Author name: oisinkelly

The Minister for Mental Health has said the guidelines for reporting on suicide need to be strengthened. Kathleen Lynch made the comments at the launch of the Samaritans Ireland Impact Report for 2012, which reveals a 3 per cent increase in the number of calls to the helpline in the past year, to just over […]

County Manager Seamus Neely has told Donegal County Council that an ‘exceptional’ approach is needed for what is a hugely challenging budget. A small number of protestors stood outside County House in Lifford as members arrived to begin their discussions of Budget 2013. Following a comprehensive briefing this morning, the political discussion will get under

A Strabane District Cllr has raised concerns about a new roundabout on the Melmount Road in the town, after there were two car accidents on the road since Friday. Cllr Patsy Kelly says that there could be a fatality on the road if roads service does not put in place proper signage to make people

The Committee on Fisheries in the European Parliament has voted by 13 to10 in favour of amending the Common Fisheries Policy, including a provision to provide more resources and quota allocations fopr the small scale sector. Ireland’s member on the Committee, North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher, says it’s a first but significant step.

A Donegal Senator is calling for 75% of Ireland’s overseas Aid budget to be frozen for three years with the money instead diverted to Families, Carers and Child Benefit. Senator Brian O’Domhnaill says that’s the proportion of Ireland’s Aid budget goes to the EU, UN, World bank and other institutions including corrupt Governments. He argues

Donegal Action Against Austerity is to picket outside the County House in Lifford today as Councillors meet to agree the Revenue Budget for 2013. There are a number of controversial measures contained within the budget – amongst them an increase in rent for council house residents which Sinn Fein has already said it will oppose.

It’s reported this morning that the mother of sisters Erin and Shannon Gallagher is planning to sue the County Donegal VEC, and possibly also the HSE at a future stage. A letter from Lorraine Gallagher’s soliticors had already been received by the Donegal VEC on the 4th of this month, befopre the death of her

The Fisheries Council is meeting in Brussels this week to discuss the total allowable catches and quotas for next year. The negotiations are crucial to the Donegal fishing industry as is sets out what fishermen can catch, how much they can catch and for how many days in the year they can do so. Sean

Police have arrested a man over the murder of prison officer David Black. Mr Black, a 52-year-old father of two, was shot as he drove to work on the M1 in County Armagh on 1 November. Mr Black had been driving to work at Maghaberry Prison, the North’s high security jail, when he was attacked.

Its understood the Government has decided to introduce new legislation  along with regulations to allow for abortion in certain cases. The option was favored in the report of the expert group on abortion law which was considered at cabinet today. A formal statement from the government is expected shortly.

The visiting ban remains in place at Letterkenny General Hospital, with more wards now affected by the winter vomiting bug. Hospital management are repeating their waring that visiting is restricted to parents and fathers in the maternity ward only. In cases where someone is very ill, arrangements can be made with the ward manager in

Police in Derry are urging householders not to admit strangers to their home following reports of a number of bogus callers in the Foyle area. In a statement, police say bogus callers depend on the good nature and good will of others, and tend to target the more vulnerable members of our society and in

The President of the Chamber of Commerce in Derry is urging flag protestors not to jeapordise business in the city. Philip Gilliland says the chamber is careful to remain politically independent. However, he says it is estimated that the protests in Belfast will have cost retailers in that city £20m in lost trade, which will

A Fianna Fail Councillor in Donegal is welcoming the announcement by Environment Minister Phil Hogan of a grant scheme of up to 4000 euro for households whose septic tanks require upgrading. However, Seamus O’Domhnaill claims the announcement doesn’t go far enough, particularly when the regulations outlining the standards septic tanks will have to achieve have

A Donegal Deputy has described as a sad day for Ireland the news that a campaign group is seeking to get Ireland into the Guinness Book of Records for having the worlds most expensive bank bailout. Independent Thomas Pringle says the move is however an accurate reflection of the unjust burden that has been put

The County Manager is seeking government clarification on what affect the taking over of the provision of water in Donegal by ‘Irish Water’ will have on Council staff and the public A number of Councillors and Dail Deputy Padaig MacLochlainn have already expressed their concerns at the potential impact on staff the move would have.

