Author name: oisinkelly

A Sligo man has been jailed for 15 years for the repeated rape and sexual abuse of his teenage daughter which led to him fathering her child. The Central Criminal Court heard the abuse began in September 2005 when she was 13 and continued for 2 years. ”I trusted my dad, he was my hero […]

A report that sets out a three-year survival plan for Donegal’s offshore islands has called for a ban on salmon fishing to be reconsidered. The report was launched on Arranmore island today by Minister of State and Donegal TD Dinny McGinley. It claims scientists agree there is a surplus of wild salmon in the Atlantic

County Manager Seamus Neely has said he believes the executive of the council can reach agreement with the operator of the Foyle and Swilly Ferries to get both services on the water for the maximum period of time. He said that will be done within the €50,000 budget  available. This issue led to some tension

The Vice President of the Dublin Council of Trade Unions says its not the job of local authority workers to pursue people for the household charge. Figures show that only around 20 per cent of properties have registered and paid the 100 euro fee – out of the 1.6 million homes eligible to do so.

Donegal County Council has been told that the county can benefit from the Connect Ireland initiative which was launched earlier this month. Connect Ireland has been appointed by the IDA to target 5,000 jobs in the SME sector by offering incentives to people here to contact relatives and friends involved in busines abroad, particularly in

A judge today ordered a bank to restore €32,600 scammed from a middle-aged woman by a fraudster who once ran a company called Pear Shaped Resources. Peter Nolan, counsel for the woman, Sharman Duncan, said that during the man’s trial €32,606 owned by her was traced to an account run by Thomas Elvin in the

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to a road traffic collision on the Letterkenny to Churchill Road last night. At least three cars were involved in the collision which occurred close to the Rock Bar at 9.20pm. A number of people were removed to Letterkenny General Hospital as a precaution – none received serious injuries. Gardai

A new major drive to bring European tourists to the North West has been launched The campaign will target Germany, France, Italy and England and aims to capitalise on the recently announced new air routes into Ireland West Airport Knock. The Western Development Commission is working with regional Local Authorities including Donegal County Council in

Specialist police dogs will be used during new searches for missing teenager Arlene Arkinson which get underway today. The 15-year-old from Castlederg disappeared after a night out in Bundoran in the early hours of 14 August 1994. Her body has never been recovered. A police spokesperson comfirmed a new search has begun today stating the

Met Eireann says Ireland is experiencing unusually warm weather for this time of year. Yesterday parts of the country, were warmer then Mediterranean countries like Greece or Tenerife – with temperatures reaching almost 21 degrees. Met Eireann’s weather station in  Finner Camp and Malin both reached 20C And Forecaster Pat Clarke has some good news

Two Donegal men remain in a critical condition in hospital this morning following separate incidents over the weekend. A man in his 30’s is in the Intensive Care Unit of Letterkenny General Hospital following an assault in Letterkenny on Saturday night. A second man is in a critical condition in hospital in Dublin following a

The people of Donegal said no to the household charge at the weekend as over a thousand people turned out for a ‘Cant Pay Wont Pay’ protest in Letterkenny. Around 328 thousand people have registered to pay the 100 euro charge – but 80 percent of people still haven’t – just one week ahead of

Donegal North East Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has paid tribute to former Donegal County Councillor and Buncrana Town Councillor, Jim Ferry who has died today. Mr Ferry had served on Donegal County Council for eight years from 1991 to 1999 and on Buncrana Town Council for over ten years from 1991 to 2002, serving as

New figures show that in some cases Donegal people are paying almost twice as much in bin charges compared to other parts of the country. A survey by the Irish Independent shows waste collection costs vary massively around the country, with rates ranging from €199 a year in Kilkenny to €380 in Donegal. it is

Donegal North East Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has paid tribute to former Donegal County Councillor and Buncrana Town Councillor, Jim Ferry who has died today. Mr Ferry had served on Donegal County Council for eight years from 1991 to 1999 and on Buncrana Town Council for over ten years from 1991 to 2002, serving as

The people of Donegal said no to the household charge today as over a thousand people turned out for a ‘Cant Pay Wont Pay’ protest in Letterkenny. Around 328 thousand people have registered to pay the 100 euro charge – but 80 percent of people still haven’t – just one week ahead of the final

Staff from city and town councils are to call to households that are refusing to pay the 100 euro tax. The Irish Independent reports that Environment Minister Phil Hogan’s told the councils that they have to knock on doors to collect the money. With just a week to go to the government’s registration deadline –

Two protests are planned today against new government taxes and charges and changes to school transport in Donegal. The protests are scheduled for this afternoon. Hundreds are expected at a major rally against the introduction of the €100 Household charge will take place in Letterkenny this afternoon. The protest will coincide with a national protest which will

The Limerick Post reports how a convicted sex offender has been sentenced to nine-months in prison by Judge Eamon O’Brien at Limerick District Court, after he failed to notify gardai of his address within seven days of his release from prison. In July 2010, Leo Forde, 28, with an address in Laghey Road, Ballyshannon, Co

A young Derry woman today recalled her ‘horrible experience’ when she was glassed in the face as her attacker was jailed. Gemma Doyle (22) of 32, Malin Gardens in Derry admitted the assault which occurred on June 18 last year. The court heard that Doyle had an argument with her cousin over a handbag. The

The family of  Garda Gary McLoughlin, killed in Donegal,  have expressed their shock and upset that the man found responsible for his death was sent to a low security prison which he was able to escape. Martin McDermott from Raphoe was sentenced to 7 years in prison for the manslaughter of Leitrim born garda Gary

Gardai in Inishowen believe there may be a link between a robbery at a fashion store in Buncrana at quarter to four yesterday afternoon, and a similar incident in a chip shop in Muff on Monday night last. In both instances, three people entered the premises, tied the hands of the woman behind the counter

Today is Daffodil Day, with the Irish Cancer Society hopng to raise millions of euro to help in the fight against cancer. It’s the 25th year of the event – and all funds raised will be used to support the society. Justin Mc Dermot is the Irish Cancer Society’s fundraising coordinator in Donegal. He says

A number of homes in the Carndonagh area were left with no land lines for a time following an earlier road traffic incident. It is understood that a vehicle struck a telegraph pole on the Carndonagh to Gleneely road causing the outage. No one was injured in the incident.

