Author name: oisinkelly

Defence lawyers in the trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey won’t press the issue of CCTV footage of a couple arguing. Prosecution and police disputed that the footage was of the McAreaveys, saying it was a German couple also staying at the Legends Hotel. The German couple came forward in recent days […]

Ardara has been named the best village in Ireland in which to live by the Irish Times. The paper is sponsoring the Best Place to Live in Ireland awards, and this morning named five category winners. The overall winner will be announced next Monday. Ardara was named best village because, the judges noted, Ardara makes

Sinn Fein in Donegal say government figures on emigration are incomplete, and need to be improved. Donegal North East Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn has tabled a number of Dail questions on the issue, to be told that estimated figures are published once a year by the CSO, and there is no way of providing a

Relatives of victims of the 1998 Omagh bombing are to meet the Northern Ireland secretary later to continue their campaign for a public inquiry. Twenty-nine people and unborn twins died in the Real IRA atrocity. The families say they will give Owen Paterson new evidence that authorities on both sides of the border could have

Gardai are appealing for witnesses following a serious car crash in Co. Donegal. The single vehicle collision occurred at around twenty to ten last night on the Drumkeen to Stranorlar road. A 34-year-old man was seriously injured when the van he was a passenger in, overturned. Two other men, who were in the van, were

It’s thought the murder trial of Micheala McAreavey in Mauritius could last another several weeks. Last Friday the jury was shown CCTV footage of a couple arguing at the Legends Hotel – which the defence maintains was John and Michaela McAreavey – suggesting John McAreavey had given a contradictory account of his movements to the

Gardai are appealing for information after a car was stolen from the Station House Hotel car park in the early hours of this morning. Mickey McGookin from Ballymeana was down for the Donegal rally and was staying in the hotel. He believes is car was stolen at around 1230 last night. The car is a

The Bloody Sunday Trust is launching a fresh attempt to clear the name of a teenager shot dead in January 1972. A report by Lord Saville found that Gerald Donaghey, 17, was “probably armed with nail bombs but was not a threat at the time that he was shot”. He was a member of the

A Stranorlar Councillor has called for work to be carried out on a dangerous footpath for over concerns that someone could be seriously injured or killed. Cora Harvey has already raised her concerns with Council engineers for safety improvement works on the Trusk Road Footpath in Ballybofey. Cllr Cora Harvey says the stretch of road

A total of three men have now been arrested by gardai investigating the theft of two buses in Inishowen this week. Two men in their early 20’s and from the Carndonagh area were arrested yesterday afternoon – a third man, also in his early 20’s and from Carndonagh was arrested last evening. All three have

It is claimed that at least 30 people have been defrauded of thousand of pounds by so called skimming devices attached to ATM’s in the town. Local Councillor Patsy Kelly says numerous people have contacted him after realising their bank accounts had been emptied. He is urging the public to be cautious and report any

A North West MEP is expressing concern that unnecessarily strict regulations may cause some producers to pull out of country markets. Marian Harkin says the Food Safety Authority of Ireland now wants to require every stallholder participating in country markets to register with them, a call she believes is not justified and not required elsewhere.

The Donegal International Rally takes place this weekend. To facilitate the competition, Donegal County Council has announced a number of road closures for weekend as indicated below. Friday 15th June Stages 1 & 4 (Gortree) 10.50hrs – 17.25hrs Errity, Grawky, Tullybogley, Grawkey Glebe, Sallybrook, Monclink, Ryelands, Gortree, Monfad (to junction at Monfad), Gortree, Tullyannan Glebe

The jury in the trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey has been shown CCTV images from the Legends Hotel Reception area in Mauritius, from the day the 27 year old Co. Tyrone woman was killed. The court saw a images of a couple arriving at the desk and becoming involved in discussions

It’s one of the busiest and noisiest weekends of the year in Donegal, with thousands of people here for the Donegal International Rally which gets underway later this morning and finishes on Sunday evening. At this morning’s drivers briefing, the traditional welcome is being delivered by the Mayor of Donegal, a man several of the

