Author name: oisinkelly

A man in his 50’s who was being questioned by gardai in connection with the murder of another man in Donegal last February – has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. 24-year-old Andrew Allen, who was originally from Derry, was shot dead by gunmen at his

Gardai are continuing to question a man, in connection with the murder of another man in Donegal last February. 24-year-old Andrew Allen, who was originally from Derry, was shot dead by gunmen at his home at Links View Park in Buncrana. A Northern Irish man in his 50s was arrested yesterday. He’s still being detained

The HSE is monitoring the Nazarath Nursing home in Fahan after the death of another elderly patient. It’s not believed the death is linked to the current flu outbreak that killed six other elderly people at the same home in Buncrana. Influenza A was responsible for the deaths of the three women and three men,

A Letterkenny man has been elected President of the Union of Students in Ireland. 23 year old John Logue, a UCD law graduate will take up office on July 1st. He is a former USI Eastern Area Officer. Mr Logue has stated he is in favour of campaigning for a graduate tax, rather than continuing

Gardai says they’ll be mounting a preventative operation tomorrow in and around Buncrana after a group of over 100 youths took part in a beach party on the Shorefront on Good Friday last year. It’s understood the youths had arrived on buses from Northern Ireland, with several complaints about their behaviour, and the condition in

Over 2,000 people are being sought to make a “Chain For Life” from Falcarragh to Gortahork on Easter Sunday. It’s hoped that an unbroken line of people holding hands can be created between the chapels in the two towns, with money raised going to the Irish Cancer Society. Grace Sweeney is a member of the

There were 21,051 people on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of March, 216 down on February and 660 down on March 2011. That’s a year on year fall of 3%. The biggest year on year fall was registered in Killybegs, with 1,231 signing on, a fall of just over 9%. There were

The Milford Inn in Donegal has gone into liquidation. The hotel, which operates under the Best Western brand and is part of the Blaney Group closed its doors this morning. Around 55 jobs are set to go. At present, management and staff are in the process of contacting people with weddings and other events booked

The cause of a fire in a bar in County Donegal is under investigation by Gardai. The blaze broke out at Toland’s Bar, also known as the Hole in the Wall in St Johnston just before 1 o clock this morning. The Irish fire service said two crews from Donegal and two from Derry were

The Honorary Secretary of Strabane Rugby Club has said it could be forced to close after vandals spiked its ground with broken glass. The pitch at Bradley Way has been unplayable since the weekend, when smashed bottles were found driven into the turf. The club has already had to abandon one fixture. Robert Dirllon said

Donegal County Council says it is wrong to suggest it has failed to submit information on a zoning review to the government. Minister Jan O’Sullivan said not enough councils had published reviews and dezoned land which was zoned residential, with Donegal listed among those yet to comply. Donegal County Council was named yesterday as one

The Head of the Traffic Corps in Donegal is warning that it is an offence for drivers to be holding a mobile phone in their car, and penalty points and prosecutions may be imposed even of the person isn’t using it at the time. Inspector Michael Harrison was speaking as garda launch their Easter Road

Forty jobs are under threat after a nightclub in Strabane was placed into administration. The Northern Bank appointed a receiver to Katy Daly’s this week. The premises had been for sale for some time. The administrator, McClure and Watters, said the business would stay open in the short term, but its long-term future would be

Republican Action Against Drugs has claimed responsibility for the shooting of a man in front of his girlfriend and her baby daughter in Strabane. The victim is now recovering in hospital after being badly beaten and shot in the knee. Shortly before 10.30pm on Tuesday, four men wearing masks entered the house in Carlton Drive

The Garda force should lease vehicles for use rather than buy them, because an owned fleet is much more expensive to maintain and repair, Garda sergeants and inspectors have said. Sgt Paul Wallace from the Donegal division told delegates at the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors that a vehicle that

The Irish Patients’ Association is urging all healthcare workers and visitors to nursing homes to ensure that they are vaccinated against the flu. Speaking to Highland Radio News this afternoon, CEO Stephen Mc Mahon said there’s traditionally been a low uptake of vaccinations by health care workers, and this needs to be addressed. Stephen Mc

Hundreds of euro worth of second hand clothes are being stolen from clothing banks across Donegal. It’s believed gangs are using bolt cutters to break in to the clothing banks. Last night a clothing bank in Carrigart was emptied of all the items of clothing that had been donated. James McFadden from St Vincent de

The ‘Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay’ campaign has hailed the boycott of the Household Charge as a resounding success. The ‘Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay’ campaign has hailed the boycott of the Household Charge as a resounding success. Their statement comes as it’s reported there’s been a 75% non-payment rate in Donegal. However, the council says that

Detectives investigating a sexual assault in the Waterloo Place area of Derry City on Monday 2nd April, are appealing for information on a Silver VW Golf car, believed to have been in the area at the time.  Police are keen to speak to the occupants of this car. Anyone who saw this vehicle in the

Police in Strabane are appealing for information after a 26-year-old man was shot in a punishment style attack in the town last night. A number of masked men entered a house in Carlton Drive last night at around 1030pm. The mans girlfriend and her daughter were in the house at the time. They assaulted the

It’s emerged that four of the six residents who died from influenza had been vaccinated against the flu. Eleven people there remain ill with varying degrees of symptoms – and doctors say they have concerns about some of these patients. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre says unfortunately, this year’s flu virus was not ideally matched

It was confirmed that a strain of flu was responsible for the deaths of six residents at Nazareth House in Fahan. Samples sent to the National Virus Reference Lab have tested positive for “Influenza A”. Three men and three women aged between 85 and 98 – have died at the home since March 22nd, while