Sinn Fein says it will not be able to support the proposed Council budget for 2013 while it contains an increase in rent for those living in council owned property. Donegal County Council is proposing an increase in rent for its tenents which will equate to over 100 euro per house per year. It is

The Environment Minister has announced a grant scheme of up to 4000 euro for households whose septic tanks require upgrading. Inspections will begin in the new year – and properties whose waste treatment systems have registered – and fail the inspection – will be eligible for a grant. Homeowners will have to register their septic

A multiple vehicle road traffic collision which occurred on the Port Road in Letterkenny earlier this (monday)evening has now been cleared. At least four vehicles were caught up in the crash. It is understood a number of people have been taken the short distance to Letterkenny General Hospital as a precaution – none of the

Labour minister Pat Rabbitte has called for discipline among the Senators in his party who are considering voting against  the social welfare bill in the Dail. At least four Senators have expressed reservations about supporting the bill which begins its passage through the Seanad tomorrow. Donegal Labour Senator Jimmy Harte says he will be voting

There has been a significant reduction in the number of fire service call-outs in Donegal. In the year to November 19th there were 875 call-outs compared to 1148 the previous year. According to Donegal County Council’s Draft Budget for 2013, there were 83 less domestic fires and 171 fewer gorse fires. The council says that

Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has said he will have more to say about NAMA in the Seanad tomorrow. It’s after the agency wrote to him asking him to either substantiate or withdraw comments he made in the house last Wedneday. Senator O’Domhnaill accused Nama of acting disgracefully, and said it is time it was fully

A 44-year-old man who admitted playing an ‘active role’ in a dissident bomb attack at a Derry PSNI station has been jailed for 13 years. Ordering that Philip O’Donnell spend half his sentence in jail and half on licence, Belfast Crown Court judge Mr Justice Burgess said that had O’Donnell been a primary party in

The Mayor of Letterkenny has said if the government reintroduces the Jobs Initiative again next year, a concerted effort must be made to include the Bonagee Link Road. The initiative was first introduced this year to create construction jobs by fast tracking infrastructure projects which could then stimulate development. There was criticism in Donegal when

The Donegal GAA has a new leader. Four Masters representative Sean Dunnion has won a three way contest to become the new County Chairman, replacing outgoing Chair PJ Mc Gowan. The vote was taken at the County Convention in Donegal Town yesterday, with outgoing Vice Chair Charlie Cannon and Mick Mc Grath the other candidates. Chris Mc

A Donegal priest has said someone in government must take responsibility for mental health services, and fix what is clearly a broken system. Fr John Joe Duffy was speaking yesterday at the funeral of 15 year old Shannon Gallagher from Ballybofey. Shannon’s body was found her home on Wednesday night, six weeks after the death

Despite the bookies predictions it’s looking less likely that Ireland will see a white christmas this year. Met Eireann has forecast mild weather in the run up to festive period. Last year Ireland recorded unusually high temperatures across the country on Christmas Day. And Meterologist Harm Luijkx says there is no sign of a cold

A Chinese man jailed yesterday didn’t even know which part of the world he was in when growing nearly €1 million of cannabis in Donegal. Judge John O’Hagan was told of human trafficking by internatonal gangsters driving around in Mercedes while slaves growing cannabis for them lived in squalor, He was dealing at Donegal Circuit

Around 50 members of the IFA in Donegal held a protest outside Deputy Joe Mc Hugh’s office in Letterkenny today, saying the government is threatening what is one of the fewe viable industries in the country. Former Donegal IFA Chairman William Monagle said the budget cuts imposed on farming, particularly in relation to the Suckler

The funeral mass of 15 year old Shannon Gallagher has been told that suicide is never a solution.   This is the full text of Fr John Joe Duffy’s homily at the Funeral Mass this morning –   As we gather this morning to celebrate this funeral Mass for Shannon, we are reminded of the

A motorist has been acquitted of dangerous driving causing the death of another driver. A jury of 11 at Donegal Circuit Court took two hours and 45 minutes to unanimously acquit 48-year-old father of three Paul Murrin of dangerous driving causing the death of Daithi White on the N15 near Ballintra on January 24 last

The ban on visiting at Letterkenny General Hospital due to an outbreak of Winter Vomiting Bug has been extended. The HSE says that due to the presence of the Winter Vomiting Bug, no visitors will be allowed to visit the hospital at this time to help curtail the spread of infection. There will be allowances

The Finance Minister says homeowners who dodged the 100-euro household charge will have to pay it – when the property tax is introduced next year. Michael Noonan says the Revenue Commissioners will have new powers to take the property tax, and any unpaid household charge from wages, social welfare payments and farm grants. Fianna Fáil

