Author name: oisinkelly

A Donegal Co. Councillor says he thinks travellers should live in isolation. Fianna Fáil Cllr Sean McEniff is opposed to the purchase of a house, by Donegal County Council, for social housing in Ballyshannon at a cost of 230-thousand euro. According to the Councillor, the local authority plans to house 13 members of a traveller […]

A senior garda in Donegal has confirmed there have been some arrests in relation to a number of aggravated burglaries in Donegal over the past fortnight. However, while he confirmed some of those arrests took place within the past 48 hours, Superintendent Vincent O’Brien declined to give any more information, saying only that charges may

North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher says he believes the Taoiseach has been given indications that a deal on the Anglo Promisorry Noter and other banking debt may be on the cards. Speaking after the Taoiseach’s visit to the Eurpean Parliament marking the start of the Irish presidency of the EU, Mr Gallagher said

The death has taken place at his home of Mick Kennedy, Tullycleave, Ardara. His remains are reposing at his home. Removal from there on Saturday afternoon at 12.30pm to the Church of the Holy Family, Ardara for 1 o’clock Requiem Mass. Burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Family flowers only, donations in lieu to the

A Donegal Deputy has accused the Minister for Justice of refusing to acknowledge the serious burglary problem in Donegal. Speaking on Highland Radio , Alan Shatter said that Donegal was not a special case, despite a number of burglaries on older peoples homes in the past fortnight. Fianna Fail TD Charlie McConalogue said that during

One of Donegal’s leading foresters has again called on the government to stop the sale of lands outside Ballybofey by Coillte. The state owned forestry company says this is a special case, a claim rejected by John Jackson, who says that Coillte has sold over 11,636 acres of State Forest land for development over the

Police in Foyle says they are investigating all crime and disorder linked to the flag protests and have arrested 3 people and reported 7 to the PPS to date. In a statement, the police say they understand the frustration of the community at the ongoing protests and that they are doing their utmost to police

The results of tests carried out on new samples taken from one of the plants involved in the horse meat controversy are expected to be known later today. The tests, taken by the Department of Agriculture on Tuesday at SilverCrest, will show if the burgers made at the plants still contain horse meat. It comes

The Finance Minister says people who invest in their homes by adding extensions may have to pay extra property tax. The new tax which comes into effect later this year will be self-assessed, but based on the value of the property. Responding to questions in the Dáil, the Finance Minister said if an owner increases

MEPs in Strasbourg have been reacting to the Taoiseach’s address to the European Parliament today. Mr Kenny’s address marked Ireland’s presidency of the EU that will last for the next 6 months. During his speech Mr Kenny stressed the need for the EU to live up to commitments made at last June’s EU Summit when

Figures published this afternoon show that as of the start of this week, 68% of eligible households in Donegal still haven’t registered for septic tank charge. Nationlly, the figure is almost 40%. Figures from the Department of the Environment show 300,000 homes have been registered across the country. In Donegal, the figure is just over

The Justice Minister has said that Donegal is not a special case, despite a number of burglaries on older peoples homes here in the past fortnight. Last night a man in his 60’s was targetted at Linsfort while a woman in her 80’s, living in Muff, was robbed a short time later. A 78-year-old woman

The Court of Appeal in Belfast has ordered that Brian Shivers face a retrial for the murders of two British soldiers at Massereene barracks in March 2009. The same court ruled yesterday that the convictions against the Co Derry man for murders of sappers Mark Quinsey, and Patrick Azimkar were unsafe. After the Public Prosecution

Harvey’s Point Hotel on Lough Eske has been named ‘No.1 Hotel in Ireland’ by the Tripadvisor website. The hotel is ranked 11th in Europe, and is the only Irish hotel in Europe’s Top 25. The Tripadvisor website website today published its 2013 ‘Travellers Choice’ awards, based on ratings from members. Harvey’s Point received a total

It has emerged that the victims of two aggravated burglaries in Inishowen last evening were earlier visited by callers looking to sell household items. A man in his 60’s was targeted at Linsfort while a woman in her 80’s, living in Muff, was robbed a short time later. Both cases involved five men – it’s

The Spunout organisation says Ireland needs to step up it’s response to bullying behaviour in schools and online. Spunout out points out that despite a number of tragedies in Donegal and Leitrim last year, Ireland has yet to issue formal guidelines to school management on how to deal with cases of cyberbullying. The group points

Gardai are investigating two more aggravated burglaries on the homes of elderly people in Donegal. They happened yesterday evening, and involved five men – it’s understood Gardai are investigating the possibility that the incidents are linked. In the first robbery – a gang forced their way into the home of a man in his 60’s

A senior Government Minister has admitted there may be a short term impact on Irish exports following the discovery of traces of horsemeat in burgers on sale in supermarkets here. However, the Environment Minister Phil Hogan says the discovery proves that the system of checks in the Irish food industry is working well. Horse DNA

