Author name: oisinkelly

There’s been a serious road collision on the Belleek to Kesh Road in Fermanagh which was being used as a diversion route following an earlier fatal crash outside Pettigo. This means that anyone wishing to travel from Pettigo to Laghey must go via Enniskillen. The Fermanagh road is now closed from Rosscoir in Belleek and […]

A special investigation to be aired on TV3 tonight will hear claims from an arms trafficker that he brings weapons into the country through Donegal on public transport. Armed and Dangerous investigated Ireland’s black-market weapons trade. TV3’s investigative journalist Paul Connolly spoke earlier on the Shaun Doherty Show:

A man has died following a single vehicle crash near Pettigo in South  Donegal. The Laghey to Pettigo road is closed and diversions are in place to facilitate a gardaí investigatation. The man, who is believed to have been from eastern Europe, was driving a lorry.

Diversions are place between Pettigo and Laghey following a single vehicle collision close to Leonard’s Filling Station at 12 noon today. Emergency services are at the scene, motorists are being urged to avoid the area if possible. The diversions are in place from Leonard’s to Laghey. We understand there are injuries,  but no further details

Sinn Fein TD Martin Ferris is in Donegal today for a series of meetings with community and youth groups. He and Galway Senator Trevor O’Clochartaigh are in the county as part of Sinn Féin’s Love Rural Ireland Campaign, which was launched by the party in March of last year. They will attend meetings in Killybegs

A gang has struck in what is believed to be the first identity theft scam of its kind in Donegal. Up to eleven cars were broken into and personal identity data stolen. Tax books, driving licences and insurance data were stolen in the incident at Glenwood Park. Local Town Cllr, Gerry McMonagle has said the

A pensioner living in her Pettigo home was thrown to the ground on Saturday night as robbers searched her home for money. The robbery took place at around 11 o clock on Saturday night. The 78-year-old is the second pensioner living along the border to be targeted in the past week. The news comes in the wake

The Government has reversed the controversial decision to halve spending this year on personal security alarms for older people. This decision contradicts last week’s statement by the Department of the Environment. The previous statement said that eligibility for the Seniors Alarm Scheme was being restricted to older people living alone. Donegal North East Deputy Padraig

Marine Minister Simon Coveney has turned down an invitation to attend the anniversary service of what is believed to be Ireland’s worst-ever fishing disaster Commemoration organisers said he told them last week that his schedule under Ireland’s presidency of the EU won’t permit him spare time to attend the 200th anniversary of the Bruckless Bay

Plans have been announced for a memorial ceremony to commemorate the bicentenary of what is known as ‘The Bruckless Drowning. On February 11th 1813, 200 fishing boats capsized in a storm in Bruckless Bay with the loss of many lives. On February 11th 1813 a large number of open sailing boats were fishing herring in

Police in Derry have found cannabis resin with an estimated street value of £11,000. It was discovered during a planned search of a house in the city earler today. A 29-year-old man has been arrested.

The closure of Mary’s of Donegal this week is another indication of this government’s failure to protect the domestic economy in Donegal and throughout the country. That’s according to Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle, who says the closure of the Donegal Town store has led to 16 job losses. He says government talk of

Fianna Fail in Donegal is to host a series of Public meetings to brief people on the ongoing septic tank issue, and advise those with problematic tanks that are causing a pollution to register them before February 1st. Cllr Paul Canning says while there are still serious question marks over how the government has handled

Two men held liable for the Omagh bombing are seeking to go before the European Court of Human Rights to overturn the ruling, it has emerged. The pair are jailed Real IRA leader Michael McKevitt and Liam Campbell. Lawyers for the two men have based the challenge on their inability to cross-examine an FBI spy

The trial has begun at Derry Crown Court of a man accused of pouring lighter fuel over another man and setting it alight. 28-year-old Lee Healy of 10, Asylum Road in Derry is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent on another man on January 28 last year. The jury was told that the

A Buncrana Town Cllr has said that a cut to Garda numbers would have a detrimental effect on Insihowen. It was reported earlier this week that garda numbers are to be cut by over 1,400 this year and 100 garda stations will close or will close including 5 stations in Donegal. However, Justice Minister Alan

It’s being claimed this week by a North West MEP that current proposals from Minister Phil Hogan and his department will totally undermine the LEADER model of local development and will wipe out meaningful community and voluntary involvement in the sector. Marian Harkin was speaking after meeting this week with LEADER groups in Brussels. She

Donegal native Marie Fleming has lost her landmark High Court action challenging the ban on assisted suicide. The 58 year old who is paralysed and in the final stages of multiple sclerosis wants the right to end her life without fear her family or partner will be prosecuted should they assist her. Holding her partner

The fire service has been tackling a fire at Derryhasson in Downings this morning. We understand the fire at the old school house was reported shortly before half past eight. The sole occupant, a woman, got out of the house, and no injuries have been reported. Two units of the fire brigade tackled the blaze,

Age Action has described the Government’s decision to cut the funding for panic alarms in elderly people’s homes as “crazy” in light of the recent spate of attacks on elderly people. The Government has reduced the funding for personal security alarms from 2.45 million euro to 1.15 million. Age Action says the alarms allow elderly

Buncrana Town Council are looking at the possibility of getting a shuttle bus from Derry to Buncrana during this years City of Culture. The shuttle bus would run during key events such as the All-Ireland Fleadh. It’s hoped the service would boost the amount of tourists coming to Inishowen. Town Mayor, James Gill says the

