Author name: oisinkelly

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

The incidence of cancer is on the rise in the North according to a report published by The Northern Ireland Cancer Registry. Despite the increase, the report also shows a rise in cancer survival rates since 1993. From 1993-2012 cases of female-breast cancer increased by 1.1% per year, male-malignant melanomas rose by 2.7% and female-melanoma

Three police officers in Derry have been disciplined for arresting a couple on their wedding day, after wrongly suspecting they were involved in a sham marriage. The Police Ombudsman had ruled that Neil McElwee from Strabane and his then pregnant Chinese fiance Yanan Sun, had been unlawfully arrested and detained by the police. The police

Northwest MEP Marian Harkin says she’s afraid events connected with the euro crisis are spiralling out of control. Ms Harkin was speaking in Strasbourg where MEPs are this week holding their plenary session. She says the Spanish banking bailout hasn’t quelled market unrest about the state of Spain’s economy – and that it looks very

Books of evidence have been served on two men accused of assault causing harm to Senator Brian O’Domhnaill. Garda Dermot Gallen told Dungloe District Court today that the books were served this morning.. One defendant lives in New York, the other outside London, but both were in court for the brief hearing. Jim Sharkey, 43,

The Chair of the VEC in Donegal says the online system for processing student grants has the potential to make life easier for students, VECs and councils. The system – known as SUSI- aims to help students submit their applications and speed up the process so that they have access to funds when the college

West Tyrone MP Pat Doherty has said while he and three others are giving up their Assembly seats to concentrate on representing their constituents at Westminister, they will never take an oath of allegience and enter parliament. As a result of their non-attendence, none of the Sinn Fein MPs are paid, but they do receive

Sinn Fein Cllr Kevin Campbell is the new Mayor of Derry, with Donegal born Ulster Unionist Cllr. Mary Hamilton elected as his deputy. It’ll be Cllr Hamilton’s third term as Deputy Mayor. There was a moment of tension when the new Deputy Mayor seemed to refuse to allow Cllr Campbell put the chain of office

A judge severely criticised a young woman yesterday and fined her €1,000 after she falsely claimed she was raped while using her phone. Sinead Morrow, who was 19 at the time, was a willing participant in sex, Donegal District Court was told. But when her 35-year-old bed-partner committed an act she didn’t like, she reported

A controversial decision to grant planning permission to Tesco for a filling station and second exit out of Letterkenny Shopping Centre was raised a number of times at a Letterkenny Town Council meeting last night, particularly by Cllr Jim Lynch. Cllr Lynch questioned the planner at the meeting on a number of occasions, at one

The prosecution team is likely to wrap up its case today at the trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius. Yesterday, one of the accused – hotel worker Sandip Moneea – told the trial that he called for a doctor when the 27-year-old’s body was discovered in her hotel room in

Officials in the Department of Defence are due in Donegal today to discuss signing off on the transfer of Rockhill House and Lifford Army Barracks to the ownership of Donegal County Council. The issue was discussed at last night’s meeting of Letterkenny Town Council, where questions were raised by Cllrs Dessie Larkin and Jimmy Kavanagh.

Met Eireann, has received reports from three people of a tornado in Donegal. It happened over Sliabh Sneacht in Inishowen at 1130 this morning. There has been heavy and intense thundery showers in the area since the tornado was spotted. The Met Office said the radar was showing heavy echoes. Met Eireann said tornadoes were

A public meeting is taking place in Letterkenny tonight to discuss the threat of removal of funding for childcare support services in Donegal. A number of public representatives are expected to attend the meeting, which is being organised in the Clanree Hotel at 7 o’clock by the Donegal Childcare Providers’ Network. Spokesperson Patricia Fitzpatrick is

A 21-year-old man has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on 16-year-old Philip Convery at Mayogall Road, Knockcloghrim on June 5. The accused, Michael Mongan of 97, White Rise in Dunmurray faced a total of seven charges. Mongan was accused of attempted robbery of £10,000 on June 5, GBH with

Martin McGuinness says he’s quitting as a Member of Parliament in London to concentrate on his role as Deputy First Minister in Stormont. And Sinn Fein says four of its MLA’s will leave the Assembly, so they can focus on their jobs in Westminster. It’s part of the party’s commitment to end so-called double jobbing

There’s upset within Church of Ireland community in Lifford and surrounding areas following a serious vandalism attack at the Clonleigh Parish Church in Lifford. The incident took place last Wednesday, and was discovered on Friday. There’s been widespread condemnation of the attack on the church, the third in six weeks. On today’s Shaun Doherty Show,

The Road Safety Group PARC is calling for more specific figures after statistics released by the government this month showed that on average, three unaccompanied learner drivers are involved in serious road crashes every month. These are defined as crashes involving death or very serious injury. The statistics were compiled by the Department of Justice