Author name: oisinkelly

The SDLP has made representation in Dublin for the retention of the Malin Coast Guard Station with a Derry representative now positive that the station will be retained. A report published earlier this month by Fisher Consultants on the marine emergency response regimes proposed that Malin be closed. Under the proposals presented to government, Dublin […]

Gaeltacht Minsiter Dinny McGinley has denied having any involvement in the issuing of a letter to a Glenveagh National Park gardener which threatened him with dismissal. The threat to Mr Donal O Cnaimhsi came in a letter from his employers, the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Mr O’Cnaimshi is a long standing member

Police in Derry are appealing for information following an arson attack on two vehicles in the bogside area during the early hours of this morning. At around 4.20am Police and fire crews were called to reports of a white van on fire at Meenan Square and another white ‘pizza’ van on fire at Lisfannon Park.

A man has died following a road crash on the Greencastle to Moville road. Buncrana Gardai are investigating the accident, which occurred when the victim’s car left the road just before 430am. He has been removed to Letterkenny General Hospital. The road has been closed pending completion of an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators.

Anyone wondering why there were tailbacks from the Dry Arch Roundabout to the Port Bridge yesterday, a local petrol station was giving out half price petrol. The Dry Arch Excol Filling Station in Bonagee, opposite the Clanree Hotel sold off its petrol and diesel for half price before it closed its doors yesterday. Excol Service

Donegal South west Deputy Thomas Pringle has called on the Government to end what he termed its attack on the vulnerable in the next budget. Rather than making cuts to public services which so many people rely on, Deputy Pringle told the Dail that the government should instead be increasing the tax take at a

Police are becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of 23 year old Kelly Ann O’Kane from the Waterside area. Kelly Ann was last seen in the Lisnagelvin Shopping Centre in the Waterside at approximately 11.00am this morning, Wednesday 18th July. She is described as being 5′ 5″ tall, slim build with dark blonde bob length

The appeal by Donegal TD Thomas Pringle against the High Court’s dismissal of his case against the recent EU Fiascal Treaty will be heard by the Supreme Court next Monday. The seven judges will decide whether Ms Justice Mary Laffoy was right to find Ireland’s participation in the ESM did not impinge on its fiscal,

It’s been revealed that almost 2,500 people have applied for fourteen positions at DFS in Derry. Figures released today show that a total of 5,875 are currently receiving unemployment related benefits in the city. This leaves argubly one out of two people who are unemployed in Derry applying for the positions at DFS. Foyle MLA

Significant progress is being made in relation to robberies and burglaries in the Newtowncunningham / Cariggans areas and  Gardai are working very closely with the PSNI as part of their investigations. That is according to Chief Superintendent Jim Sheridan who, earlier on ‘The Shaun Doherty Show’, stated that property has been recovered in the north

A Sinn Fein proposal to cap interest rates charged by moneylenders at 40 per cent has been rejected by the Government. Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty introduced the Consumer Credit Bill stating It was incredible there is no cap on the rates moneylenders licensed in this State can charge. The Donegal South West TD

There are renewed calls for for mobile phone providers on the island of Ireland to introduce a single tariff for customers and stamp out roaming charges. A recent Ofcom report estimated that roaming charges cost customers along the border an additional £300 a year in Northern Ireland with similar costs incurred in the Republic. SDLP

Donegal South West Deputy Dinny McGinley is welcoming plans to develop two primary care centres in Donegal. Two primary care centres have been ‘earmarked’ for Dungloe and Donegal Town but no specific funding for those projects has been announced. Deputy McGinley says the projects will provide vital employment in these areas..