The outgoing Mayor of Buncrana has said it was difficult to watch so many young people leave Inishowen during his term. In the past year hundreds of young people have left the penninsula because of the current economic climate to move further afield to Australia, Canada and the UK. Independent Cllr Nicolas Crossan was suceeded

A number of businesses in Letterkenny have launched a drive to capitalise on the strength of the Euro versus Sterling. As part of the promotion, in association with Letterkenny Town Council, a rate of one euro twenty five cent is being offered to customers from Northern Ireland. Businesses will have signs up indicating if they

The HSE is considering proposals from GP’s to reduce the overnight NowDoc service in Carndonagh and Derrybeg. Under the propsals the so called Red Eye service, between 11pm and 8am, would be withdrawn from Carndonagh and Derrybeg and provided centrally from Letterkenny. The HSE is considering the proposals with a decision to be made by

The Irish Wind Energy Association says more investment is needed to harness Ireland’s potential in the sector. It believes it would create jobs, attract investment and help Ireland’s economy get back on its feet. The benefits of using wind energy will be highlighted during events to mark Global Wind Day today. Caitriona Diviney, Chief Executive

Donegal County Council will have the power to bring legal proceedings against households who haven’t paid the household charge. That’s according to the Household Charge Management Authority – the body responsible for collecting the 100 euro charge. Over 670-thousand households have yet to pay – while a further 40-thousand have paid fines of between 11

Gardai have arrested two men as part of their investigation into the theft of two buses in the early hours of yesterday morning. The buses were stolen from Carndonagh and Moville before being driven to Malin – significant damage was then caused to Malin Town’s Green. The two men, thought to be in the early

Gardai are appealing for information after two buses were stolen in the early hours of yesterday morning, one from Carndonagh, the other from Moville. Both buses were brought to Malin, driven on to the green at a time when the Tidy Towns adjuducation is taking place. Superintentant Kevin English says considering the incidence happened at

Donegal County Council has welcomed the the publication of the Planning Review Report in relation to a number of Local Authorities. The former Green Environment Minister John Gormley had ordered an independent review following complaints against seven councils, including Donegal County Council. However, the government changed the format, getting a civil servant to carry out

The service of inserting defibrillators and pacemakers at Letterkenny General Hospital is to be restored. The procedures were temporarily suspended on 1st September last year in what was described as a cost containment measure. At the time the HSE gave a commitment to review the restoration of this service in 2012 and today the executive

The education minister is denying that government cuts will result in the loss of services to people with disabilities in the North West. It follows the announcement by the religious order the Daughters of Wisdom that they are to withdraw services at Cregg House in Sligo because of under-funding. The order claims it cannot bridge

The trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela Mc Areavey in Mauritius has been told she was involved in a violent struggle before her death. The doctor who carried out the post mortem examination on Michaela Mc Areavey’s body said today she died as a result of asphyxiation caused by compression to the neck.

The Northern Ireland Equality Commission has published a survey showing an increase in prejudice against people from different backgrounds. The most negative attitudes were against members of the travelling community, but prejudice against members of the gay community and disabled people has also risen. The commission has called the survey a worrying insight into the

The government has appointed Business Development Managers to 37 Community Enterprise Centres, as part of a 2-million euro programme to promote entrepreneurship. One full time post has been approved in Donegal, based at Convoy Enterprise Centre. Jobs Minister Richard Bruton made the announcement, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2012. It’s hoped the

Buncrana Town Council is to honour the bravery of an Inishowen teenager who risked his own life to save the drowning passengers of a submerged car. Jason McClay, from Kinnego jumped off a 40ft ravine into a pitch-dark Crana River just over a week ago to rescue the passengers of a car which had left

Business representatives and community groups from around Inishowen are being invited to attend a 2013 City of Culture Briefing on Monday 25th June at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel in Buncrana, The briefing is being organised by Inishowen Tourism, Buncrana Town Council and the City of Culture Team. The event is aimed at informing businesses and