TDs, Senators and MEPs disclosed political donations of just under 400 thousand euro last year. Of Donegal’s TDs, four disclosed donations. There were no donations disclosed by either of Donegal’s two senators, or by any of the three North West MEPs. Only donations above 634 euro 87 cent need to be disclosed. Of the three

It’s been confirmed this evening that the flu caused the deaths of 6 people at a Donegal nursing home. Three men and three women aged between the ages of 85 and 98 have died since March 22nd. Another 11 people were confirmed ill this morning. Experts say the samples taken tested positive for Influenza Type

A Donegal Councillor has hit out at the Irish Wind Energy Association after a spokesperson for the association said Donegal has an obgligation to facilitate windfarm developments as part of Ireland’s commitment to the Kyoto agreement. Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill also hit out at the IWEA for going straight to the media with cocerns regarding a

The general public have no need to fear the current infection outbreak at Nazareth House, Fahan, a top health official has stressed. Dr Peter Wright, Director of Public Health at HSE North West, said while the body were still awaiting test results – which he said they expected this evening – it was likely to

Donegal County Council is facing punishment from the Government in the form of cuts to services over non-payment of the household charge, according to Donegal North-East Deputy, Charlie McConalogue. He says this is the latest attempt by the government to shift the blame for their failure on the household charge fiasco. In the run up

The Irish Wind Energy Association has expressed concern at a move by the Donegal County Council to include substantial changes to the draft County Donegal Development Plan. The proposed amendment seeks to impose mandatory 1km separation distance between wind turbines and dwellings. However, the IWEA says such a move is wholly unnecessary. Expressing concern at

Foyle MP Mark Durkan says it’s time to refocus the campaign for a new North West Enterprise Zone incorporating parts of Derry, Donegal and Tyrone. At the weekend, Northern Secretary Owen Paterson said such zones are a devolved responsibility in Northern Ireland, but there’s been much more rapid progress in England, Scotland and Wales. Mark

GP’s are being asked to report any unusual clusters of respiratory illness, following the deaths of six people at a private nursing home in County Donegal. Visitor restrictions are in place at Nazareth House in Fahan, Buncrana where the deaths took place over the last 12 days. Laboratory tests and swabs have been taken –

More details are emerging this evening about the deaths of six elderly patients at the Nazareth House nursing home in Fahan. Five of the deaths occurred in a cluster in the last five days – it’s thought these may have been the result of a respiratory-type illness. All of the people who died were aged

The HSE is investigating the deaths of six elderly patients at a nursing home in Buncrana.. The victims  are believed to have had a respiratory type illness at the private facility. The deaths happened over an 11 day period, five of them in five days . The HSE says all residents are receiving either active

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following a report of a sexual assault in the Waterloo Place area of the city during the early hours of this morning. Shortly before 2.30am, it is alleged a woman in her twenties was attacked by an unknown male. The man is described as black, and was wearing

A man in custody for possessing a rifle with intent to endanger life last August was refused bail at today’s sitting of Derry Magistrate’s Court. 44 year old Tony Taylor of Bishop Street in Derry is charged along with 24 year old Mark Kerr of Carranbane Walk in the city with possessing the weapon on

Several thousand euro worth of jewellery has been taken in a break in at a jewellers at Letterkenny Shopping Centre. Thieves broke through a roof into an adjoining clothes shop, smashed through plasterboard and then cut a hole at the rear of a glass cabinet, taking diamond rings and necklaces. A full inventory check is continuing at

The Donegal man who led the ‘Walk for Change’ from Malin Head to Dublin in protest against austerity measures says it was the best thing he has ever done. Joe Murphy and his four fellow walkers arrived in Dublin on Friday after embarking on the walk from Malin on March 7th. The five walkers made

A Donegal South-West Deputy has hailed the countrywide campaign against the household charge as a success. Nationally it’s been estimated by the government that 805,000 of the 1.6 million properties in the country registered by Saturdays deadline. While Donegal was said to have the lowest collection rate of any council in the country. Deputy Thomas

A Derry City Cllr has hit out at weekend petrol bomb and arson attacks on cars and a house in the Galliagh area of the city. The first of the attacks took place at Fern Park on Saturday morning when a petrol bomb was thrown at the door of a house. Meanwhile, a number of

Donegal County Cllr Paul Canning says this is simply another cost cutting measure by the Irish government. He says if the Education Minister goes ahead with this proposal then it will result in the closure of every rural school along the border in Donegal. Cllr Canning says it will result in people from towns like

Families living in the border area are to be consulted about the option of sending their children to primary and second level schools in the neighbouring jurisdiction. A decision to carry out the survey has been agreed by the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn, and his counterpart in the Northern Ireland executive, John O’Dowd. Education

Plans to develop the riverside in Strabane and Lifford will be formally launched today at the Alley Theatre in Strabane. Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council are both backing the Riverine Project with funding from the International Fund for Ireland. The project is intended to address the impact of the conflict on the Strabane

Donegal TD Joe Mc Hugh says establishing a North – South Parliamentary Forum is a priority for him between now and the summer. Deputy Mc Hugh was speaking after chairing a policy session that will focus on cross border and UK trade at the Fine Gael Ard Fheis at the weekend. Among those who addressed

A new National Housing Construction Index complied and issued by a construction consultancy shows the slow down in the construction sector continues in Donegal. Link2Plans has published a National Housing Construction Index detailing Planning Applications and Commencements throughout the months of January and February 2012, and comparing them with the same period in 2011. In January and

One person has been arrested folllowing a drugs seizure in Letterkenny last night. Gardai have confimed that herbal cannabis with an estimated value of 500 euro was recovered. No further details have been disclosed.

Three men have been treated for smoke inhalation after a petrol bomb was thrown at a house in Derry. The device hit the door of the house at Fern Park in Shantallow. The attack happened at a quarter past eleven last night. Meanwhile, four cars have been set alight in a series of what the