Author name: oisinkelly

Counting of votes in the fiscal treaty referendum gets underway at 9 o’clock this morning. It’s estimated that just about half of those eligible to vote turned out to do so. In Donegal North East, votes are being counted at the Bonagee Community Centre, while in Donegal South West, votes are being counted at the […]

Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating a suspicious fire in a shed in the Lismonaghan area. The blaze at the disused building was reported at around 4 o’clock this morning, and was quickly brought under control. There were no injuries. The shed is near a house, but gardai say the house was not in danger at

Voter turnout in the EU fiscal treaty referendum is creeping up this evening as people head to polling stations on their way home from work. Things were very slow across the two Donegal constituencies earlier today according to reports coming out from polling stations around the county. An average of around 25% of the county’s

Two men have appeared in court in Strabane charged with terrorism offences today. The offences relate to the discovery of seven pipe bombs in a car on the Mineveigh Road in Dungannon on Monday. 40-year-olds Thomas Hamill, and Mark McGilloway, both from the Springdale estate in Dungannon are charged with possessing seven improvised explosive devices

A man charged with the murder of a Derryman and the attempted murder of a Letterkenny man has been sent for trial at Derry Magistrate’s Court today. 47 year-old Paul Greatbanks  whose address was given as c/o Maghaberry Prison appeared at a preliminary enquiry. He was charged with the murder of Patrick Harkin and the

There are concerns over the future of the Jobs and Benefits Centre in Strabane. It is understood the manager of the facility is in Belfast for a meeting today and will inform staff tomorrow morning of its outcome. Staff fear that many will be redeployed to over areas with the Strabane office being downgraded to

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers’ Association is warning farmers of he serious implications to their livelihoods if fires they light go out of control. Despite recent rainfall, the ground remains relatively dry and further dry weather is being forecast over the coming days. There were a number of gorse fires in Donegal in the

Donegal County Council has confirmed that a report on expenses claims made by Senator Brian O’Domhnaill when he was a council member has been sent to the Standards in Public Office Commission. The referral follows an investigation into a possible contravention of Part 15 of the Local Government Act. The expenses being examined were claimed

Double killer John Gallagher has been described by his brother as a menace to society and beyond redemption. Donal Gallagher, from Strabane,  spoke for the first time last night since his brother turned himself in to the Central Mental Hospital in Dublin last week in an apparent bid to be declared sane. John Gallagher was

Voting’s  underway in the proposed Thirtieth Amendment to the Constitution. Polls will close at 10 o’clock tonight and an indication of the result will be known by mid-morning tomorrow. In all 3.13 million people are eligible to vote in this referendum on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union.

The Michaela McAreavy murder trial is expected to continue today – in legal argument. It was adjourned yesterday after one of the defence lawyers dramatically quit – following allegations from a police witness about his conduct as one of the accused’s lawyer. Hotel workers Avinash Treebhoowoon and Sandeep Moonea both deny murdering newlywed Michaela McAreavy.

There are calls for people living in and around towns who are not currently connected to the public sewer system to be allowed to do so. The call has been made by Councillor Ian McGarvey – a similar proposal was made for the Letterkenny Town Council area recently – but the Ramelton representatives wants that

Strabane District Council has committed £12m to help achieve its vision for the town over the next three years. The plans were unveiled this week. Among the chief aims of the plans are upgrading and modernising the Melvin Sports Complex and the Riversdale and Derg Valley leisure centres. There are also plans to fast-track the

Derry will host the Turner Prize during its year as City of Culture. The prestigious art awards will take place at Ebrington in 2013, marking the first time it has ever been held outside London. Culture Minister Carál Ní Chuilín made the announcement at St Columb’s Hall in the city today at a special preview

A West Tyrone MLA has called on all young people to stay away from quarries and reservoirs during the Summer months. A teenager tragically drowned in a flooded disused quarry in Strabane this week, his body was recovered by divers yesterday. 17-year-old Rhys Jacks remains will be coming home this after and he will be

Pearse Doherty has lost a High Court challenge against the Referendum Commission ahead of tomorrow’s vote. The court has rejected claims that the Commission made conflicting or erroneous statements about the government’s ability to veto the ESM. More to follow….

