Author name: oisinkelly

A Derry man who punched a female police officer in the face was fined at Limavady Magistrate’s Court this week. Stephen Kelly (19) of 34, Bellevue Avenue n Derry admitted a series of public order offences which occurred on November 25 last. The court was told that police on patrol in Catherine Street in Limavady […]

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an attempted burglary at a bookmakers on Central Drive, Creggan. Sometime between 5.30pm on Monday 31st December and 9am on Tuesday 1st January, thieves tried to break in via the roof but were unsuccessful. Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area,

Detectives investigating the death of a teenager in Co. Tyrone at the weekend have launched a formal murder investigation. 19 year old Jason McGovern from Monaghan died after being attacked during a night out with friends in Omagh. Detectives are studying CCTV footage of the assault and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

There has been a major breakthrough in learning the movements of Donegal’s Basking Shark population. Up until now it had only been speculated as to where the animals travelled for food when not in the waters around Donegal mostly during the summer. But new research from the Irish Basking Shark Project has identified a shark

The latest Daft.ie house prices report shows that in Donegal, prices in late 2012 were 18% lower than a year previously, compared to a fall of 13% seen in the year to late 2011. The average house price is now €123,000, 54% below peak levels. Ronan Lyons of Daft.ie says that in Donegal there is

More speed cameras are to be set up around the country – in an effort to continue the reduction in the number of road deaths. Hundreds of cameras are being deployed to accident blackspots. It’s after a drop in the number of people killed last year – including a 40 per cent reduction in the

A man injured while out walking in South Donegal yesterday afternoon has been rescued following a 12-hour operation. The 28-year-old was taken from the cliff face at Slieve League by the Killybegs Coast Guard just after midnight last night. He had slipped and fell 500 feet injuring his neck and knee just after 1 pm

Investigations are continuing both north and south of the border into the death of 19 year old Jason McGovern. The student was found dead at his friend’s flat in Emyvale on New Year’s Eve. Post mortem results found he died from severe head injuries. It’s understood the teenager was attacked twice during a night out

The 39 year old man killed in a traffic accident yesterday morning has been named as Packie Gildea. At approximately 8.50am Mr Gildea was seriously injured when the car he was driving collided with a wall. He was taken by ambulance to Letterkenny General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A post mortem will be

Gardai at Ballybofey are appealing for witnesses following a single vehicle fatal road traffic collision this morning  on the Ballybofey to Fintown road (R252) at Dooish. At approximately 8.50am a male in his 40s was seriously injured when the car he was driving collided with a wall. He was taken by ambulance to Letterkenny Regional

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an armed robbery in the Bracken Park area last (Sunday) night. At around 9.15pm three males armed with an iron bar and a handgun entered the shop and demanded money. They fled empty handed in the direction of Fergleen. Two female shop assistants were not injured but

More than 200 people a day left Ireland in 2012, as emigration surged to levels not experienced since the famine. It’s understood that over 26,000 people left Ireland this year to go to Australia, with around 5,000 migrating permanently. Ireland is now among the top 10 source countries for migration to Australia. Meanwhile, almost 16,000

Seamus Coleman says he’s determined to repay the faith shown in him after signing a new contract with Everton. The Irish international has penned a five-and-a-half year deal with the Toffees that will see him remain at Goodison Park up until the summer of 2018. The Donegalman signed for the Premier League side from Sligo

As New Year’s Eve celebrations get underway later today, party go-ers are being urged to leave the car keys at home. The Road Safety Authority is reminding motorists that drink-driving is not worth the risk of killing someone or themselves. It comes as thousands of people are expected to ring in the New Year tonight

Thousands of people will line the River Foyle tonight as Derry celebrates the beginning of its status as UK City of Culture with Ireland’s biggest ever fireworks display. The family event begins at 730pm with a pyrotechnic and fireworks display due to commence at 813pm. Marketing Officer with Derry City Council, Jacqueline Whorisky said tonight’s event will be a

The Donegal Mayor is predicting a positive year for Donegal in 2013. Mayor Frank McBrearty says the county should benefit hugely in a number of areas not least ‘The Gathering’ and Derry’s year as the ‘City of Culture’. Councillor McBrearty says that while there clearly are challenged facing Donegal in 2013 we must focus on

The Irish Coast Guard saved 161 lives during the past year. Figures for 2012, also show that crews responded to almost 2,000 incidents – making it the busiest year since the search and rescue service was formed in 1822. Malin Head Coast Guard dealt with 393 incidents, Valentia dealt with 690 and the centre in

