Author name: oisinkelly

The SDLP’s Assembly Group will visit Omagh tomorrow taking in a site visit at the former Lisanelly Barracks. Members will meet with various representatives from the local business sector. It has been proposed that the old barracks will be used to develop a new school campus. West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne says he’s hopeful that […]

There has been sadness at the death of leading Donegal businessman Frank Grimes. The founder of the Four Lanterns fast-food chain passed away on Saturday after a long battle with illness. Mr Grimes became a huge business success following the establishment of the Four Lanterns which had outlets in Letterkenny, Donegal Town, Ballybofey and Buncrana.

A 21-year-old man has been charged with false imprisonment, kidnapping and assault in Derry. It is understood the charges are in connection with an assault on a 19-year-old woman at Eskaheen View, Derry, at about 5 o clock yesterday evening. She was put into a van which was driven towards Newbuildings. Police stopped the van

A public meeting is being held in west Donegal on Monday evening to discuss the decision by AIB to close its branch in Gweedore. Businesses in the area have been angered by the decision which means money must now be lodged locally at the post office in Dungloe ,with claims its inconvenient and presents security

The ‘Can’t Pay Won’t Pay’ campaign group are taking their protest to Lifford on Monday where the County Councillors will gather for their last monthly meeting before the summer break. The group are asking to public to join their demonstration which takes place at 12 noon. Can’t Pay Won’t Pay have said that the proposal

Some of Northern Ireland’s dissident republican paramilitary groups are to come together under the banner of the IRA, a statement has claimed. The statement “signed army council IRA”, said a number of organisations were unifying under one leadership. It said there had been a failure among Irish nationalist leaders and there was a “necessity for

Emergency services have attended the scene of a road traffic collision close to Kilmacrennan. The multi vehicle crash happened shortly after 5 o’clock this (Friday) evening. At lease three ambulances, along with gardai, attended the scene. There are understood to be no serious injuries.

The AIB has defended its decision to close eight of its rural branches in Donegal. The Milford branch will close between October and December, while early next year, branches will close in Dunfanaghy, Lifford,  Moville, Gweedore, Raphoe, Falcarragh and Bundoran. Management say they incurred an operating loss of 1 point 1 billion euro in the

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with handling goods stolen from a school in Drumkeen in Donegal as well as other items stolen from a council depot in Newtowncunningham and a burglary in Manorcunningham. John McDonagh (47) of 5, The Daisyfield in Derry was charged with making threats to kill against a

A 26 year old man has appeared before Derry Masgistrates Court charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances and possession of articles likely to be of use to terrorists. He was arrested following a search operation on July 12th. William Martin Mc Donnell of

Planning permission has been granted for a new school building for St Mary’s National School in Stranorlar. The new school will be built on a site opposite the Finn Valley Centre, with over 500 pupils being catered for. The new school was approved in 2010, but has lost its place because it wasn’t ready to

AIB is to close eight of its rural branches in Donegal. Limited AIB services will be offered through the An Post network, and there will also be a mobile banking service in the county. The Milford branch will close between October and December, while early next year, branches will close in Dunfanaghy, Lifford, Moville, Gweedore,

A security alert is continuing on Derry’s Waterside after a pipe bomb device exploded outside a house in Heron Way shortly after 1am this morning. No one was in the house at the time and no one was injured. Police cordoned off the area and a number of homes were evacuated. Army experts were deployed.

The Agriculture Minister is being urged to withdraw plans to change the qualification rules for the Disadvantage Area Scheme by increasing the stocking density required. Deputy Charlie McConalogue says it’s unfair to force Donegal farmers to extra stock onto their land given the recent wet weather. This week the European Commission has already agreed to

The Public Prosecution Service in the North has asked Chief Constable Matt Baggot to order4 out further investigations into the death of Derry teenager Daniel Hegarty in the Creggan in July 1972. The 15 year old was shot twice in the head by a soldier close to his home during Operation Motorman. In December of

A 26 year old man arrested in Derry is due in court today charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances and possession of articles likely to be of use to terrorists. It’s believed the charge relates to a major Operation in the Derry area

