Author name: oisinkelly

There’s still no clarity about the future of gynaecology services at Letterkenny General Hospital.  Concerns persist over management plans to close the Gynaecology Ward, transfer services to surgical wards and deploy staff to the new unit which is due to open next month. Speculation is growing that a decision has been taken to implement that […]

Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle says the potential closure the gynecology ward at Letterkenny General Hospital is a very worrying situation. Speaking following yesterday’s meeting of hospital management and Oireachtas members, the Independent TD said some concern has been expressed that a risk assessment backing the plan to transfer services to surgical wards was done without

The scale of a Donegal based businessman’s ‘Ponzi’ scheme has been further revealed today by Pricewaterhouse Coopers. Hundreds of people on both sides of the Irish border lost their money after investing with Francois de Dietrich. Liquidators have spent 18 months trying to find the missing millions. 576 investors paid in £20.2m between them. Just £6m of

A Strabane man has been placed on probation for two years and ordered to complete 100 hours community service for posting a series of racial insults on the Liverpool FC website. 27-year-old Jason Rouslton of Mount Carmel Heights, was sentenced at Strabane Magistrates Court yesterday for the offence which was committed in the early hours

Farmers in the North are calling for fairer compensation rates for those affected by major road upgrade schemes such as the A5 in County Tyrone. The Ulster Farmers Union claims local farmers are being offered compensation levels which are lower than rates offered to landowners in Great Britain affected by similar infrastructure projects. The comments

Today’s meeting between Oireachtas members and management at Letterkenny General Hospital has been described as constructive and informative. Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh, who called for the meeting, says in a discussion on gynaecology services, management advised that privacy units will be provided if that need arises. On the substantive issue of the

A 58-year-old County Derry man has admitted 11 charges of indecent assault and sexual activity with a child when he appeared at Derry Crown Court today. The man who cannot be named for legal reasons admitted the offences which occurred between January 1 1997 and July 1 2004. The case will be back before the

Donegal Creameries has reported a 12.5% rise in turnover for the first six months of the year, increasing by €4m to over €35.1. The company’s interim financial report says revenues are increasing across all sections of the business. After tax profits are down from 1.1 million euro last year to 250,000 between January and June,

The family of Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson have accused the police of prioritising sporting events over the search for their sister. Arlene went missing 18 years ago after a night out in Donegal, despite searches on both sides of the border her body was never found. The family have been told that a search due

A case of Tuberculosis has been confirmed at Letterkenny General Hospital, with HSE West offering screening to anyone who had close contact with the patient. The screening may include hospital patients who shared a ward with the TB patient before they were diagnosed, plus family members or people living with the TB patient. The HSE

The road safety group PARC are calling on the Transport Minsiter to stick to his promise that learner drivers who are caught driving unaccompanied will recieve penalty points. It’s reported today that learner drivers will recieve 1 penalty point and an 80 euro fine if they are caught driving without a qualified motorist. Susan Grey

Belleek Pottery are celebrating their 155th anniversary by unveiling a new limited edition ‘International Centrepiece’ today. The design is an elaborate parian china centrepiece created for the Paris exhibition of 1900 and is to on sale at 75,000 pounds, making it the most expensive item ever produced by Belleek pottery. The piece has taken a handpicked team

Donegal Oireachtas members will meet with management at Letterkenny General Hospital today to discuss a number of issues including proposed changes to Gynecology services which could see the current ward close and patients transferred to surgical beds. This is being considered as part of a strategy to free up staff for the new Emergency Department and medical

The funeral takes place in Termon today of 24 year old Andrew Duffy, the Donegal supporter who drowned after falling into a cana; at Phibsboro in Dublin on Sunday night last. Mr Duffy, a farmer, had been in Dublin for the All Ireland Semi Final, and decided to stay in Dublin with friends for the

Hopelessly insolvent – that’s how haulage firm Target Express has been described by its liquidator. A provisional liquidator was appointed by the High Court overnight, for operations in the Republic – where 297 staff are based. Target Express employed almost 400 people in total, on both sides of the border. It ceased trading on Monday

A Tyrone motorcyclist has been killed in a crash during a race at the Manx Grand Prix on the Isle of Man. 48-year-old shop-owner Trevor Ferguson from Castlecaulfield was married with three children. He was a former winner of six Irish National Road races. Mr Ferguson was the uncle of fellow road racer Ryan Farquhar.