A scheme to raise a World War 2 bomber from the Atlantic off Donegal, twice abandoned in the last four years, is planned to be attempted again in 2013. The man organising the bid has also sent a New Year message to families of dead Irishmen who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force to

In Coleraine, the body of Alec McKee has been found. The 56-year-old man from Derry went missing last week. His body was found in an industrial estate close to Newbridge Road in Coleraine by members of his family who were involved in searches for him in the area since Christmas Eve. Police said his death

Police are currently in attendance at a security alert in Drumleck Drive, Derry. ATO have been tasked. Drumleck Drive has been closed at its junctions with Racecourse Road and Drumleck Gardens and a number of houses have been evacuated. The Templemore Sports Complex has been made available for evacuated residents. There are no further details

It’s emerged that money that had been ear-marked for suicide prevention and mental health services this year was used to cover over-runs in other parts of the health service. The Irish Times reports this morning that under plans announced a year ago, 35 million euro was to be invested in hiring 414 new staff and

ESB crews say they’re working quickly to restore power homes after many lost supply as a result stormy conditions overnight. Most of the homes in Donegal which lost power due to the high winds have now had their supply restored. These include 88 homes which lost power in the Gweedore area last night. Since 10

88 homes have lost power this (Friday) evening as strong winds effect the northwest. The power outage is in the Gweedore area. The ESB says it is working to have supply restored. The worst of the wind is expected to pass by 11pm on Friday night. Met Eireann issued the following warning: Wind Warning for

A 66-year-old man died tragically yesterday in Drumkeen while cutting down trees. Father-of-four Norman Frizzell was fatally injured in an accident that Gardai are describing as “not suspicious”. Mr Frizzell was found by his daughter yesterday afternoon close to his home and emergency services were unable to revive him. The incident occured between 12.30 and

Met Eireann has issued a weather warning for Donegal and a number of other counties on the west coast for this evening and tonight. Strong to gale force southerly winds are expected to hit the county later, with gusts of 110 to 130 km/h being forecast. These strong winds are also forecast for Galway, Leitrim,

Strabane Town Centre traders stand to lose more than £20 million if a major development on the Lifford road goes ahead. Shop owners from Strabane met with the Norths Environment Minister, Alex Attwood last week to discuss out of town applications which they said is threatening the town centre. Representing Strabane Chamber of Commerce, was

Almost three quarters of Irish pharmacies were victims of crime this year. That’s according to the Irish Pharmacy Union, who have called for more Garda protection for their businesses, and tougher sentences for those who break the law. In 2012, 71% of pharmacies surveyed had experienced shoplifting or robbery, with one in four raids involving

It’s hoped the Gathering initiative next year will boost tourism numbers by 5 percent. According to the latest report from the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation, there were close to 6.5 million visitors from overseas in 2012. There were 2 percent increases recorded in those coming from Europe and the US, while the British market suffered

A new survey shows children are unsupervised for 80 per cent of the time they’re online. Three-hundred 10-to-15 year olds were polled by Niall Mulrine – a computer expert, who gives anti-bullying lectures. Another study – of more than 200 16-to-18 year olds – found almost ALL of their time online was unsupervised. The research

The University for Derry group is urging the Northern Ireland Executive and the University of Ulster to take the necessary steps to fully implement the One Plan programme for the expansion of Magee campus, to 9400 full time equivalent students by 2020. U4D say they’ve been told by the Stormont administration that the University of

A North West MEP is warning that many young people are now using the internet to source synthetic drugs which were previously available in head shops. Jim Higgins says a European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction report which has just been completed shows that Irish young people aged 15-24 years are the highest

The man who died in a single vehicle collision on the N15 between Stranorlar and Lifford on Christmas night was 26 year old Luke Peeks from Inver. The tragedy happened at around 11 o’clock at Treanamullin outside Stranorlar. Gardai say Mr Peeks’ Renault Clio car left the road and came to a stop in a

The Road Safety Authority is warning drivers to be careful today with more gale force winds expected in many areas. Met Eireann says the outlook for the weekend is extremely windy – with very strong southerly and southwesterly winds – and a risk of stormy conditions in the North and West. Brian Farrell is the

Police and the family of missing person, 56 year old Limavady man Alexander McKee, are becoming increasingly concerned for his welfare. Mr McKee was last seen on Sunday 23rd December at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine. He is described as being approximately 6′ tall, and has thinning greying ginger hair. When last seen he was