A 48 year old man arrested by gardai investigating the assault and robbery of 96 year year old Margaret Lilly at her home outside Buncrana has been released without charge, pending a file to the DPP. Margaret Lilly was assaulted in the course of the robbery at her home in Aghilly, Buncrana in the early

A Donegal Senator has hit out at the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter for what he describes as a ‘slash and burn’of garda resources in Donegal while the county is in the midst of a ‘crime wave’ Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill was reacting to reports that garda numbers are to be cut  by over 1,400

Judging begins this afternoon at the BT Young Scientist and Technology show. In its 49th year, the competition received over 4,000 entries – an increase of 24 percent on last year. The show, at the RDS in Dublin, opens to the public tomorrow. The projects cover a vast array of topics from the theoretical to

A Co Tyrone lorry driver wanted in Donegal over sexual assault allegations has appeared in court after being detained on a European arrest warrant. Roy David Cochrane is facing extradition proceedings in connection with claims that he attacked a girl. The 42-year-old, of Loughmuck Road, Omagh, denies the charges and was granted bail to appear

A 48 year old man’s been arrested by gardai investigating an aggravated burglary on the home of a 96 year old woman in Inishowen. Margaret Lilly was assaulted in the course of the robbery at her home in Aghilly, Buncrana in the early hours of Saturday morning and is still being treated at Letterkenny General

A credit union account has been opened for those who wish to contribute to the Margaret Lilly support fund. 96 year old Margaret Lilly was robbed and assaulted in her home at Aghilly in the early hours of Saturday morning. A man wearing dark clothing and a balaclava entered her home, punched her in the

A West Tyrone MLA has hit out at the exchange rates offered to euro paying customers at Strabane’s Town Centre car parks. At the parking metres in Strabane Town Centre €1 is worth only 57 pence sterling, the actual exchange rate is considerably higher. SDLP MLA Joe Byrne said he has contacted the Department of

The Union Flag is flying over Belfast City Hall today to mark the Birthday of the Duchess of Cambridge – Kate Middleton. Meanwhile, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is expressing “deep concern” over the violence – which has been ongoing for over a month in East Belfast. More

A builder who held a gun when he ordered liquidation staff off his premises was  given a chance by a judge this week. Judge Conal Gibbons acknowledged that the two people working for the liquidator were terrified when given five minutes to clear off a building site by Michael Herron who carried a single-barrel shotgun.

The funeral is taking place in Augher, County Tyrone today of 60-year-old Aloysius Hackett, who was shot dead last Friday night. His 18 year old son Sean, who has been charged with his murder, has been granted temporary bail to attend the funeral. At a hearing last evening at which the prosecution unsuccessfully opposed temporary

A 42-year-old man is due to appear in court in Belfast after being arrested in Omagh on a European Arrest Warrant. The man is wanted for trial in connection with three offences of rape of a child under 17 years in County Donegal. He was scheduled to appear before Belfast Recorders Court at Laganside today.

As the temperatures look set to plummet drivers are being warned to take extreme care on the roads over the next few days. The Road Safety Authority says widespread frost, fog and icy patches may lead to treacherous conditions. Met Eireann says values tonight will range from between zero and minus 3 degrees. The RSA

25 full and part time jobs have been lost with the closure of the Hotel Carlton in Belleek. The business, which is located just across the border from Ballyshannon, had been in administration for the past six months. Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Phil Flanagan is calling on the hotel’s owner, the Ulster Bank, to

The neighbour who was first on the scene after 96 year old Margaret Lilly’s was assaulted and robbed at the weekend says people in the area are now afraid to stay in their homes on their own. The attack has caused outrage in the Buncrana area, with one local businessman offering a 5,000 euro reward

Gardai are seeking a dark blue coloured Mazda 6 car with an English registration which they believe may involved in a spate of burglaries around Raphoe and Convoy last night. At least eight burglaries have been reported, with gardai saying there may have been more break-ins which have not yet been reported. In some instances,

A Strabane Town Forum member has hit out after new trees which were put up in the town centre on Friday were torn town over the weekend. The new trees were put up on Castle Street in an effort to clean up the town centre by the town forum but one was torn down within

A senior Labour party member in Donegal has accused the Revenue Commissioners of trying to bully the public into accepting their estimated value of homes and the amount of property tax that’s due. The Revenue Commissioners are to send letters to homeowners in March with a valuation and anyone who then doesn’t provide their own

A regional breakdown of the live register figures for December show a month on month increase in those signing on in Donegal but a drop when compared to December 2011. The figures show there were 20,902 people signing on last month up 326 on November. There were 694 fewer people singing on in Donegal in

Police in Tyrone have charged an 18-year-old man with the murder of 60-year-old Aloysius Hackett, the former chairman of St. Macartan’s GAA club, was found dead at his home on Aghindarragh Road in Augher on Friday night. Police said the 60-year-old died after sustaining a gunshot wound. His son Sean was arrested shortly after the

After 34 adjournments and 31 hours spanning over two days, Donegal County Council finally passed it’s Budget this morning just after 5am. Councillors were being asked to approve a budget that would see revised county council revenue expenditure dropping from €148 million in 2012 to €133 million in the coming year. At one stage it

A Neighbourhood Watch scheme is being established in the Kilmacrenan / Termon area. It follows a spate of robberies before Christmas. Local Councillor Michael McBride is helping set up the scheme – he says a meeting will takes place this Wednesday evening in the Thatched Cottage in Kilmacrenan at 7.30pm to progress the plans: