Author name: oisinkelly

The Minister for Children has annouced that around €600,000 has been approved for the support of childcare facilities in Donegal. Deputy Frances Fitzgerald annouced today that approximatley €200,000 was being allocated to playgroups in Donegal South-West, while €400,000 would go to the North-East of the County. Donegal North-East Deputy Joe McHugh has welcomed the allocations.

Tesco has been granted planning permission for a petrol filling station on the site of the Letterkenny Shopping Centre. But the latest attempt by the British retail giant to develop the site is set to face a planning appeal from a number of local businessmen. The decision is expected to be appealed to An Board

The star witness in the trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavey in Mauritius will today take the stand for a second time. The 27 year old was found dead while on honeymoon in January last year. Witness Raj Teekoy claims he heard screaming coming from Michaela’s room before the accused pair appeared.

Politicians have condemned the trouble which erupted in Derry as the Olympic torch was carried through the city. Scuffles broke out after dissident republican protesters blocked the torch’s planned route near the Guildhall. It was forced to go a different way in order to reach the Peace Bridge. The police said they believed a number

The National Housing Construction Index complied and issued by Link2Plans has shown the continued drop in construction activity in Donegal. The research measures Planning Commencements but also shows marginal increase in Donegal Planning Applications. Researchers at link2plans.com have produced the National Housing Construction Index which examines every housing construction Planning Applications and Planning Commencements throughout

The trial of two men accused of murdering Michaela McAreavy has today heard evidence from a key witness for the prosecution. Hotel worker Raj Teekoy told the court he heard screams coming from the room and was afraid to approach. The 27 year old from Tyrone was found dead during her honeymoon in January last

There’s been a dramatic downfall in drugs seizures at the Rory Gallagher tribute festival in Ballyshannon. As the remainder of 12,000 fans made their way home today(Mon) after the four-day festival gardai revealed the drugs take was down considerably. There were 27 arrests for simple cannabis possession compared with 57 last year. Nobody was detected

The republican vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) have claimed responsibility for the bomb attack on a police vehicle in the Creggan area of Derry on Saturday. The attack which was described by senior police officers as ‘a murder bid’ badly damaged the police vehicle. Claiming responsibility for the attack RAAD said that it

A 50-year-old man has been arrested as part of an investigation into dissident republican activity in Derry. He was detained after police searched a property in the Creggan area . Police say he has been taken to Antrim serious crime suite for questioning.

The Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes is calling on Sinn Fein to “pony up” and pay for Pearse Doherty’s High Court challenge against the Referendum Commission. The 11th hour challenge against a statement made by the Referendum Commission could cost the taxpayer 200 thousand euro. Sinn Fein says the High Court will decide who should

The trial into the murder of Michaela McAreavey has heard that police fabricated a confession made by one of the two hotel workers accused of killing her. Senior investigating officer Luciano Gerard, is facing allegations that he meshed together a statement by Avinash Treebhoowoon with that of another hotel worker. But chief inspector Gerard is

Udaras Na Gaeltachta has approved funding for a number of projects which it is hoped will create up to 54 jobs in Donegal when complete. Funding for a number of other projects of almost 600 thousand euro was also agreed. While no specific details where confirmed Údarás says a number of new projects have been

A war between rival cousins selling alcohol cocktails for as little as 50 cent and serving as much as club patrons could drink for €20 yesterday produced a claim that it was in danger of placing a teenager in the morgue. Judge Kevin Kilrane cracked down on the drinks prices battle between the cousins after

Two men have been further remanded in custody as gardai continue investigations into a €1.6 million haul of cannabis plants. 44-year-old Ming Sun and 34-year-old Xia Hua He, both Chinese nationals, appeared at Harristown District Court today following a remand at a special sitting of Sligo District Court last Saturday. Today Judge John Coughlan remanded

The counting of votes in the Fiscal Stability Treaty referendum has ended in both Donegal constituencies, with both once again going against the national trend and rejecting the treaty. In Donegal North East, just under 56% voted No, while in Donegal South West, just under 55% rejected the treaty. In both cases, turnout was less

Donegal North East   Turnout 42.59% Yes/Tá 44.37% No/Níl 55.63% Electorate: 58,387 Total Poll: 24,869 Percentage Poll: 42.59% Invalid Papers: 136 Valid Poll: 24,733 Votes in favour: 10,975 Votes against: 13,758

Official result from Donegal South West.   Poll 41.92% Yes/Tá 45.05% No/Níl 54.95% Electorate: 63,127 Total Poll: 26,465 Percentage Poll: 41.92% Invalid Papers: 137 Valid Poll: 26,328 Votes in favour: 11,862 Votes against: 14,466  

We’ve passed the fiscal treaty referendum – with leading no campaigners conceding defeat. An official result is still some hours away, but the treaty will be passed with a fifty-five to sixty-percent Yes vote. The two Donegal constituencies look set to reject the treaty. Final tallies in Donegal North East had 56% voting No, and

All boxes open Projected vote – No 55% Yes 45%  

26 year old Raphoe man Martin McDermott has been handed over to An Garda Siochana by PSNI Officers this morning. It completes his extradition back to the Republic to serve the remainder of his sentence for manslaughter and associated offences. In July of last year, Martin McDermott was convicted at Letterkenny Circuit Criminal Court of

Thirty staff are to be transferred from the Job and Benefits Centre in Strabane, with only a frontline service remaining in place there. The staff will be redeplayed to other centres in the Foyle district, most of them to Derry city. While no jobs will be lost, local Cllr Patrick Kelly says once again Strabane

Latest from SF tally – All boxes now open, indications suggest 56% No 44% Yes

Latest tally from Bonagee  – Figures collated by Sinn Fein   No  57%  Yes 43% after 86 boxes. 37 boxes left to open

Families who lost babies to pseudomonas have said they were not made aware of the seriousness of the infection until after their children had died. Four babies died from the bacterial infection in hospitals in the North between December and January. The first victim of the outbreak was 10-day-old Caolan Burke, who died in Altnagelvin

Three men have appeared in court in Derry charged with a catalogue of child sex offences over a 26-year period, including rape and incest. The men, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested during a police operation in the city on Wednesday. They have been charged with a combined total of 36 sex

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