Author name: oisinkelly

The justice minister has defended the closure of rural garda stations in Donegal stating the aim is to have more gardai out on the streets rather than behind desks. Minister Alan Shatter was responding in te Dáil to Deputy Pearse Doherty who raised the issue following a meeting of 200 hundred people in west Donegal […]

A High Court judge is today expected to reserve judgement in a case taken by the owners of homes in a West Donegal housing estate which suffers from subsidence because it was built on a bog just over four years ago. ‘Radharc An Seascan’ at Meenmore has 15-houses, mainly used as holiday homes. The insurance

A two vehicle crash has led to the closure of the Port Road in Letterkenny. The crash, at the Clanree Hotel, occurred at around 6 o’clock this (Wednesday) evening. Gardai say the Port road will be closed for a number of hours (as of 6.15pm) while the collision is dealt with. No details of injuries

Inishowen Community Radio has gone off the air. In a statement on its Facebook page today  it was confirmed that Inishowen Community Radio is no longer and that station has just closed down The statement concludes ‘ thanks for tuning in over the last 12 years -Staff/ volunteers would like to thank you so much’

A man charged with the manslaughter of journalist Eugene Moloney has been sent forward for trial. 21 year old trainee mechanic Gary Burch of Kennington Close, Templeogue in Dublin is accused of killing the 55 year old last June. Eugene Moloney received a blow to the head while walking home on Camden Street in Dublin

The Arranmore Lifeboat has been involved in an operation this morning after a small fishing boat got into difficulty in Donegal Bay. The small fishing boat, with two men onboard, is said to be in no immediate danger. The alarm was raised shortly before midday.

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty will debate the issue of Garda resources in rural Donegal with Minister for Justice Alan Shatter in a Topical Issue Debate in the Dáil this afternoon Speaking in advance of the debate Deputy Doherty said it is becoming increasingly clear that the Gardaí in Donegal are inadequately resourced to respond to

The Oireachtas Joint Transport Committee has been told that there is an anomoly in Donegal where a bus route leaves Rathmullan in the morning, but doesn;t return there in the evening. The issue was raised by Deputy Joe Mc Hugh as senior Bus Eireann staff appeared before the committee to answer questions about national and

New anti-drug driving measures are recommended in a report compiled by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety which is being launched today. The measures include a series of roadside tests – such as walking in a straight line and balancing on one leg. Donegal campaigner, former councillor PJ Blake, says that while any initiative is

The mother of Daniel Allen says she doesn’t know if she will ever see her son again, after he was ordered to leave Derry by the vigilante group RAAD. Daniel, who’s brother Andrew Allen was murdered by RAAD in Buncrana in February this year, has been cautioned by the PSNI that his life his under

The company which hopes to create 20 jobs in Letterkenny within three years says talented people and the track record of LYIT were the reasons for the decision to come here. KeyedIn Solutions is establishing its European Software Research and Development Centre at the Co-Lab in the town. Killybegs native Eugene Blaine is Chief Technical

Police in Strabane are appealing for parents, youth and community leaders to assist in making this year’s Halloween festivities safe and fun. The police says that they want to make it clear that they take Halloween seriously and anyone caught breaking the law will be dealt with robustly. Strabane Area Commander, Chief Inspector Andy Lemon

A Donegal Deputy says that while the latest IDA backed jobs for Letterkenny are to be welcomed the agency needs to be doing much more in Donegal in terms of job creation. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the IDA have this year only facilitated two site visits to Donegal – there were no such visits last

A Donegal Deputy has called on the Government to come up with a specific plan to tackle youth unemployment. There are now almost 5,000 people under the age of 25 unemployed in Donegal. Fianna Fail Deputy Charlie McConalogue wants a focus on training younger people to fill the numerous jobs available in the ICT sector.