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar made an unannounced visit to Malin Head Coastguard Station during a visit to Donegal yesterday. After addressing the MacGill Summer School in Glenties, Mr Varadkar travelled to Inishowen with Deputy Joe Mc Hugh. Once again, the fututre of the coastguard station is in doubt after the publication of a consultants’ report

Independent TD Thomas Pringle has said he is “extremely pleased” that the Supreme Court has today decided to refer three questions to the European Court of Justice on the validity of the ESM Treaty. Pringle had argued the ESM treaty, which provides for a 500 billion euro permanent eurozone rescue fund, breaches the Irish Constitution,

A District Judge has said he will consider granting anonymity orders in drugs cases. District Judge Barney McElholm made the comment during a preliminary enquiry by 41-year-old Daniel Gerald Doherty at Derry Magistrate’s Court this morning. Doherty, of Liscannor Park, is charged with possession of Class A and Class B drugs with intent to supply

A senior Government Minister says he plans to spend his summer holidays learning Irish. The Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says he’s hopes to spend some time in the Gaeltacht in Donegal next month. He says he’s doing it so that he’ll be able to do more media interviews and debates as gaelige in the future…

More than 82-thousand people, under the age of 25 were unemployed in Ireland in April of last year, with Donegal having the second highest level of youth unemployment in the state. Youth unemployment in the county was 49%, just 1% less than Limerick City. That’s according to figures published from the 2011 Census. The wholesale

It’s been confirmed that the Permanent TSB branch in Donegal Town is one of 16 which will close over the next four years as part of a major restructuring programme. Elsewhere, four branches will close in Dublin, four in Cork and three in Tipperary. Branches will also close in Kildare, Wexford, Mayo and Waterford. The

The HSE has confirmed that officials are exploring cross border options for service delivery at Lifford Community Hospital. It emerged yesterday that a consultation process on the future of the hospital which was to have begun this week has been deferred. In a statement to Highland Radio News today, the HSE says while this work

A new initiative aimed at increasing accessibility for people in Donegal and Tyrone is being launched in Strabane this morning. The “Change a Little, Change a Lot” programme encourages businesses and comm unity organisations to make small changes in their premises to allow easier access to their premises by people with a disability. Supports will

A fresh investigation into the murder of Michaela Mc Areavey is underway in Mauritius Police on the island have begun DNA testing of hotel staff working on the day of the murder 18 months ago. Detectives are at the former Legends hotel today to collect samples from 216 employees. These will be compared with traces

A juvenile has been arrested in Derry in connection with in Moss Park off the Glengalliagh Road last weekend. There were several reports of incidents in the area from Thursday to Saturday last week. The boy, whose age hasn’t been disclosed, was arrested by the PSNI last night.

Donegal farmers who have been battling against poor summer weather conditions got some positive news yesterday. The European Commission has agreed to bring forward 50 per cent of the annual payment to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy. However, local IFA Chairman PJ Mc Monagle says the announcement falls short of the 70% advance which

A 24-year-old man with no previous convictions appeared under the influence of drugs when he appeared before Judge Paul Kelly at Glenties District Court yesterday. Shane McDonnell admitted theft, public order offences and drugs possession and the court was told he was addicted to cannabis and alcohol. Judge Kelly, who expressed concern about McDonnell’s condition

Enivronment Minister Phil Hogan has confirmed he’s to cut the number of councils and councillors under local government reforms. Speaking at the Macgill Summer School in Glenties yesterday evening the Minister said the property tax, and other reforms, will go ahead. Details of local government reforms were due to be agreed at this weeks cabinet

The Environment Minister Phil Hogan has confirmed that the revenue commission will be responsible for collecting the new property tax when it comes in to force. Speaking at the Magill summer school this evening, he said the plan all along was for revenue to take over the tax – and he’s denied he’s passing on

A man in his 20s has been arrested in Derry. He is being questioned by police investigating the vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs. The man has been taken to the serious crime suite in Antrim. It is understood the arrest is linked to a police operation in Creggan, Derry, on 12 July, when several

A judge has refused to allow a Derry man accused of rioting to return to live at his home which is close to the scene of the disturbances. 43-year-old Seamus Bradley, from Moss Park, is charged with riotous behaviour, assaulting and resisting police and attempted criminal damage. Mr Justice Weir said he had seen TV

Donegal County Council says it has received no reports of people calling to houses in Donegal seeking to collect the household charge. It’s been alleged by the Can’t Pay Won’t Pay campaign that a number of homes in the west of the county have been called to by people claiming to be from the council.

