Author name: oisinkelly

The Omagh Support and Self Help Group says the latest speculation regarding secret recordings taken by Special Branch and GCHQ reinforce their calls for a full public enquiry into the atrocity. The news website Belfast Daily is reporting today that a recording was obtained by GCHQ after the blast of one of the bombers expressing […]

A Donegal Garda is being hailed a hero after entering a blazing house in Donegal Town and rescuing an unconscious woman. Gardai were alerted to the fire at the house in The Mullins area yesterday afternoon at 4.35pm. They arrived on scene five minuted later to find the house engulfed in flames. A Garda entered

The government has allocated funding to progress plans for a helipad on Tory Island. Gaeltacht Minister Dinny McGinley announced the allocation of a grant of €1,500 to Donegal County Council to appoint an Aviation Consultant to advise them on the suitability of a site. Minister McGinley said he was very happy to be able to

A judge has deferred ruling on whether a prosecution brought against double killer John Gallagher for absconding from custody should be struck out. 46 year-old Gallagher, who killed mother and daughter Annie and Anne Gillespie in the grounds of Sligo Hospital in 1988, was released from the Central Mental Hospital in Dundrum in Dublin on

The Joint Policing Committee in Letterkenny is backing calls for two extra CCTV cameras in the town. Members were told that since its introduction in 2008, 353 separate clips which can be used in court have been requested by gardai. The system has an annual running cost of €3,600, but that’s set to increase substantially,

THE SDLP will travel to Dublin today to fight for the retention of the coastguard station at Malin Head. The facility is under threat of closure following publication of the Fisher Report, which recommends a reduction in the number of coastguard stations. The SDLP will make their representation to the Dáil Transport Committee which has

Strabane District Council is to write a letter to the Norths Agriculture Minister seeking clarification on why 800 civil service jobs went to Ballykelly and not Strabane. It was announced in September this year that the Department of Agriculture in the North would be moving from Belfast to Ballykelly. Yet it was revealed last week

Hundreds of thousands of Irish people will be anxiously watching their TV sets in a couple of hours time, when Europe’s analogue TV signal is turned off. 202-thousand people here rely on analogue. The switchover to digital happens at 10 AM. Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte says there are a number of services people can contact

Letterkenny Circuit Court was told today that the trial of a man charged with dangerous driving causing Ireland’s worst ever car accident is likely to run for over three weeks. 24-year-old Shaun Kelly of Ballymagan, Buncrana faces the charges arising out of a crash between Clonmany and Buncrana in Inishowen, Co Donegal in July 2010

Derry has been voted the fourth best city in the world to visit next year, according to Lonely Planet. It says the UK’s City of Culture for 2013 is “undergoing a renaissance”. San Francisco’s top of the list, followed by Amsterdam and the Indian city of Hyderabad. Tom Hall – from the travel guide –

Crime is generally down in Letterkenny, but there have been increases in burglaries and thefts from the person. Inspector David Kelly told a meeting of the town’s Joint Policing Committee last night there have been 214 reported burglaries so far this year compared to 205 over the same period last year. Thefts from the person

A man is recovering from suspected stab wounds following an assault in Bundoran last evening. The25 year-old  received the injuries to his back and shoulders at around 7pm on the Ross Road. He was taken to Sligo General Hospital where he is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. Three men aged 19, 22 and 56

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following a shooting incident at a house in the Drumard Park area last evening. It is understood a shotgun was used in the incident at 10.30pm. A man was in the house at the time, but there are no reports of any injuries.

County Manager Seamus Neeley has told Donegal County Council that the amount of central government funding being lost to the council will not be as much as feared, but will still exceed a million euro. Mr Neely told members that the council is still expected to balance its books, and it is in that context

The Mayor of Letterkenny says the ratepayers in the town face increased costs as a result of the imminent abolition of the Town Council. At an emergency meeting of the Town Council last night, Cllr Dessie Larkin reported back to members on the briefing given by Minister Phil Hogan last week. He said they were

Donegal County Council has been told that tender documents for a full feasibility study into flood prevention works in Raphoe should be published this week, with specific proposals expected within a year. The news emerged during a briefing from consultants engaged in the North Western Flood Risk Assessment and Management project which is currently underway.

