Author name: oisinkelly

The High Court has refused to restrain the government from ratifying the European Stability Mechanism Treaty. Ratification is imminent following a challenge by independent TD Thomas Pringle who argued the ESM treaty, which provides for a 500 billion euro permanent eurozone rescue fund, breaches the Irish Constitution, EU treaties and EU law. While Ms Justice […]

Circuit Court appeals for Donegal cases due to be heard in the High Court today have been moved to Castlebar, a decision which is being questioned by Senator Jimmy Harte. He says he’s been contacted by legal representative and clients who cannot understand why they must travel to Castllebar to have their cases heard by

The Campaign Group Cooperating for Cancer Care North West says Letterkenny General Hospital is on track to be approved as a colorectal cancer screening centre. After a delegation met with hospital management, the group says targets on waiting lists can be met. However, the group says some capital investment will be necessary, and they are

A new survey shows disposable income in households around the country has dropped again. The latest edition of the ‘What’s Left’ tracker from the Irish League of Credit Unions shows 1.8 million people have 100 euro or less each month after their bills are paid. Over half a million people have no disposable income left

Trial lawyers for the two defendants in the Michaela McAreavey murder are due to make their closing statements in Mauritius today. The prosecuting cousel delivered his final submission on Friday. The nine members of the jury are expected to begin their deliberations on Thursday after they have been addressed by the presiding judge. Two hotel

The Director of the Earagail Arts Festival has described Rockhill House as an unrecognised gem. Paul Brown was speaking as the first two days of the 24th festival were based in the grounds of Rockhill House, which recently passed into the ownership of Donegal County Council, along with the former army base in Lifford. Paul

Police in Derry are investigating an arson attack at an electricity sub station in the Daisyfield Park area at around twenty past nine on Friday evening last. The blaze caused substantial damage to the sub station and affected electrical supply to parts of the city for a period of time. Fire service and police personnel

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an arson attack at a house in the Cuthbert Street area in the early hours of yesterday morning. At around 4.50am, it was reported that a wheelie bin had been pushed against the front door of a house and set alight. Rubbish had been placed at the

The North West Alcohol Forum has welcomed yesterday’s decision by a judge to impose a minimum unit price for alcohol to end an ongoing drinks price war in Bundoran. Two night clubs, Paris and Jumpin Jacks owned by rival cousins in the town, have seen shots sold in one for as little as 50 cent

An analysis of crime figures published today suggests that the Donegal Garda Division is one of the counties in which you are least likely to be the victim of muder, mugging or burglary. However, the county is in the top five for both physical assault and rape and sexual assault. The figures were compiled by

Thousands of Orange Order members are travelling to Rossknowlagh today for the annual Orange Parade, the first major event on the Orange calendar since this week’s groundbreaking Seanad address by Grand Secretary Drew Nelson. Mr Nelson said this week the order would like to march in Dublin, but for now, the annual Rossknowlagh march remains

The 24th Earagail Arts Festival kicks off today and runs until the 22nd of July. Over the two weeks, events will take place in venues all over the county, with a wide array of international acts, but also a strong emphasis on local talent under the “Made in Donegal” brand. Meanwhile, the Clipper Round the

There have been calls for investigators to look into what role, if any, the North’s Deputy First Minister played on Bloody Sunday. 13 people were shot dead by the British Army in Derry in 1972. The Saville Inquiry said it was likely Martin McGuinness was in the city and ”probably armed with a sub-machine gun.”

A judge today(Fri) set a minimum price in a seaside town hit by a club drinks war. The lowest price any club can charge for any single measure, spirits or beer, in Bundoran is now €2.50. The order laid down by Judge Kevin Kilrane followed a running prices battle between two night-clubs in the town,

The Donegal Mountain Rescue Team was put on standby this morning for a missing walker in the Slieve League area. Three people were walking over night but  got seperated –  one hadn’t returned by this morning. The alarm was raised to the Garda in Glenties who later located the man at a another nearby hostel,

A report published today by Fisher Consultants on the marine emergency response regimes is proposing that Malin Head Coast Guard Station be closed. Under the proposals presented to government, Dublin would be made the main coastguard centre with reduced functions at Valentia and  Malin becoming obsolete. Minister of Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar is