A Donegal County Council delegation is today meeting with senior National Roads Authority figures in Dublin to discuss funding for the county’s roads network. In 2012, an initial 21 and a half million euro was allocated to local and regional road improvements in Donegal by the National Roads Authority. The bulk of the money went

A Strabane businessman has said that the town centre is facing wipe-out if there is no drastic action to reduce rates bills. A number of businesses in the town centre have already closed over the last number of years, and excessive rates are being blamed. Declan Hughes, who runs Gormley’s shoe shop in the town

A Donegal South-West Deputy has said that we are effectively now living in a dictatorship as the Government refuses to hold any kind of debate on the property tax. New legislation to give effect to the property tax being introduced next year will be voted on in the Dail today. The government has been accused

The Mayor of Donegal is calling for a national campaign to tackle the issue of suicide. It follows the death of 15 year old Shannon Gallagher in Castlefin on Wednesday night- just weeks after her 13 year old sister Erin took her own life. Meanwhile the HSE has set up a helpline for parents in

Work has begun which is hoped will finally resolve the water problems affecting the water supply in the Lifford and St Johnston areas. Funding has been available to repair a trunk line for almost 18 months but work only began this week. The delay has left hundreds of homes with a poor water supply and

The body of a woman has been found near Ards Friary. In a statement tonight, Donegal Mountain Rescue Team have confirmed they were called at 6.25pm to search for a missing 54 year old woman. The cliff and shore search included a dog search unit attached to DMRT, along with the Rescue 118 Helicopter, 2

The HSE has established a helpline for parents who have concerns in relation to their children. It follows the tragic unexpected death of  15 year-old Shannon Gallagher. The HSE says it is liaising with the family in relation to this incident and all supports are being made available to provide assistance at this very difficult

Donegal County Council is proposing an increase in rent for its tenants which will equate to over 100 euro per house per year. It is just one of the measures proposed in the Draft Budget for 2013 which will be decided on by County Councillors when they meet next week. The council currently maintains just

Donegal TDs Joe McHugh and Dinny McGinley have voted in favour of cuts to the respite care grant Respite Care Grant TDs Charlie McConalogue, Pearse Doherty and Thomas Pringle all voted against the cuts. Deputy Padraig MacLochlainn had no vote recorded as he was  blocked from entering the Dail chamber to vote on that aspect

The latest batch of statistics from last years census show Donegal people are more likely to drive to work compared to the rest of the country but spend less time doing so. A total of 36,250 persons, representing 77.1 per cent of commuters in County Donegal, either drove to work or were a passenger in

Donegal TD Padraig MacLochlainn has been blocked from entering the Dail chamber to vote on Budget 2013. Despite having voted on previous aspects of the Budget, Deputy MacLochlainn says he was physically prevented from entering the Dail to vote on the full bill. He claims he was blocked by the Captain of the Guard on

The VEC has put in place its critical incident team folowing the tragic death of a 4th year student at the Finn Valley College. Shannon Gallagher was the sister of Erin Gallagher who died in tragic circumstances in October. The head of the Donegal VEC Sean Purcell said it is an extremely difficult time for

Strabane remains one of the most deprived areas in the North according to the latest release of statistics from last year’s census figures. Figures published this week show that the Strabane District Council area had the second highest unemployment rate in Northern Ireland in March last year. According to the census figures a total of

It’s claimed the ‘clamour’ surrounding the investigation into the killing of solicitor Pat Finucane is not going to go away. A review yesterday found British Government employees facilitated the killing by loyalists in 1989. The Taoiseach says there should be a public inquiry into the case, but British Prime Minister David Cameron yesterday rejected a call for

Residents in the Carrick area of Gweedore are said to be increasingly concerned about the particularly high Iron, Manganese and Aluminium levels found in the water. Funding is being sought to replace water pipes from Derrybeg to Glassagh in Gaoth Dobhair which is hoped will resolve the problems. This current system was installed in 1954

The Mayor of Letterkenny has called for the provision of roadside drinking water fountains at strategic locations around the town to reflect the large number of people walking and jogging in the area. Cllr Dessie Larkin also said he attended last week’s Tourist Town awards in Dublin which saw Letterkenny beaten to the top spot

Letterkenny solicitor Dessie Shiels will have to pay Donegal County Council’s legal bill for his unsuccessful case against the local authority. The High Court action against Donegal County Council was over the co-option of Michael McBride to replace Senator Jimmy Harte. It was dismissed in November. Dessie Sheils brought forward the challenge on the basis that Jimmy