Police in Strabane are appealing for information following an assault on a 12 yr-old boy on Saturday evening, 20th October. At around 6.40pm as the boy was walking along Owenreagh Drive he was followed by two male youths. They shouted at him and then one of the youths punched the victim in the face, breaking

It’s emerged today that the incoming board of Udaras na Gaeltachta will meet for the first time in Letterkenny at the end of this month. The meeting will coincide with the Oireachtas festival which returns to the town. Fianna Fail Cllr David Alcorn has secured the council’s nomination for membership of the board of Udaras

Today marks 25 years since the Strabane flood. On the 22 October 1987 the town was left devastated after the watetwall collapsed when the River Mourne burst it’s banks. Many homes and businesses were destroyed as a result. In the aftermath of the flood a new flood defence wall was then built. Cllr James O

Fianna Fail Cllr David Alcorn has secured the council’s nomination for membership of the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta. With Sinn Fein support, he secured the nomination by 15 votes to 11, with two abstentions, including Mayor Cllr Frank Mc Brearty. Accepting the nomination, Cllr Alcorn paid tribute to Cllr Padraig O’Dochartaigh, saying he hopes

Cllr David Alcorn will be nominated to serve on the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta by Donegal County Council. Proposing Cllr Alcorn, Fianna Fail Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill said the government is trying to stifle opposition and use Udaras to copper fasten cuts in Gaeltacht areas. Cllr Padraig O’Dochairtaigh was proposed by Cllr Ian Mc Garvey.

There’s been a sharp rise in burglaries in the Derry area. Over the past twelve months break-ins have increased by nearly 20 per cent. The police say in half of those robberies, the burglar got into the house through an unlocked door or window. PSNI Chief Inspector Jon Burrows urged householders to follow basic crime

Sinn Feins Finance spokesperson says last nights joint statement from the Taoiseach and German Chancellor clarifies nothing on Ireland’s bank debt. Last week she seemed to cast fresh doubt on the prospects of a deal for Ireland, saying EU money would only be used to deal with future debt problems. However Enda Kenny and Angela

The British Irish Parliamentary Assembly have announced that their next meeting will be in Donegal in March 2013. The meeting, which will take place between March 3rd and 5th will coincide with the Irish presidency of the European Union. It’s already been confirmed that the Taoiseach and a number of European representatives will attend the meeting. Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh, who

The Harte and McAreavey families are suing the hotel in Mauritius in which Michaela McAreavey was murdered. 27-year-old Mrs McAreavey, from County Tyrone, was killed at the Legends Hotel on the island in 2011. The claim by the families is understood to amount to £1.3m. The case is expected to be heard in the country’s

The Fianna Fail leader has launched an attack on the main governing parties in Northern Ireland. Speaking at the annual Wolfe Tone commemoration in Co. Kildare this afternoon, Michael Martin accused Sinn Fein and the DUP of putting party political advantage ahead of the common good. Deputy Martin added that much work still needed to

Construction equipment worth around £200,000 has been destroyed in an overnight arson attack in Derry. Just after 3 o clock this morning, police received a report that a bulldozer parked at a construction site at Brooke Park had been set on fire. Foyle MLA, Mark H Durkan, said the machine was being used in a

They’ve hit the headlines all around the world in world including Britain, Australia, France and even China, and now the Ballyhea Protest Group are coming to Donegal. Ballyhea is a rural parish in Cork that has been marching every Sunday in protest against the conversion of private bank debt to sovereign debt since March, 2011.