A Donegal man is hitting out at the agency that collects the Household Charge after he mistakenly paid the tax and didn’t recieve a refund. Darren from Carrigans paid the charge in March, but he found out a few days later that he shouldn’t of paid the charge, as the estate that he lives in

City of Derry Airport’s website is now live and fully functional after it went offline  last evening. Flights were not affected while the website was down, and the airport is  apologising for again for any inconvenience.  

There may be a glimmer of hope for the future of Lifford Hospital following the issuing of a memo yesterday by a senior HSE official in Donegal. John Hayes, Head of Acute Services has issued a memo deferring the consultation on the future of the Hospital pending exploration of potential cross border options and a

A Donegal woman has claimed before the High Court that she was raped in the home of a US embassy official here more than 35 years ago after a drug was put into her drink in the embassy bar. 60 year-old Ailish Nic Phaidín has sued the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the State arising

A warning has been issued after reports that a number of homes have been visited in West Donegal by people who are claiming they are collecting the Household Charge on behalf of the council. Donegal County Council has already issued a warning stating they will not be calling at people’s homes to collect the charge.

The North’s Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has turned the first sod at the site of a new Innovation Growth Centre at Omagh Enterprise Company. The new facility has the potential to create around 200 new jobs, as part of the Irish Central Border Areas Network’s Innovation Enterprise Programme. It’s intended that the new centre will

Fianna Fail leader Michael Martin has told the MacGill Summer School that if the Constitutional Convention does not discuss issues of substantive reform, it will be a missed opportunity. He said there is simply no doubt that the Irish political system failed in recent years, and our political system, as set out in the Constitution,

The Government’s accepted the report of the Dáil electoral boundary commission. It’ll cut the number of TDs from 166 to 158 at the next election. The Cabinet today gave permission to Environment Minister Phil Hogan to draft legislation to give effect to the changes. As a result Donegal’s two constituencies will be merged in to

The Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Doctor Diarmuid Martin has called for new investigations into abuse scandals in the Catholic Church. He’s told the MacGill Summer School in Glenties there should be research-based investigations – to shed light on what happened in the Magdalene Laundries, and in some mother and baby homes. Archbishop Martin says that

Video has been released of the helicopter rescue of  Coastal Cancer Challenge Eventer who collapsed with exhaustion after Climbing Muckish at the weekend. Donegal Mountain Rescue Team tended the casualty and were then assisted by Marshalls to bring the casualty down by stretcher through a steep section. The Team were then concerned that the casualties

The Irish Cancer Society has said at least €200,000 of the money raised during Relay for Life in May will be spent in Donegal. The event in the grounds of LYIT saw over 400 cancer survivors joined by thousands of others in what is believed to have been the biggest ever Relay for Life event

Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty has welcomed the arrest of senior executives of Anglo Irish Bank. The Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson said these arrests and charges were a long time coming. And Deputy Doherty said that three and a half years has been too long of an investigation….

The former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, Sean Fitzpatrick has appeared in court following his arrest at Dublin airport this morning. The 64 year old of Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow has been charged with 16 offences as part of an investigation into fraud at the bank. Dressed in chinos, loafers a navy jacket, blue

It’s emerged that a man shot in both legs in a gun attack in Derry on Sunday night was a prominent dissident republican. The man has been named locally as Jimmy Deery, a leading member of the 32 County Sovereignty Committeee movement. Unconfirmed reports have suggested that Mr Deery was shot by members from within