The aunt of a man with autism is suing the gardai – claiming that they falsely imprisoned and assaulted her nephew in Co. Donegal. The High Court has heard that the 27 year old was arrested in September two years ago – for allegedly chasing two girls with a stick. It’s alleged that the then

The Environment Minister is once again urging those who haven’t yet paid their household charge to do so for the good of their communities, claiming those who have paid are becoming frustrated. A 100-euro fee was brought in this year, ahead of the introduction of a full property tax next year. But despite warnings of

The HSE says a waiting list for ultrasound scans at Letterkenny General Hospital should be cleared wihin six weeks, after extra sessions were organised and an imaging room dedicated to the backlog. A direct referral system has been in place for three years between Donegal Primary Care, GPs in the county and the hospital. However,

A four-day digital technology and media conference gets under way at various venues in Derry today. CultureTECH has workshops, seminars and speakers from the worlds of film, TV, animation, music, gaming, publishing, advertising and digital arts. Thirty start-up companies from Northern Ireland will be showcasing their work at the event, organised by Digital Derry and

An East Derry MLA says any profit made by NI Water should be used to improve water infrastructure, particularly in areas where flooding is a recurrent problem. John Dallat is calling on NI Water to come up with a long-term strategy to improve drainage and sewerage systems. He says the fact that such a strategy

As preparations continue for The Gathering Ireland 2013, it’s been confirmed that Paddy Harte has been appointed as Chair of the Donegal Gathering Steering Group. His appointment comes ahead of five community meetings in the county during September to discuss ideas of what events and initiatives might be linked to the Gathering in Donegal. Paddy

New laws are set to come into force which will see learner drivers who drive unaccompanied receiving penalty points. They’ll also recieve penalty points if they are caught driving without ‘L’ plates when the new laws come in. Currently if they drive alone without a qualified driver they receive a caution and a fine. Susan Grey from the Road

The remains of Andrew Duffy, who tragically died after falling into a canal in Dublin on Sunday night, have been returned to his home in Termon. They arrived in Golldrum at around 915pm last night. The funeral of the 24-year-old Donegal fan will take place tomorrow at 12 noon. Scenes of deep emotion greeted the

Buncrana Town Council and Donegal County Council have announced that the first annual Tip O Neill Donegal Diaspora Award will be given to journaslist and commentator Niall O’Dowd, one of the most prominent members of the present day Irish Diaspora. Mr O’Dowd was born in Ireland and emigrated in his mid twenties to the US

A top Donegal consultant, who is widely known for his appearances in a hard-hitting national road safety campaign, has said that excessive drinking is becoming a serious problem in Ireland. Dr Gerry Lane, a consultant in emergency medicine at Letterkenny General Hospital, says we have the second highest level of consumption in Europe. And he

Donegal County Board and GAA clubs here are likely to get just 13,000 tickets for the All-Ireland final. The exact number will be made clear next Monday, after next Sunday’s other semi-final clash between Mayo and Dublin. There was 35,000 Donegal fans at Croke Park on Sunday for the semi-final win over Cork, so a

Security cameras look set to be installed in taxi cabs in Derry to protect drivers from false rape allegations — as well as assault and robbery. The move comes after footage from a camera led to the successful prosecution of a man found guilty of attacking a taxi driver. This success prompted other drivers to

The owner of Target Express says his company fell behind on its payments to Revenue, but they were catching up fast. Last night, the haulage company, who sponsors the Tyrone gaelic football team, confirmed that it is to cease trading, with the loss of almost 400 jobs, after the Revenue Commissioners froze the company’s bank

A Donegal councillor says it’s ironic that the government is pushing septic tank inspections and improvements at a time when it is not living up to its own responsibilities. At a recent meeting, Cllr Ian Mc Garvey raised questions about securing a site for a sewerage plant at Rathmullan, to be told that a preliminary report has

Donegal Youth Service will host an information workshop tonight for young people leaving home to study for the first time next week. The workshop takes place at the Youth Information Centre in Letterkenny at 7pm this evening. Staff will be there to help students and parents with information on a range of issues from budgeting to tenants’ rights. This

The GAA is being criticised for not doing enough to protect players who are gay. It follows a speech by Cork hurling goalkeeper Donal Og Cusack that he was verbally abused during matches, adding that he completely ignored the taunts. The inter-county player told a Pride launch in Derry people with megaphones were shouting homophobic

Driving experts are assessing a Road Safety Authority report that suggests driving test pass rates differ, according to where you sit the test. The unpublished report says the national pass rate is 54.56%. Ennis in Co. Clare has the highest pass rate – at almost 68 per cent – while Kilkenny has a pass rate

A man charged with raping a schoolgirl in the grounds of Foyle College in Derry last year was back in court today. 20 year old Adam Titheridge with an address at from Willow Walk in London, is charged with causing the girl grievous bodily harm and carrying out an aggravated assault on her the July

Book retailer Eason is creating fifty new jobs this year, with the opening of four new franchise stores, one of them in Letterkenny. The company already operates a store at the Courtyard Shopping Centre, and is now planning to open a second branch at Letterkenny Shopping Centre, at the site previously operated by Proctors Newsagent.

The Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce has confirmed a number of clerical appointments, to take effect at the end of next month. Both Dungloe and Drumoghill will get new Parish Priests, but there’s further evidence of the extent to which the number of priests is falling with confirmation that Leitermacaward and Doochary will lose

Sinn Féin is urging the Government to abandon plans for a property tax next year and introduce a wealth tax instead. The party says people should only pay tax on assets totalling more than one-million-euro. At the weekend, it emerged the coalition’s told the Troika it will introduce a ‘value based’ charge for next year

A Strabane man who has admitted posting a series of racist insults on the Liverpool FC website could be facing six months jail when he is sentenced later this week. The posts on a discussion board on the clubs website were all sent from the home computer of 26-year-old Jason Roulston of Mount Carmel Heights

Jim McGuinness has paid tribute to the Donegal supporters and the part they have played in the Ulster champions’ run to the All-Ireland final. His men overcame Cork in front of over 55,000 fans, over 30,000 of which were Donegal fans yesterday. They will now face either Dublin or Mayo on 23 September. McGuinness’ men

A climber who had to be taken by rescue helicopter from Slieve League yesterday afternoon has died. The man is believed to have suffered a heart attack while out with another climber yesteday afternoon. Donegal Mountain Rescue, Killybegs Coastguard and the rescue helicopter were on the scene just before 1 o clock. The man was

A 24-year-old Donegal supporter has died after falling into a canal in Dublin. Andrew Duffy from Termon was out celebrating Donegals All-Ireland semi-final win after watching the game at Croke Park. It’s understood that he and a friend were making there way to were they were staying when he slipped and fell into the canal

Donegal have reached their first All Ireland Football Final since 1992. The Ulster champions defeated Cork by 16 points to 1-11. Jim McGuiness’s men led by a point at half time and a superior second half performance ensured victory despite an injury time Colm O’Neill goal for Cork. Dublin or Mayo await Donegal in the

A young boy has escaped injury after lifting up a live World War II mortar shell from a beach in County Derry. The child found the bomb while he was walking on the shoreline around Magilligan on yesterday afternoon. Army bomb experts were called to the scene and they disposed of the shell. The Police

A 41-year-old former classroom assistant at Derry school has been sentenced to probation for sexual assault on a female pupil. John Arthur of Hillcrest was convicted of the offence which occurred on May 13 last year. Derry Magistrates Court heard that the incident happened the morning after a social get together where pupils and teachers

Donegal fans in Dublin for tomorrow’s All-Ireland semi final are being invited along to a unique world record event in the capital. Already, a large number of festival goers from the Donegal are expected to make the journey to Dublin this weekend for the Tall Ships Races 2012. Organisers predict that one million people will

A 59-year-old man is due in court in Omagh this morning charged with rape. The charges relate to an alleged serious sexual assault in Enniskillen in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A 16 year old scout has been airlifted to hospital after she was injured while walking in Glenveagh. The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team was called out just before 7 o’clock last night after the girl dislocated her knee in rough ground close to Lough Sallagh area of the Derryveaghs. She was one of a group

There has been a significant increase in the number of woman in Inishowen seeking help having been the victim of domestic abuse. The ‘Lifeline’ service is based in Inishowen and offers assistance to woman and children In 2011 the centre received a total of 472 calls but in the first six months of this year

On the final day of events at the 7th European Transplant and Dialysis Games in Zagreb, Croatia,Transplant Team Ireland has secured another 5 Gold, 3 Silver and 4 Bronze medals. The brave athletes enjoyed great success at the Games despite competing in extremely hot weather of around 40 degrees. The 26 strong Team will return

With fuel hitting €1.80 a litre, motor tax increases on the way and a hike in VRT likely –  the government is lost for viable solutions to the economic crisis. That is according to anti- VRT campaigner Ryan Stewart who says rural Ireland will be crippled by these new measures. He says those who live