Donegal County Council is inviting the public and interested parties to have an input in to its Corporate Plan for 2012 to 2014 which is currently being prepared. A Corporate Plan is a Statement of Strategy that will provide strategic direction to the work of the Council over the lifetime of the elected council. In

Around one hundred people have taken part in a protest march this afternoon in support of home helps. The march started at St Conal’s Hospital in Letterkenny – the group was joined by around 100 others as it arrived at the town’s Market Square. The rally was jointly organised by Impact and Siptu. Before the

Ulster GAA in partnership with the Michaela Foundation has announced plans for a major fundraising event to remember the life of Michaela McAreavey and her contribution to the GAA community. Donegal GAA have given their full backing to this event and have announced that this will be the first competitive game for Donegal since lifting

A number of cars were damaged on Moville’s main street this morning by a runaway bus. The incident happened around school going time, but thankfully no one was injured. The bus and up to seven cars were damaged in the incident. Local Councillor and Donegal’s Deputy Mayor Martin Farren says the situation could have been

Hundreds of people have gathered in Letterkenny this afternoon for a march and rally in support of home helps. The march is being jointly organised by Impact and Siptu. Siptu spokesperson Declan Ferry says the Labour Court has referred the issue of home help contracts back to the Labour Relations Commission, but in the meantime,

Hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of drugs have been seized in the north west in recent weeks by the PSNI. The PSNI’s northern wide Operation Torus, a street-level drug dealing initiative, has recovered more than £1million in drugs since its launch on August 20. There were 246 Searches in G-District, with 135 arrests and

A Donegal VEC member is repeating calls for polling clerk positions to be advertised. Peter Cutliffe says he has written to the County Registrar in Donegal on a number of occasions, but received no reply. He says advertising the positions would give young unemployed people an opportunity to get much needed work-experience. However, he says

The life and legacy of Peadar O’Donnell is being remembered in Dungloe this weekend with a series of debates which the organisers say provide an alternative to the McGill Summer School. Peadar O’Donnell was born in Meenmore in 1893, and died at the age of 93. He was a republican socialist, and an opponent of

The Apprentice Boys of Derry are to receive over 2 million pounds in European funding. The grant, from the European Union’s PEACE III Programme, will be used to fund a new shared historic visitor centre. The money will also be used to renovate the current Apprentice Boys’ Memorial Hall on Society Street in Derry. Governor of the

A Donegal Senator has accused Sinn Fein of ‘speaking out of both sides of their mouths’ when it comes to rural garda stations. Sinn Fein have campaigned to prevent the closure of rural garda stations in Donegal. And speaking in the Dail this week, Sinn Fein Deputy Pearse Doherty hit out at the Justice Minister

A man has appeared in court in Letterkenny today following an overnight incident in which a garda car was rammed. 23-year-old Cathal Dunleavy, from, Glenvar, Kerrykeel, appeared at Letterkenny District Court today charged with 16 different offences. They include fifteen charges of speeding and another charge of stealing a car. The court heard how a

Hundreds are expected on the streets of Letterkenny for a rally in support of the Donegal Home Help Service. At 1 o’clock, the march will proceed from St Conal’s Hospital to Market Square where speeches will be made and a soup kitchen set up. The HSE announced earlier this month that 1,500 hours per week

The Governments north and south are again being urged to agree a funding package which would see the Lough Foyle service linking Greencastle and Magilligan operate all year round. The issue is to be discussed by the Regional Development Committee in the North in the next few weeks after it was raised by East Derry

13 per cent of Irish Traveller woman have seven or more children, compared with just 0.4 per cent of women in Ireland generally. That’s according to CSO figures, which show 29-thousand-573 Irish Travellers were counted in last year’s Census, accounting for 0.6 per cent of the entire population. The information is contained in a CSO

A so called supergrass who infiltrated the IRA for the British security services has said he has been abandoned by MI5 and left with mental health problems. Derryman Raymond Gilmour, who now lives in south-east England, was the only witness in a trial of 35 IRA suspects which collapsed in 1984. He claims he saved

Two men are appearing in court in Letterkenny today following an overnight incident in which a garda car was rammed. We understand that shortly after midnight, a chase began when gardai attempted to stop a car at the Mountain Top in Letterkenny for alleged traffic offences, and during the chase, a garda vehicle was damaged.

Special payments to soldiers for serving in border areas will be high on the agenda when the Public Accounts Committee meets to discuss allowances paid to the defence forces. A large proportion of the border duty allowance is paid to soldiers serving in Finner Camp in South Donegal. At present, 65 different allowances are currently

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’