Author name: oisinkelly

North West MEP Jim Higgins says Ireland’s payments from the Common Agricultural Policy must be maintained. Mr Higgins was speaking ahead of today’s 2-day Summit in Brussels to conclude negotiations on the EU’s budget from 2014 to 2020. Ireland relies heavily on the budget for agricultural payments to farmers, and Mr Higgins insists those payments […]

Police in Derry have arrested a 19 yr-old woman and a 25 yr-old man in connection with an armed robbery that occurred at the Peace Bridge in Derry on Tuesday. At approximately 8.25pm a female was walking along the Peace Bridge towards the Waterside when she was robbed at knife point. A male approached her

Emergency legislation to liquidate the former Anglo Irish Bank has been rushed through the Dail overnight – ahead of an expected announcement on bank debt deal for Ireland today. President Michael D. Higgins has signed the Irish Bank Resolution Bill 2013 in to law at Aras an Uachtarain this morning. The Finance Minister’s admitted he

Eight new charging points for electric cars have been erected in the Strabane District  despite evidence that they are a waste of money. There are now over fifty electric car charging points in Northern Ireland. An electric car costs in the region of £25k and the British Government are giving a £5k grant to first time

A Donegal solicitor has sent a letter to the Justice Minister calling for a reform of the free legal aid system in Ireland. Letterkenny based solicitor Dessie Shiels says the current system is “grossly unfair to the victims of crime and serves only to favour criminals”. Mr Shiels also said that the cost of legal

The Dail has been told that if Education Minister Ruari Quinn insists in including capital assets in the means testing of families for student grants, then farmers will inevitably lose out. The issue was raised by Donegal TD and Fianna Fail Education Spokesperson Charlie Mc Conalogue, whio called for the  idea to be abandoned. However,

A major reform of the EU’s Common Fisheries Policy which aims to cut fishing to sustainable stock levels and end dumping fish discards at sea was approved by the European Parliament in Strasbourg today. Overfishing is widely seen as the worst failure of the current CFP which dates back to 2002. The new CFP –

Are you getting married? or have you just got engaged? Then come along to Highland’s first Wedding Fair in Inishowen, in association with Callaghan Jewellers Buncrana on Sunday 27th January in the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, Buncrana from 1-5pm. There’s everything you need for your big day from Bridalwear to Cakes to your Honeymoon, Jewellery, Car

A ‘strain on resources’ means that there will not be a  full inquest into the murder of missing Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson this year. That is according to Senior Coroner John Leckey who told a preliminary inquest in Belfast today that he did not have the recources. 15 year-old Arlene Arkinson disappeared in August 1994

The Minister for the Environment says he will not depart from any of the recommendations made by the Constituency Commission. Under the proposals, Donegal will become a single five-seater constituency, with almost 9,000 voters in the south of the county transferring to Sligo / Leitrim. However, it seems that name will not be changed to

  Highland’s Rehab Bingo Jackpot Winners, Frances Gallagher, Rathmullan and Anne Doherty from Culdaff who shared last weeks prize of €8,100. They are accompanied in the photo  by Charlie Collins, Station Manager and Hazel Russell, Financial Controller. A full list of stockists for Rehab Radio Bingo Books are on the website @ www.highlandradio.com

The mother of Andrew Allen, who was shot dead in Buncrana last year, has claimed her son was killed not because he was involved in drugs, but for more personal reasons. Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Donna Smith said the family believes that the shooting of Andrew in Lisfannon a year ago next Saturday

Two men in their 40s are due in court in Donegal shortly, charged in connection with the seizure of half a million euro worth of cannabis plants in Co. Leitrim. As part of an ongoing investigation by the Divisional Drugs Unit – a house in the Kilclare area of Carrick-on-Shannon was searched on Monday –

A 29-year-old has been shot in the foot in Meenan Square in the Bogside area of Derry. The man was treated in hospital, his injuries are not life threatening. It is believed the attack was carried out by dissident republicans. Derry City Councillor Patricia Logue says those responsible are not acting for the vast majority

Management of Donegal County Council says staff morale is positive despite recent redundancies, reductions in pay and increased workloads. Councillor Mick Quinn has called on the council to evaluate staff morale as a result of recent changes, the council replies that it is already engaging with staff and unions on a regular basis. Councillor Quinn

A Strabane District Councillor has expressed his disappointment that the town has been over-looked for funding to revamp derelict buildings in urban areas. Minister Alex Attwood announced this week that £1 million would be allocated to revamp town centres in Fermangh, Belfast, Lisburn, Moyle, Rosstrevor and Dungiven. Strabane District Council had applied for funding, but

Northwest Independent MEP Marian Harkin says she supports the French President’s call for a financial transaction tax. President Francois Hollande referred to the need for the tax during his address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg yesterday. The Irish government has so far refused to back the tax. However, Marian Harkin says its introduction could

The famous Other Voices concerts come to Derry this weekend as part of the City of Culture 2013 celebrations. The main events will take place in The Glassworks venue, with the concerts being streamed live around a number of bars around Derry. Other artists and bands will be playing throughout different other venues in the city. The

A 33-year-old man has been arrested after a collision involving a car and a lorry on the Melmount Road in Strabane. The crash happened shortly after 11 o’clock this morning. One man has been taken to hospital, his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The road was closed for a time, but has now

Traffic diversions are in place on the Melmount Road in Strabane following a road collisiion involving a car and a lorry shortly after 11o’clock this morning. The diversions in place at Dublin Road, and on the junction of Melmount Road and Peacock Road. There are no details of the extent of injuries, if any.

