before 4am in the early hours of Saturday morning. The men, aged 25 and 23, are charged with offences including aggravated

Rents in Donegal have fallen once again according to the latest Daft.ie Rental Report. The average rent nationwide in the final quarter of 2012 was €808, compared to €790 in late 2011 – that is a rise 2.2% during 2012, representing the first annual rise in rents since 2007. The increase in rents is being

Two men have been arrested after a policewoman was killed in a crash involving a stolen car in Derry. 27 year-old PSNI Constable Philippa Reynolds died in the collision on the Limavady Road at 3:40am in the early hours of Saturday. Constable Reynolds was on a routine patrol in an unmarked police car. It is

The government is still owed 47-million-euro in unpaid household charges with Donegal the county with the lowest level of compliance. The latest figures from the Local Government Management Agency show more than 470,000 properties remain unregistered. The household tax was bitterly opposed when it was introduced at the beginning of last year. Almost 14 months

The Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan, has extended his condolences to the family and colleagues of the PSNI officer who was killed in Derry overnight. The 27 year old female police officer was on routine patrol when the vehicle she was in collided with what is believed to be a stolen car on the Limavady Road.

Fianna Fail are inviting the public to two information evenings on the Common Agriculture Policy taking place in Inishowen and Letterkenny tomorrow (Sunday). The meetings follow confirmation in the the EU Budget of a reduction for both the Single Farm Payment and the Rural Development Programme. Overall however, farming groups believe that the agreement has

Fianna Fail are welcoming the results of new poll today which puts the party top of the leaderboard in popularity. The Irish Times poll shows the party on 26 per cent support. Fine Gael are one point behind on 25 per cent, that’s down 6 points, Sinn Fein is at 18 per cent support while

Over 300 properties are without electricity in Donegal this morning due to three separate faults. 237 homes and business in Buncrana lost power this morning with the ESB expecting it to be returned by 5 o’clock this evening. 85 properties are without power in Stranorlar – the ESB says it hopes to have the problem

A policewoman has died in a crash involving a suspected stolen car in Derry. The 27-year-old was on  patrol in a police car when the incident happened on the Limavady Road at 3.40am this morning. Two other officers in the car were injured, but not seriously. Two men made off from the scene in the

A man and a woman have appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court in connection with an armed robbery on the Peace Bridge 25 year old Robert Gannon of 13, Dunvale Close in Derry was charged with robbery, fraud by false representations and converting stolen property on Tuesday last. 19 year old Louise Swords of no fixed

North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher says initial indications are that the EU budget agreed last evening is a good one for the North West. It makes provision for 100 million euro more for the BMW region than had initially been proposed, although it is still 100 million down on the previous allocation. Pat

Police in Derry are appealing for information following an incident beside the schoolin Moss Park on Tuesday last, in which a car hit a dog and failed to stop. At around 7.30pm, a green car, partial registration LUI hit the black labrador dog, which later died.

People in Donegal marry slightly younger than the rest of the state, and are more likely to be married in a catholic church. They are among the findings of an analysis on marriages in 2010 published today by the Central Statistics Office. Most men in Ireland are 34 when they marry – women are 32.

Foyle MP Mark Durkan has expressed his regret at confirmation that HMV is to close its Richmond Centre store, with the loss of 15 jobs. He said while the difficulties at HMV have been apparent for some time, the news of closure still hits with a sense of shock. He added as staff now face

Strabane singer-songwriter Ryan Dolan is one of the official nominees for Ireland’s entry to Eurovision 2013. Ryan will join the other four nominees to perform live on The Late Late Show on Friday, 22nd February – the winner will be picked that night, on the show. Music producer Stuart O’Connor is working with Ryan on

Donegal South-West Deputy Pearse Doherty has said that the Government has straddled future generations with the burden of debt. The Government announced yesterday afternoon that the Promissory Notes for Anglo Irish Bank were gone once and for all. Now instead of paying out 3.1 billion a year, no capital payment will be made now until

A Strabane SDLP Cllr is defending Northern Irelands Environment Minister after the town was bypassed for funding to revamp derelict buildings in urban areas. This week it was announced that £1 million would be allocated to revamp town centres in the North, but Strabanes application was deemed unsuccessful. But Cllr Patsy Kelly has claimed that

Buses from County Donegal will be travelling to Sligo tomorrow for a major anti-austerity protest. The demonstration, organised by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, will coincide with five similar protests being held throughout the country. The Northwest leg of the march will gather at the Sligo County Council Offices in Riverside at 1.30pm. Spokesperson

A Co Tyrone lorry driver wanted in Donegal over sexual assault allegations has been extradited from the North to the Republic. 42-year-old Roy David Cochrane was arrested in Omagh last month. The 42-year-old, of Loughmuck Road, Omagh, his alleged to have attacked a girl in Donegal. Cochrane denies the charges and at a court appearance

The first phase of the 2.1 million euro River Links Project launched last year is nearing completion, with construction of a cross border footpath linking Doneyloop and Clady well under way. The cross border project is led by Donegal County Council, in partnership with Strabane District Council and Ballybofey and Stranorlar Integrated Community Company. Project

The next moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has said he wants to help restore the stability of the peace process. Dr Robert Craig, the minister at Kilfennan Presbyterian Church on Derry’s Waterside in Derry will succeed Dr Roy Patton at the next Presbyterian general assembly which takes place in Derry’s Millennium Forum in June, the

The Supreme Court has been told that Marie Fleming’s landmark, right-to-die appeal is ready to proceed next month. The Donegal born former lecturer who is suffering from MS, is attempting to overturn the State’s ban on assisted suicide. The Court was told that both sides are in the final stages of lodging papers in the

Strabane District Council has confirmed that it is not proposing to close committee meetings to the public and the press. In a letter to the local branch of the National Union of Journalists, the council’s interim chief executive says while the possibility was raised during the initial stages of an internal discussion among officials, it