Opposition politicians to the Government in Donegal are hitting out at the €2 billion stimulus package – announced yesterday afternoon. A number of local politicians have stated that Donegal has been forgot about once again. While Senator Jimmy Harte has welcomed the package, which has earmarked funds for a new courthouse in Lettekenny and for

The Prime Minister of Mauritius has told the Irish Independent, that he knows who leaked the photographs of Michaela McAreavey’s dead body to a newspaper. In an interview published in today’s paper, Navin Ramglooam says the source of the pictures did NOT come from within the police force itself, but from someone else close to

A Donegal Senator has told the Seanad that it doesn’t make sense to cut the subsidised bus service which brings people to hospitals in Dublin for out patient appointments. It was annouced last week by the Government that the service was being withdrew because not enough people use it. Speaking on behalf of the Health Minister in

As was revealed on Highland Radio News at lunchtime, funding for a new courthouse for Letterkenny has been included as part of a government stimulus package. The 2.25  billion euro plan will see a number of infrastructural projects going ahead, including roads, schools and health centres. Two primary care centres have been ‘earmarked’ for Dungloe

It’s emerged that gardai are investigating a number of incidents in the vicinity of Leck Cemetery in recent weeks following complaints from local residents. There have already been behind the scenes discussions between local councillors and Superintendent Vincent O’Brien about the incidents, and today, the issue has come to the fore as a result of

The Supreme Court has cleared the way for 2 multimillion euro legal actions over the awarding of the State’s second mobile phone license to Esat Digifone in 1995. The challenges against the State, Esat Digifone and its former chairman Denis O Brien, are being brought by the 2 unsuccessful bidders  – Comcast International Holdings Incorporated

There has been strong condemnation of reports that a gardener at Glenveagh National Park was threatened with the sack for speaking in opposition to the new Gaeltacht Bill. The is much opposition to the new bill which, amongst other measures, scraps election to the board of Udarus Na Gaeltachta. The threat to Mr Donal O

A spokesperson for Woodland owners in Donegal says successive governments have sold off Irish fishing rights and gas rights, and now, the government is on the verge of selling off forestry harvesting rights currently held by Coillte. John Jackson was speaking as the Donegal Woodland Owners begins courses in Stranorlar and Inishowen this week aimed

Police have renewed their appeal for information about the sectarian assault six years ago in Derry on Paul McCauley which left the 35 year old in a vegetative state. The assault took place on open ground at the back of a house in Chapel Road in the early hours of 16 July 2006. One man

The Head of the Football association of Ireland has spoken of the importance of building a strong foundation for the sport in Ireland if we are to be successful in to the future. John Delaney was speaking in the context of the FAI’s Festival of Football and Annual General Meeting – which is being staged

A Co. Clare councillor says overspending in the health service could be reduced by curbing medical card holders’ access to erectile dysfunction drugs. The spend on erectile dysfunction drugs has increased by 13 per cent in the HSE West area that stretches from Donegal to Limerick in 2010. The figures show that patients through the

The Killybegs Fishermens Organisation have expressed their full support for the position taken by Minister Simon Coveney at the Council of Ministers meeting yesterday in Brussels. At the Meeting Minister Coveney called on the EU to withdraw the offer jointly made by the EU and Norway to Iceland and Faroes in February of this year

There are calls for the Justice Minister to send a senior garda investigator to Mauritius to review police files relating to the murder of Michaela McAreavy. Fianna Fail’s spokesperson on justice wants minister Alan Shatter to raise the matter at cabinet today. Yesterday the Tanaiste sent Ireland’s ambassador to Mauritius to the island to officially

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating the alleged rape of an 18 year old woman in the vicinity of Speer’s Lane in Letterkenny. The alleged assault happened at around 2.30 this morning The lane was closed for several hours as forensic tests were carried out . Gardai have confirmed it has now reopened.

A Donegal travel agents has stopped selling holidays to Mauritius following the murder of Michaela McAreavey. Liberty Travel says it has taken the decision due to ‘a problem with policing on the island’ and in solidarity with the McAreavey and Harte families. Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show, Carolyn Davis says that if anyone looks to

The Donegal Clinical Academy Trust has paid tribute to Donegal Person of the year Hugh Green who died in New Zealand last week. The trust says Hugh Green was the first donor to the new Donegal Clinical and Research Academy, which will see Letterkenny Hospital become a teaching hospital with a strong clinical research arm.

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating an alleged sexual assault in the vicinity of Speer’s Lane in Letterkenny. The lane remains closed as forensic tests continue following the alleged assault at around 2.30 this morning. Gardai have not yet said when the area will be reopened.