Donegal County Council has admitted that a number of people across the county, who have already paid the Household Charge, have received a reminder letter that they may still be liable to pay. The Council says it is regrettable that this has happened and apologised for any inconvenience or stress caused with the blame seeming

An Bord Pleanála is hosting a public hearing in to a proposed wind farm project near Glenties. Straboy Wind Energy has been granted planning permission by Donegal County Council to erect 22 wind turbines over a 474 hectare site covering six townlands near Glenties with 21 conditions attached. 15 third parties objections to the permission

The Environment Minister has announced plans for the abolition of 83 local authorities – nearly all of them town councils – as part of plans to save 420 million euro. The number of Councillors will also be slashed by 42 per cent – from over sixteen-hundred to nine-hundred-and-fifty. 500 local authority staff will also be

Two Derry men, one of them a brother of murder victim Andrew Allen, have been cautioned by the PSNI that their lives are under threat. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has called on those who issued the threat to lift it immediately, saying he has been aware of tensions involving two local men over recent weeks.

Strabane District Council have rejected a motion asking for a letter to be sent to the Norths Agriculture Minister asking for an explanation why Ballykelly was chosen over Strabane for the relocation of 800 civil service jobs. It was announced in September this year that the Department of Agriculture in the North would be moving

It’s been confirmed that the plastic bag levy being introduced in the North next year will lead to the creation of 10 new jobs in Derry. Stormont Minister Alex Atwood has confirmed the team which will implement the charge will be based in the city. The new regulations, which come into force in April 2013,

In excess of 3,000 secondary school pupils from across Donegal will attend the annual, award winning Road Safe Road Show in the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny today and tomorrow. Donegal County Council in association with the Donegal Road Safety Working Group host the hard hitting shows. They show in graphic detail the consequences of

A group of people who suffered during the Troubles will today ask the Government to acknowledge the “inadequate” security levels provided – from the Republic’s side of the border – during the conflict. Victims will today meet with Taoiseach Enda Kenny. The group from Fermanagh says IRA attacks in the North were often planned by

Over 120 new jobs have been announced by 5 companies in Donegal, Limerick and Dublin. Enterprise Minister Richard Bruton says the investment from high-growth emerging companies is great news for the country. The Donegal investment will see 20 positions created in Letterkenny by KeyedIn Solutions. Consero, ZenDesk and DITA are creating a total of 80

Donegal Sinn Féin representatives have met the PSNI to discuss cross border crime in what is being described as historic,frank and positive meeting. Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn said the meeting with the PSNI in Derry was an initiative instigated by growing concerns as to the activity of cross-border crime and a perception that gangs can

Two men have been convicted of murdering a 57-year-old Donegal man outside his home in the south side of Glasgow. Asif Rehman, 20, and Adel Ishaq, 19, attacked William McKeeney in Melville Street, Pollokshields, on 15 January. Mr McKeeney, who was originally from Malin Head, later died at the city’s Victoria Infirmary. Rehman and Ishaq,

A 39-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court today  charged in connection with the shooting dead of an RUC constable in 1993. Christopher O’Kane of 107 Kular Court in Derry faced a total of five charges. He was charged with assisting offenders in the killing of Constable Michael Ferguson between January 23 and 25

Letterkenny General Hospital has been rated as “very good” in the latest performance index published by the HSE. The statistics, relating to July of this year, give the hospital a very good rating in areas of access and integration, but only an average rating in the area of resources. The hospital’s spending was singled out

Concerns about the level of garda presence along the Donegal – Derry border will be highlighted at a public meeting tonight. Fianna Fail are hosting the meeting in the Columban Hall in Newtowncunningham. Cllr Paul Canning, one of the meeting’s organisers says it’s important that they gather information from the Public about to their concerns,

The dramatic fall in house construction may be bottoming out. That’s according to the authors of the National Housing Construction Index. The index shows the number of projects that started construction is 10 per cent down on the same period last year – but that’s an improvement on the start of the year when they

Major reform plans for local government are set to come before cabinet tomorrow. It emerged last week that a radical overhaul of the system was on the cards, with many Town Councils around the country facing abolition or merger. It’s expected the plan could save more than 70 million euro, but town councillors in Donegal

A Derry Councillor is calling for a complete ban on the sale of fireworks in Northern Ireland over the counter. Shantallow representative Tony Hassan says there’s been a high number of complaints about the misuse of fireworks and associated products in the city. The Sinn Fein councillor says the law must be changed and is