It has emerged that 2 of the 80 of trainee pilots left stranded at Florida Institute of Technology when their course was halted are from Donegal. The trainees – who each paid around 85-thousand euro in fees to The Pilot Training College in Waterford, were grounded last week because of a contractual dispute between the

There were 22,084 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of June, down 2.5% on June last year, but up 4.8% on the previous month. There were year on year falls in the numbers signing on in six of the county’s eight offices, but slight increases in Ballyshannon and Dunfanaghy. June traditionally

A research project carried out by a Trade Union official suggests while Donegal is the county with the highest unemployment average in the country, seven of the top ten unemployment blackspots in Ireland are in Limerick. Figures in the 2011 census show Donegal with an unemployment rate of 26%, compared to a national average of

The Donegal County Council depot at Newtowncunningham has been broken into, with damage caused to the inside of the compound and a quantity of equipment taken. Local Cllr Paul Canning says the break-in was discovered at around 8 o’clock this morning, and an inventory is being taken to determine what has been stolen. In the

A judge has refused to hear a defamation case because the woman defendant couldn’t afford legal representation and he brelieved she was deprived of her human rights. Judge Keenan Johnson urged former Bundoran town traffic warden Patricia McCafferty to seek free legal aid although it cannot be provided by the taxpayer under Irish law for

There’s been a broad political welcome in Derry to the announcemrnt that the PSNI is preparing to launch a murder inquiry into the deaths of 13 eople on Bloody Sunday. It follows of a review of the findings of the Saville inquiry which found that none of those killed by British soldiers in Derry in

Concern is being expressed for Donegal’s coastal Marine life due to the emergence of algal bloom which is also referred to as the red tide. Most of the west coast of the country is effected by the naturally occuring bloom but, according to the Marine Institute, the problem is worse off the coast of Donegal.

Johnston Press, owners of the Donegal Democrat Group of newspapers, has announced  a detailed review of its publishing strategy for the Donegal market. As a result of the review, the company has announced the following proposal today to staff: * Closure of the Donegal on Sunday title; * Reduction and re-organisation of editorial resources to

The PSNI is preparing to launch a murder inquiry into the deaths of 13 people on Bloody Sunday. It follows a review of the findings of the Saville inquiry, which found that none of those killed by British soldiers in Derry in January 1972 were armed. British Prime Minster David Cameron apologised to the victims’

A High Court action by a Donegal woman abused as a child by her Irish dancing teacher has been put on hold to await the result of his Supreme Court appeal. Michael Quigley of Barnhill Park, Letterkenny is challenging a ruling from last year that ordered him to pay 42-year-old Dana Doherty 400-thousand euros damages.

The HSE has rejected proposals from GP’s to reduce the overnight NowDoc service in Carndonagh and Derrybeg. Under the proposals the so called Red Eye service, between 11pm and 8am, would have been withdrawn from Carndonagh and Derrybeg and provided centrally from Letterkenny. The decision to reject the proposals has been welcomed by the union

The IFA President is calling on the government to secure an advance of 50% on the Single Farm Payment for the middle of October, and ensure the full payout of Disadvantaged Area payments in September. The association says the move would  improve cash flow for farm families, and provide some certainty in meeting credit deadlines.

A man charged in connection with the finding of improvised explosive devices in Derry in May was reused bail at the local Magistrate’s Court. Thomas Anthony Friel (31) of Gartan Square in the city is charged with possessing explosive devices and other material on May 21. The court was told that on that date police

211 unfinished housing developments have been completed as part of a drive on addressing the country’s 2,000 ghost estates. In a further 523 housing estates, plans are in place and in many cases work has been started. The Housing Minister has published a report on progress being made in tackling the problem. 19 unfinshed estates

The body that represents members of the Defense Forces says it’s wrong to claim that all members of the army in counties like Donegal get a border allowance. The claim was made by Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming, who is highlighting the amount of money paid in allowances across the public sector. However, PDFORRA spokesperson