Donegal road safety group PARC has hit out at the low level of enforcement on learner driver laws. Operation Learner Driver was a day of action by gardai carried out on the 19th April this year. In this area –  of 137 stopped 61 were unaccompanied while 51 had no Lplates. 84 were issued with

Employers are warning workers not to be tempted to ‘pull a sickie’ after Ireland’s Euro 2012 matches. Many football fans are working up overtime to ensure they don’t miss a game – but bosses are concerned about staff failing to turn up for duty the days afterwards. Ireland’s first game – which is against Croatia

Eight people have been arrested following a major operation by Gardai and Police in Northern Ireland, investigating cross border organised prostitution. Over 200 members of the Gardaí were involved in “Operation Quest” which took place in various locations, north and south of the border including Donegal. A number of premises in Letterkenny were targeted as

Donegal County Council has confirmed that it will honour the Lory Meagher All-Ireland trophy winning Donegal hurlers at a civic reception in the County House Lifford. The event will take place after a successful motion was moved by Sinn Féin Councillor Jack Murray at Monday’s sitting of Donegal County Council. Welcoming the news Cllr Murray

A High Court ruling on a challenge by Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty to the Referendum Commission will be handed down this morning on the eve of the ballot. The Donegal TD wants clarification on comments by the Commission’s chairperson made earlier this month in relation to Ireland’s veto of the ESM. Pearse Doherty’s lawyers say

It is claimed there is a shortage of Bed and Breakfasts in more rural areas of Donegal with the county council being urged to introduce measures to make easier for people to establish such a business. According to Councillor David Alcorn the shortage is, at least in part due, to people being put off from

A Judge has described the ordeal of four gardai being set upon by a 40-strong crowd in west Donegal as a terrifying situation. One of the gardai, Kenneth Gallagher, was blinded in the melee when he tried to use a pepper-spray to free himself from a headlock – he was also being kicked and punched.

The Junior Finance Minister has said that it is essential that people of Donegal vote ‘Yes’ in the European Treaty Referendum. Speaking in Letterkenny yesterday, Brian Hayes said that a ‘No’ vote will bring more austerity. He also said Sinn Fein were only campaigning for a ‘No’ vote because they knew that it would bring

The Junior Finance Minister has said the Government are committed to helping struggling small and medium businesses in Donegal. Brian Hayes was in Letterkenny today to meet with members of the Chamber of Commerce and other business owners from around the county. The group of small and medium business owners voiced their concerns to the

An urgent High Court challenge by Sinn Fein’s Pearse Doherty against the Refrendum Commission is to be heard later this evening. The court has adjourned proceedings until 8 o’clock tonight to allow the Commission notice of the case. The Donegal South West TD wants the court to review the Commission’s alleged assertion that the opportunity

A body has been found by divers searching for missing 17-year-old Rhys Jack at a disused quarry near Strabane. The teenager had been missing in the quarry on the Backtown Road in the town since yesterday evening. Rhys and four of his friends had gotten into difficulty on a makeshift raft in the water yesterday

There are fears of widespread bed closures after the HSE West forum was told this month that acute hospitals in the region are still in a difficult financial position. A senior official with the HSE has indicated that net expenditure was just over €26 million overbudget by the end of March. Over €20 million of

Donegal County Council has backed a motion which describes the governments decision to scrap elections to Udarus Na Gaeltachta as undemocratic. The current board of Udarus will be disbanded this year to be replaced by a new board made of selected members. The decision is backed by Junior Gaeltacht Minister Dinny McGinley. One of the