The family of Andrew Allen, who was murdered last year in Buncrana, have challenged his killers to say he was not a drug dealer or a career criminal. Mr Allen, from Derry, was shot dead at his home near Buncrana on 9 February 2012. Republican Action Against Drugs said it carried out the murder. Speaking

A series of workshops exploring the exodus of protestants from the West Bank of the Foyle in the early years of the troubles is being run over the coming days on both sides of the river. Author Jonathan Burgess has written a series of short scenes which will be performed as part of ‘The Exile

There has been a broad welcome to the news that the Budget for Letterkenny General Hospital  is to increase. Letterkenny was allocated €93m for 2012 which overran to €104.6m; this year the hospital’s budget allocation has been increased by 7% to €100.4m. Sligo General Hospital will see its budget increase by  5.2% this year. Labour

The new Donegal Diaspora website will be officially launched later today. The website will provide an online platform for the Donegal community worldwide to communicate with the county and with each other. The website will have sections on the county’s cultural development as well as what is happening in terms on enterprise and education. The

Proposals have been tabled to the European Council to continue the Peace programme worth 150 million for the period 2014 to 2020. Donegal and other border counties have benefited significantly from the programme since the mid 90’s, a decision on its extension will be taken later this week. Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP has welcomed

A 22 year old man is due in court this morning after an unsuccesful burglary in Donegal. The would-be burglar was brought to hospital after being attacked by a homeowner in Glencar in Letterkenny. It’s reported the homeowner – who’s in his 50s – defended himself with a golf club. Gardai say the homeowner managed

Motorists are being advised to take extreme care on the roads this morning. Snow and ice are causing problems for drivers in many parts of the counry with particular caution advised on secondary routes. Further wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow are forecast in many areas throughout the morning. Stay tunes to Highland Radio

A Bundoran Town Cllr has said that he is hopeful that US Congress will pass new immigration legislation, which would be great news for the undocumented Irish. US President, Barack Obama is proposing to give the roughly 11 million U.S. illegal immigrants – thousands of them Irish – a pathway to citizenship. Cllr Mick McMahon

People across the Strabane District are being warned to be on “high alert” with regards to possible oil-theft in their homes. Last week a single mother of four had her oil tank drained of 500 litres at her Glenview Park home. And when the mother refilled her tank with another 100 litres of oil it

The Food Standards Agency in the North says no pork meat was found in halal products supplied by a Strabane company to Prisons in England and Wales. Mc Colgans says as soon as traces of pork was found in tests, products were withdrawn. Meanwhile, an Irish Muslim leader is warning the discovery of pork DNA

A new report has found that over a quarter of children in Ireland between the ages of 9 and 16 have been bullied – that’s higher than the EU average. The findings of the report were launched by the new Watch Your Space campaign – which coincides with Safer Internet Day tomorrow. The campaign is

There were 20,905 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of January, unchanged from December, and down 662 on January 2012. There were 960 people signing on the Live Register in Killybegs at the end of January, 25% down on the same period last year. Other falls were more modest, with 4,421

There a plans to set a unique world record in the Twin Towns on St Patrick’s Day. The Twin Towns Gathering Group’s hope to assemble the most number of Paddy’s and associated names i.e. Patrick, Patsy, Patricia etc. It is part of a day of events planned for the Twin Towns including a parade and

Met Eireann is predicting strong winds, rain and snow for the northwest over the next 36 hours. Gusts of over 102kph have already been recorded in Malin with a warning of more damaging gusts in the coming days. Almost four hundred homes and businesses in the Ballyshannon area have had their power knocked out this

Detectives are appealing for information following an aggravated burglary in the Wesley Street area of Derry last night, Sunday 3rd February. It was reported that sometime before 8pm two unknown males, one carrying a suspected firearm, forced their way into a house in the area and tied up the male resident and assaulted him. The

A second Irish company has been hit with another food scandal. Halal certified foods manufactured by Strabane based McColgan Quality Foods have been found to contain traces of pork DNA. Pork meat is one the foods forbidden under Islamic law. The British Food Standards Agency has called an urgent meeting of major retailers and suppliers

A County Donegal based priest has resigned from his parish due to claims he was physically and verbally abused by a small number of parishioners. 74 year-old Fr Bill McGeady, the curate in Glencolmcille informed parishioners by way of a letter yesterday. Copies of the letter were left for parishioners  after Sunday Mass – in

A Derry woman has been jailed for six years for stabbing another woman in the city in December 2011. 22-year-old Donna McKeefrey of 9, Barnewell Place in the city appeared at the local Crown Court yesterday. The court was told that on December 10 last the injured party called at a house where McKeefrey was.

A Donegal South West Deputy has said that the harsh unfair budget introduced by the Government came squarely from them, and not the Troika as they claim. Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty, along with other members of his party, met with representatives of the Troika yesterday. And he says that the Troika were clear that the

There are concerns that Derry will not be able to accommodate large crowds expected to converge on the city this Summer. Radio 1’s Big Weekend will be held in the city on the last weekend of May, while a three-day international peace forum is also to be held in the city that weekend. And the

With work on the Derry campus of the North West Regional Science Park due to start very shortly, plans are also progressing in Donegal for the local element of the plan. The new North West Regional Science Park will be a joint venture with Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Construction work on the Letterkenny campus of

It’s emerged that the North’s finance minister had concerns about a decision to relocate the agriculture department to a former army base in County Derry. An estimated 800 jobs will move from Belfast to the former Shackleton Army barracks in Ballykelly, despite a study showing Strabane to be the more economically deserving location. Last night,