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has been appointed to the Executive Committee of the new North/South Inter-Parliamentary Association. The body, which is intended to facilitate discussion and debate on matters of mutual serious interest between the Assembly and the Oireachtas, was formally announced by Ceann Comhairle Sean Barrett and Assembly Speaker Willie Hay last evening. The

Deputy Joe Higgins says he will pay back money he claimed for travel during the anti-household charge campaign, if independent legal advice says he wasn’t entitled to it. The Socialist Party TD has criticised a statement from the Oireachtas Service last night, which claimed their legal advice showed deputies can only claim for travel in

A 22-year-old mother and her 24-year-old partner, have appeared at Derry Magistrates Court jointly charged with cruelty against her baby daughter. The pair are charged with causing cruelty to the one-year-old baby in August 2010. The couple, who cannot be named in order to protect the identity of the baby, are also charged with perverting

The family of Maureen McGinley in Strabane have welcomed a commitment from the Health Minister to seek answers about what happened her body after her death in 2007. The McGinley family have been searching for answers after severe post mortem injuries  were found on their mothers body. Maureen McGinley’s body sustained 34 fractues after her

An Bord Pleanala has given Buncrana Town Council the go ahead to proceed with works at the Aghilly Road. Part of the land will have to be secured through a Compulsory Purchase Order. Buncrana Town Councillor Ciaran McLaughlin says no elected representative or public official likes having to use a CPO, but sadly in this

The Independent Broadcasters of Ireland says RTE has an unfair funding advantage. The IBI says the 200 million euro generated by the licence fee goes exclusively to RTE – even though commercial radio also provides public service broadcasting content. The organisation – which represents 34 independent stations around the country, including Highland Radio – says

Ulster Bank says it expects its services will be back to normal the week after next. The crisis, caused by a computer fault, began a fortnight ago, affecting tens of thousands of accounts. Central Bank officials are to face tough questions from politicians on the matter, when the Finance Oireachtas Committee meets this afternoon. They’ll

Sinn Fein says the Troika has told them that the government has scope to increase income tax on high earners rather than cutting social welfare in the budget. A delegation from Sinn Fein met representatives from the EU, the IMF and the European Central Bank in Dublin this morning. The party says the troika has

A phone company representative has told the trial of a man accused of killing Michaela McAreavey that a call was made around the time of her death. The Mauritius Telecom worker was the final defence witness to testify in the trial of 42-year-old Sandip Moneea, and his 32-year-old co-accused Avinash Treebhoowoon. Both of them deny

The Taoiseach has promised to raise the issue of garda resources in Donegal with the Justice MInister, but told the Dail he believes the new rostering system has increased the level of contact between gardai and rural communities. During Leaders’ Questions this morning, Sinn Fein Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of a Donegal

Ulster Bank says it expects its services will resume as normal by July 16th. The bank’s 150 thousand customers have been severely disrupted over the past two weeks by a major technical problem at the bank. In a statement issued this morning, Ulster Bank says it’s made significant progress during the past few days in

Representatives for Donegal Island Fishermen have said they are encouraged by the response to their Island Survival Plan presentation to an Oireachtas Committee. Restrictions on Salmon fishing and the ban on fishing within forty miles of the coast have seen many fishermen in Donegal losing their livelihoods and, it’s claimed, has led to mass emigration.

A con-man with a company called Pear-shaped Resources is behind bars for the first time since he deprived victims of €177,000. Thomas Elvin was before Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Court for sentence following a conviction last December by a jury in Donegal of operating as an illegal investor between 2003 and 2005 and depriving seven people of

Donegal County Council is looking at the possibility of providing leisure amenities on some of the county’s beaches. It is after Councillor Mick Quinn called on the council to provide Volleyball and Football facilities on Donegal’s blue flag beaches. A report on those proposals is now being prepared. Councillor Quinn has welcomed the commitment –

A man has been convicted of murdering his former lover at a launderette in Portstewart last year. 51 year old Marion Millican, a Coleraine born mother of four, was shot dead at her workplace on 11 March 2011. 49 year old Fred McClenaghan, from Broad Street in Magherafelt, had claimed that he accidentally shot her