A Donegal Councillor has urged parents to deter their children from swimming in disused Donegal quarries in the wake of the drowning tragedy in Strabane A search operation will resume this morning for a missing teenage boy at a disused quarry on Strahans Road in the Backtown –  he went missing  last evening. It is

Donegal County Council has released figures which show that its postal bill for last year was in excess of 250 thousand euro. Of its six offices, most money was spent on stamps at its HQ in Lifford – almost 145 thousand euro. The bill out of its Letterkenny office was 34 thousand. The least amount

A search operation is resuming for a missing teenage boy at a disused quarry in Strabane. It is believed he was on a makeshift raft with three other teenagers when they went into the water at the quarry on Strahans Road in the Backtown area last evening. The other teenagers were rescued. Police, firefighters and

The County manager has committed to doing all he can to tackle the problem of unfinished estates in Donegal. There are an estimated 130 unfinished estates in the county with problems including no lighting, unfinished footpaths and sewage pumping stations that are failing. Some work has been done to address the problems in the past

The trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey is expected to hear further forensic evidence today. A British expert told the court yesterday that there’s no DNA evidence linking the pair to the crime scene. They deny the charge of killing Michaela, who was on her honeymoon when she died in January of

The Health Minister says a cross border approach remains the best option of securing all services at Lifford Community Hospital. In February the HSE confirmed its intention to cease residential care at Lifford Community Hospital in 2012 with all other primary care and day services continuing as normal. Since the start of March a public

The Donegal Road Safety Group, responsible for the annual road safety events for students, has been honoured with a Civic Reception by Donegal County Council. Earlier this year the Council won the ‘Council of the Year’ award at the Local Authority Members Association Awards for its flagship Road Safety Road Show. The award  recognised the

Boots Ireland is to offer its customers lower priced prescriptions from this Friday. The pharmacy chain is announcing this morning that it will dramatically reduce the cost of the majority of prescription medicines, by an average of 25 percent. According to Boots, the cost of medication for an asthmatic can be more than 94 euros

The search is continuing for a teenage boy missing in a flooded quarry in Strabane. It is believed he went under the water at the quarry on Strahan’s Road in the Backtown area this evening. Three other teenagers who were on the water in an inflatable boat have been rescued.

The Acting Chief Fire Officer in Donegal is urging people to do what they can to prevent gorse and forest fires. Joseph Mc Taggart was speaking after a gorse fire in Glengesh at the weekend saw four units of the fire brigade joined by helicopter support to put out a blaze that lasted over 30

The trial of two men charged with the murder of Michaela McAreavey has heard that no DNA from either of the accused was found in her hotel room in Mauritius or on her body. Mrs McAreavey, a 27-year-old teacher, was found dead during her honeymoon at the Legends Hotel in January 2011. Hotel workers Avinash

A Donegal Councillor says sharing staff and premises could be the key to keeping services in small towns. At today’s council meeting, Cllr Paul Canning called on officials to survey areas within our rural communities in order to facilitate shared premises and services between An Garda Siochana, The Health Board and Donegal County Council. Cllr

Donegal North East TD Charlie McConalogue says Education Minister Ruari Quinn must reconsider proposed changes to the third level grant system which he claims would discriminate against hundreds farmers and self employed workers in Donegal. Minister Ruairí Quinn has confirmed that proposals to include capital assets in the means-testing for third level grants are at

The Donegal Relay for Life is set to raise three time more money than expected. The committee had set a target of raising 100,000 euro for the Irish Cancer Society. The actual figure, as of 6 o’clock yesterday, was 282,000. The Donegal Relay for Life Chairperson is Robert O’Connor…………. North West MEP Pat The Cope

Thousands of pre-school children across the Border counties are taking part in the Border Child Care Network’s Play Awareness Week which starts today. The BCCN says play is often seen as a trivial pursuit, yet it is one of the most important activities that children will engage in throughout their early years. BCCN CEO Denise