Five months after reopening the investigation into the murder of Michaela McAreavey, police in Mauritius have reportedly identified a suspect. Investigators of the Central Criminal Investigation Department (CCID) have compiled an interim report in the criminal investigation, and that document has already submitted it to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Michaela McAreavey was murdered in

A man has died following a single vehicle collision on the N15 between Stranorlar and Lifford. The tragedy happened at around 11 o’clock last night at Treanamullin outside Stranorlar. Gardai say the man was in his mid 20s, and died after his car left the road and came to a stop in a field. A

Santa has set off on his epic journey to deliver presents to children all around the world. The man in the red suit has 24 hours to visit 2.3 billion children in more than 200 countries and leave them a little something for Christmas. At the moment (2pm), Santa is just leaving Russia and has

The HSE is urging people to think before using the NoWDOC service over Christmas. The HSE says Now Doc’s primary concern is to provide urgent GP care to patients of participating GPs who become ill outside of regular surgery hours. If patients call for non-urgent or routine matters, the HSE says, it prevents the system

Normal visiting has resumed at Letterkenny General Hospital after the outbreak of the winter vomiting bug was declared over this morning. IN a statement just issued by the HSE, the hospital says – The norovirus outbreak at Letterkenny General Hospital has been declared ended. Visiting restrictions have been lifted.

It’s been confirmed £50 million of the budget for the planned A5 upgrade has been ringfenced at Stormont pending a legal challenge. Asking questions about the issue last week, West Tyrone MLA Declan Mc Aleer was told the assurance was given to the Finance Minister by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Mr Mc Aleer

The High Court has ruled in the long running Gweebarra Fishery Dispute, with both sides claiming a measure of victory. The case was brought to court by Inland Fisheries Ireland which claimed it had the rights to manage, control and regulate access to state owned lands which included sections of the Gweebarra river. The dispute

It’s been confirmed that Donegal has the lowest level of septic tank registration in the state. Latest figures show that up to last Wednesday, 26% of Donegal tank owners has paid reguistration fees, compared with 81% in Kerry. The Local Government Management Agency, almost 259,000 properties had been registered up to last Wednesday, with a

Police in Derry have today charged two men in connection with an assault in the Ebrington Street area of the city in the early hours of yesterday morning. Three masked men assaulted the victim with hammers and bats shortly after 2am. The man was treated in hospital for serious head and facial injuries which are

A 26-year-old man is in a critical condition in hospital after being hit by a car in Derry. The incident took place on the Victoria Road at the junction of Prehen Park at around 2.40 this morning. Police investigating the collision have said that a green Saab car was involved. They have appealed for anyone

A Town Cllr has said if Buncrana Town Council is scrapped it will cost the Government more money in the long run. Buncrana Town Council have passed their budget for 2013 yesterday. It was revealed yesterday that less than 1% of its total budget goes towards members expenses. Cllr Nicolas Crossan said scrapping Buncrana Town

A Warrenpoint man who was a student at Magee University in Derry has been sentenced for possessing indecent images of children. 23 year-old Brendan Murphy of 25, Meadowlands Avenue, Warrenpoint was charged with 23 counts of possessing images and videos. The court heard how a fellow student noticed some images on Murphy’s computer and the

Buncrana Town Council has passed its budget for 2013. Town Cllrs and Management met this afternoon to formally pass the budget, with a freeze on commercial rates one of the key features agreed. The Budget totals just over 3 million euro. Speaking to Highland Radio News at the meeting, Town manager John McLaughlin said the

Nightclubs in Donegal today(Fri) lost a tradition of opening for late extensions on Christmas night. In most areas of the country clubs don’t open on Christmas Day but there has been  tradition in Donegal for about three decades of opening that night. Judge John O’Hagan upheld a District Court order refusing extensions from one minute

Environment Minister Alex Attwood has today announced decisions on five major retail applications in Derry, with an ASDA store on the Waterside getting the go ahead, but four others refused. The Asda supermarket will be developed on the site of the current Homebase at Crescent Link on the Waterside. Three other applications for Crescent Link,

Two men were arrested after a security alert yesterday in Derry. A 35 year-old man’s been released on bail, and a 28 year-old man’s still in custody. The army bomb squad had to attend the scene on Hawkin Street. Residents were allowed back to their homes last night.