A member of John McAreavey’s legal team is to make a complaint to police in Mauritius after photos of Michaela McAreavey’s dead body were published in a newspaper on the island. Dick Ng Sui Wa described the printing of the photos as an ‘outrage’. He became aware of the photos after he was contacted by

Donegal VEC is seeking students for a course in Tourism and Culture which is aimed at people with an interest in thopse areas, but have difficulties with some basic skills. The course is being offered in VEC centres across the county under the Learning for Living programme. Coordinator Delores Mc Geady says there are many

Speer’s Lane in Letterkenny has been closed as part of a Garda investigation in to a serious assault on a woman. The incident it said to have occured at around 3.30 on Monday morning It’s not clear when the area will be reopened. No further details of the alleged assault are being released.

The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Eamon Gilmore will meet the Mauritian Ambassador today. It follows the publication of crime scene photos and images of the body of Michaela McAreavy in a newspaper in Mauritius yesterday. Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore says the aim of the meeting is to bring the Irish governments’ concerns over the

Fianna Fail’s new Education Spokesperson says he’ll be ensuring the plight of schools in Donegal is highlighted in Leinster House. Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue was previously the party’s Spokesperson on Children. Deputy Mc Conalogue says having spent the weekend reading up on his new brief, he’s looking forward to shadowing Minister Ruari

Farmers suffering from the effects of one of the wettest summers on record, will be hoping the Agriculture Minister wins some concessions for them in Brussels today. Simon Coveney is to attend a meeting of the Farm Council in Brussels, and the Irish Farmer’s Association wants him to appeal to Europe for an exceptional handout.

Statement by The Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD. The Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD has expressed his deep shock and disgust at the publication of images in today’s Mauritius Sunday Times. Speaking on the matter the Taoiseach said: “The publication of these images represents an appalling invasion of privacy and is a gross affront to human dignity. 

The 12 year old boy who died in a farm accident outside Kerrykeel yesterday has been named locally as Jamie Toner from Churchill. It’s understood he was visiting a farm belonging to a family member when he was injured in an accident involving a tractor at lunchtime yesterday. He was rushed to hospital, but pronounced

Two men aged 25 and 34 have been charged with robbery and grevious bodily harm with intent following an incident in Derry yesterday morning. The two are expected to appear before a sitting of Derry Magistrates Court tomorrow, after the charges are reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service. It’s believed the charges are in connection

There’s outrage after a Sunday Newspaper in Mauritius today published images of the body of murder victim Michaela McAreavey, taken at the crime scene at the Legends Hotel. Her family has described the publication as deeply insensitive, while the Taoiseach says the Government will be lodging a formal complaint with the Mauritian Government. The 12

A 12 year old boy has died in an incident on a farm in the Kerrykeel area. The incident happened at half past one this afternoon. Gardai have confirmed both they and the Health and Safety Authority are investigating the incident which involved a tractor.        

There were serious tailbacks on roads into and out of Letterkenny for a time this afternoon as a result of a fire on the Port Road, between the Polestar and Dry Arch Roundabouts. Gardai say smoke is blowing away from the Main Road, they and the fire service are at the scene, and traffic is

The director of public prosecutions in Mauritius says there may be another investigation into the murder of Michaela McAreavey. Two hotel workers were acquitted this week of killing her, while she was on honeymoon last January at the Legends Hotel. The DPP described the verdict on Thursday as “unexpected” – but defended the Mauritian police

Police in Derry are appealing for information following a serious assault in the Argyle Street area of the city this morning. Shortly after 8am, it was reported that a 48 year old man was attacked in the street, sustaining head injuries. He was taken to hospital for treatement for his injuries, which are not believed

Its understood gardai are probing reports of a stabbing in the Glencar area of Letterkenny last night, but they are making no comment on the alleged attack this morning. It’s reported a man sustained slash and stab wounds in the incident, and is being treated in hospital. However, when asked about the incident by Highland

One man was released last night and two remain in custody following a police operation in Derry on Thursday night. Five assault rifles and three handguns were seized in in what’s been described as a major police operation targeting the vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs. PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott said the operation was

Lawyers for two men, acquitted of the murder of Michaela McAreavey, are today expected to say they have information which could lead to the arrest of her killer. It comes as Michaela’s husband John, his father, sister and brother-in-law, Mark Harte, arrive back in Ireland today, following the two-month-long trial in Mauritius. On Thursday, the