Fianna Fail Councillor James Gill is the new mayor of Buncrana. Cllr Gill was the unanimous choice at yesterdays annual general meeting of the local authority. He succeeds Independent Cllr Nicholas Crossan as Mayor of the seaside town. Cllr Gill’s party colleague, Joe Doherty, is the town’s new deputy mayor. The new Mayor says is

Services at Cregg House in Sligo are in jeapordy after the religious order that runs the facility said last night it cannot bridge the gap in funding following government cutbacks. The Daughters of Wisdom say they’re to withdraw services because of government cutbacks of 1.3 million euro at the facility which provides care, education and

The Justice Minister’s defended his use of the term Londonderry in a Dáil speech earlier today. Traditionally members of the Irish Government have only ever referred to the city as Derry. Alan Shatter referred to “pipe bombs in Londonderry” when pushing through an extension of anti-terrorist laws in the Dáil. And he later came back

EU Fisheries Ministers have reached an agreement on discarded fish, and are calling for the phasing out the contentious policy of discarding millions of tonnes of dead fish back into the sea. However, fish producers are criticising the decision, saying it will hamper their operations, while doing nothing to promote conservation. The issue will now

It seems the Irish Government is now referring to Derry as ‘Londonderry’. The Justice Minister has this lunchtime being putting through legislation to extend the anti-terrorist powers under the Offences Against the State Act. The powers were initiated after the Real IRA Omagh bombing in 1998. And in the Dáil Minister Alan Shatter was outlining

Gardai are investigating the theft of two buses in Inishowen overnight, one from Carndonagh, the other from Moville. Both buses have now been recovered and are being examined by gardai. Both buses were brought to Malin, driven on to the green at a time when the Tidy Towns adjuducation is taking place. John Mc Laughlin

A man who’s wedding was ruined when the PSNI wrongly suspected that he and his wife were involved in a sham wedding, has said that the discipline handed out to police officers does not go far enough. Neil McElwee and his then pregnant Chinese fiance Yanan Sun were unlawfully arrested and detained by the police

Police are appealing for information following a suspicious approach in the Glenview Avenue in Shantallow yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 12th June. At around 4pm as three children were playing in the street, a man approached them who was driving a black coloured vehicle. It is believed the vehicle had a taxi sign on the roof and

The biggest settlement announced by the revenue commissioners yesterday was with Donegal company O’Shea Fishing Company Ltd. of Fintra Rd, Killybegs, which agreed a settlement of just under 3.4 million euro for Underdeclaration of Corporation Tax and PAYE/PRSI, as well as a revenue Offshore Assets Investigation Case. Beautician Shannagh Cassidy, of Admiran, Stranorlar, reached a

The Junior Minister with responsibility for Housing and Planning is denying a planning cover up, but says there are lessons to be learned. A review of a number of authorities was called by former Green Party Environment Minister John Gormley, following complaints made against seven councils, including Donegal County Council. The report has found there

Residents in Glenties are concerned that there may be plans to downgrade or even close the local Garda station. A meeting held in the town last night heard concerns about a possible proposal to remove the District Headquarters status from Glenties. There is currently approximately 30 to 40 staff based in Glenties Garda Station, which

In Mauritius, the trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey has been adjourned for a day to allow time for lawyers to address outstanding legal issues. The 27-year-old, was found dead in her hotel room, while on honeymoon at the luxury Legends Hotel on the island last January. Former hotel employees 31-year-old Avinash

Letterkenny Town Council is to seek legal advice on whether it would require a change in by-laws to implement clamping for people who illegally park in disabled parking bays. The issue was raised by Cllr Ciaran Brogan, who said the law is often flouted in this regard, and a very clear deterrent is necessary. Mayor

The Green Party has accused the government of a “cover-up job” after it declared there was no need for an independent inquiry into alleged planning irregularities in local authorities. The former Green Environment Minister John Gormley had ordered an independent review following complaints against seven councils, including Donegal County Council. But a new government review