Gardaí in Inishowen are investigating two separate aggravated burglaries which occurred yesterday. In the first incident which occurred at 7.30pm  five males called to the home of a man in his 60’s at Linsfort, Buncrana. The men forced their way into the house and demanded cash, during the course of this burglary the man was

Bord Bia says it’s confident the beef industry can withstand the current challenge its facing – after horsemeat was found in burgers sold in Irish supermarkets. The Food Safety Authority detected the horse DNA during a survey of beef products sold by retailers, including Aldi, Lidl, Tesco, Dunnes and Iceland. The issue has raised serious

Letterkenny Town Council has been told that one mobile phone service provider on the border between Portugal and Spain has abolished roaming charges, and there is no reason why this should not be replicated on the border here. Raising the issue, Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle said while there has been some progress on the issue

The Spunout organisation says Ireland needs to step up it’s response to bullying behaviour in schools and online The group points out that Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard has today announced a number of comprehensive measures to tackle the problem of bullying in schools and online. Spunout out points out that despite a number of

The civil retrial of two men being sued over the Omagh bombing has been hearing transcripts from a police interview with Colm Murphy. The Dundalk man was questioned by Gardai almost a year after the bombing. Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly are defending the action taken by some of the relatives of the victims. Yesterday,

Gardaí say they’re following a number of lines of enquiry following an aggravated burglary at the home of an elderly woman in Pettigo. Three men – who were understood to be wearing hoodies – forced their way into the 78-year-old’s home shortly after 10pm last Saturday night. They pushed the woman to the ground before

A female pedestrian is said to be in a “critical condition” after she was struck by a car this morning. The woman is believed to have been walking along the road in the Barnesmore Gap this morning when she was hit by a vehicle at approximately 8am. Gardai in Donegal Town have stated that the

A man jailed for murdering two British soldiers at an army base in Co Antrim has had his conviction quashed by Belfast’s Court of Appeal. 47 year old Brian Shivers, from Magherafelt in Co Derry had challenged his conviction for the murders of sappers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar. The soldiers who were both aged

A Strabane Town Cllr has hit out at those responsible for carrying out a bomb hoax in the town yesterday evening. The town was brought to a complete standstill yesterday after the discovery of a device which led to the closure of Bradley Way and Lifford Bridge. Army bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled

The Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay organisation is urging people to continue boycotting the septic tank registration process, dismissing a series of meetings being hosted by Fianna Fail over the next two weeks as “an exercise in opportunism”. Fianna Fail are suggesting to people with problematic tanks that they should register before the February 1st deadline

A hospital doctor, who used to work at Letterkenny General Hospital, has failed to attend a Medical Council fitness to practise inquiry into an allegation against him. In his absence, the inquiry found that Mirghany El-Mana failed to comply with a High Court order attaching conditions to his continued registration as a doctor This following

A 19-month-old boy has been killed in a road accident in County Fermanagh. A man and a woman also injured in the two-car crash are in serious conditions in hospital. The child’s name has not been released. It happened on the Boa Island Road just before 4pm yesterday – the road was being used as

The ban on issuing gaming licenses which was imposed by councillors in Letterkenny during the 1980s remains in place, and no gaming licences will be issued in the town. That was the advice given to members during a debate on gaming and gambling initiated by a motion from Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle. Donal Kavanagh attended

The object that lead to the closure of the Lifford Bridge last evening has been declared a hoax. The was major disruption in Strabane following the discovery of the device whch lead to an area of Bradley Way being sealed off. Army bomb disposal officers carried out a controlled explosion on a suspicious object which

Tribute has been paid by a High Court judge to a young garda who attempted to save the life of his “colleague and best friend” who died shortly after their patrol car had been rammed in Burt. Garda Bernard McLoughlin told Ms Justice Mary Irvine that after finding a pulse, he held his colleague Garda

Buncrana is among 38 areas involved in a survey on primary school patronage. Parents of all children aged up to 12 years of age are being asked by the Minister for Education and Skills what patrons they would like to see operating their local primary schools. Surveys went live yesterday and are an expansion of

A man in his 30s has been killed in a road crash in Co. Donegal. The man died when the lorry he was driving crashed at Bannus, in Pettigo at around 11.30 on Monday morning. No other vehicle was involved in the incident. The Laghey to Pettigo road is currently closed Monday 7pm) while Gardaí

There is a  a security alert in Strabane. ATO have been tasked to Bradley Way in the town. Traffic is currently being diverted through the town. Gardai are advising motorists and pedestrians  that the bridge between Lifford and Strabane is closed

A Derry man has been returned for trial to Belfast Crown Court on a series of explosive charges. 31 year old Tony Friel of Gartan Square in the city appeared at a preliminary enquiry at the local Magistrate’s Court today. Tony Friel is charged with possessing explosives and other items with intent to endanger life

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