A Derry councillor is calling for an urgent revamp around the junction of the Letterkenny Road, Lone Moor Road and Foyle Road. Cllr Patricia Logue says the work should be done in advance of Derry’s year as UK City of Culture, and needn’t cost a lot of money. She says with thousands of people expected

A Donegal dentist has warned that the country will face severe problems in the future because the public dental service is unable to treat vast majority of young teenagers due to shortage of resources. Dr Padraig Halvey, who is based in Letterkenny, has been elected as the new leader of the public service dentist group

The inaugural meeting of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association has taken place at Leinster House, with MPs, MLA, TDs and Senators from all parties discussing matters of mutual interest. Tioday’s iomaugural concentrated on child protection and infrastrucure. Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says these are important issues in themselves, but today’s meeting was

The Bishop of Raphoe has welcomed the publication of a HSE audit of child protection guidelines which was critical of the diocese in some respects. The review, commissioned in 2006,  examined how the church handled abuse allegations up to November of last year. Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show today, Bishop Boyce said there were

A West Tyrone MP has said that Ballykelly was the viable option for 800 civil service jobs. It was announced in September this year that the Department of Agrilculture in the North would be moving from Belfast to Ballykelly. The new offices are to be based at the site of the former Shackleton Army Barrakcs.

A Donegal County Cllr has said that letters being issued trying to convince people to pay the household charge are a total waste of money. The County Council are spending almost 14,000 euro alone on stamps for the 30,000 letters. And Cllr Murray believes the letters will have little impact in convincing people to pay

Donegal County Council has written to more than 30,000 households throughout the County urging them to pay the Household Charge. The council says the letters were sent on foot of data received from the Property Registration Authority database. As a result, some letters may be received in error. If that happens, people are asked to

Two murder accused have blamed each other for beating a Donegal labourer to death in a Glasgow street. William McKenney, originally from Malin Head, died in the Victoria Hospital in Glasgow after being assaulted in the city’s south side this year. Asif Rehman and Adel Ishaq are on trial charged with murdering Mr McKeeney in

A public meeting is to take place tomorrow to discuss anti-social behavior in the Keadue, Belcruit and Kincasslagh area. There have been two meetings involving gardai, the HSE and local community groups, with spokesperson Michael Mc Giolleaspaig saying that it is now time for the public to be brought into the discussion. He says those responsible are

Buncrana Town Council are to write a letter in support of Malin Head Coastguard Station to the government. The Fisher report published earlier this year suggested that Malin Head and Valentia Coastguard stations be closed and the service centralised to Dublin. The report, released in July this year, has cast serious doubt over the future

A festival aimed at improving cross-border relations between the communities of Lifford in Co. Donegal and Strabane in Co. Tyrone gets underway today. Organisers of the inaugural ‘Riverine Autumn School’ are hoping to bring people together through drama and sporting events. Mayor of Donegal, Councillor Frank McBrearty says the project has the potential to grow

A Donegal TD says Education Minister Ruairí Quinn is refusing to recognise the impact of cuts to guidance counselors in schools across the country. Schools no longer get a special allocation, and must fund guidance services from their standard teaching allocation. When the TUI president was in Donegal this week, he identified this as one of the

A second Omagh man has appeared in court in relation to an alleged kidnapping plot during which a 100,000 euro ransom was paid after threats were made to kill the victim. Matthew McLean, 22, of Glen Park Road, in Omagh, appeared before Strabane Magistrates’ Court. He was charged with kidnapping, blackmail, and false imprisonment. The

Commercial fracking is to remain banned in Ireland for at least another 15 months. The Government’s decided that another study on possible side effects from the process is needed before issuing any licences in Ireland, and further European studies could mean no fracking here for a decade. North West counties includfing Fermanagh, Leitrim and possibly

The Catholic Church dioceses of Meath, Raphoe and Ossory have been criticised in an audit of child protection guidelines. The review – carried out by the Health Service Executive – examined how the church is handling cases of abuse allegations up to November of last year. It found that while all dioceses have made improvements

Sinn Fein says the Government’s ambitions for the country are limited to Troika-led retrenchment. The party has launched its jobs plan – which claims that 156 thousand jobs can be created through a 13 billion euro investment. It says the plan is fully costed – and can be funded through the National Pension Reserve Fund,