An Australian bus company is encouraging Irish bus drivers to move down under, with the Letterkenny based Swilly Group winning the contract to supply them. Ventura – which operates the public transport system in Melbourne – wants to lure Irish workers because of their driving skills – and their charm. The company says it has

A company has thrown its hat in to the ring to replace MFG to run the leader programme in Galway and the Donegal Gaeltacht. The programme has been in limbo since MFG went in to liquidation last September, and while some groups and businesses are still being supported, new ones are unable to apply for

A 27-year-old man originally from the North West has died in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. Two other Irish people, believed to have been travelling with him, are due before a court in the city today, charged in relation to alleged drug-trafficking offences. An official from the Irish Embassy in Mexico has travelled to Venezuela, and

A court has heard that a woman’s claimed the man who allegedly raped her warned that she would be called a liar if she told anyone. She also said the man would never allow her to speak to her siblings and warned them to keep walking when they passed each other in the home or

Police in Foyle are appealing for witnesses following an assault on a pensioner and her son in the Greenwalk area of Creggan last Saturday night, March 17th. Shortly before 9pm, the woman and her son were both hit with a glass bottle as they walked along the street. The mother and son were both treated

Convicted garda killer Martin McDermott has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court today on charges connected to his arrest in Derry last Friday. McDermott, from Raphoe, had the previous day escaped from prison in County Cavan where was he was serving 7 years for the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin in Burt in 2009. He was

A senior council official says that people have been ‘queuing out the door’ of Council offices in recent days to pay the Household Charge. Director of services with the council, Gary Martin, says he is encouraged by an apparent increase in people in Donegal paying the 100 euro charge ahead of the March 31st deadline.

A protest is to be held in Ballybofey on Saturday against boundary line changes for school transport. As a result of the changes, students will only be able to get a free bus ticket if they attend the nearest post-primary school. The protest walk will begin at 2 o clock from Navenney Car Park in

London-based human rights law firm H20 has apologised to Omagh bomb victims after hundreds of pages of confidential information were placed online, including psychological reports relating to victims. Other documents placed online include references to senior Garda witnesses, many of whom are due to give evidence against two of the alleged bombers next October. Michael

Donegal Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has hit out at the Government for not replacing three essential Community Welfare posts in West Donegal. Instead, he says, six more clinics are to close. Senator Ó Domhnaill says the clinics in Brinaleck, Burtonport and Doochary closed recently as a result of retirements, and on Monday week next, services

A Donegal Judge this week raised concerns about the number of public order issues at the Clonmany festival. Speaking in Carndonagh court following a number of public order court cases, Judge Paul Kelly asked Inspector David Murphy if there were problems at this particular festival. He said there are always a lot of applications to

The Minister for Finance has said that the Government is involved in negotiations with the European Central Bank which is expected to defer the payment of a 3.1 million euro promissory note at the end of this month. The deal would in effective restructure the Anglo Irish Bank promissory note payment delaying it until 2025.

A woman has told the Central Criminal Court she was sexually assaulted and raped by her guardian’s foster child over a ten year period in Donegal. The accused man has pleaded not guilty to 46 counts of sexual assault and rape of the woman, who is eight years younger than him. The alleged abuse took

The public in the Letterkenny Garda District is being urged to attend a meeting tonight (Wednesday)to have their say on local policing. The meeting is being hosted by the Letterkenny Joint Policing Committee at Public Services Centre 7pm. Those with concerns about particular crimes or criminality in certain areas are encourage attend. Councillor Dessie Larkin

There where a number of developments on the issue of the Household Charge today. The Social Protection Minister says almost every other country in the world has a charge for local authority services and therefore so should we adding that she believes most will. While Donegal County Council warned that an 8 million euro income

Donegal County Council is taking part in an EU-funded programme which aims to match creative and traditional industries. The €100,000 initiative, which is backed by the European Creative Industries Alliance, is being led by Sligo County Council and the Western Development Commission. Graphic and web designers and others in the creative sector will be encouraged

Donegal County Council is urging the public to pay the household charge or it may be forced to revise its budget for 2012. If everyone in the country were to pay, Donegals’ portion would be in the region of €8 million When the budget was agreed for this year the county manager took that in

A group of people from Donegal walking from Donegal to Dublin in protest against the Governments austerity measures are now over halfway through there journey. The Donegal Action Against Austerity members aim to arrive in Dublin to coincide with the household charge deadline, the next 3.1 billion euro bank payment and the Fine Gael Ard

Donegal County Council has confirmed this week it has carried out seven non domestic water disconnections over the past number of weeks, with more taking place over the next three days. The council says the campaign to disconnect supplies where no payment is received and no effort is made to engage with the Council will

Donegal County Council is to be asked not to use any special powers granted to it in the Household Charge Act to identify people who are refusing to pay. Sinn Fein Cllr Jack Murray says he will submit an emergency motion to next Monday’s council meeting asking the council not to use the power requiring

The Setanta Cup football match between Derry City and Linfield was marred by trouble outside the Brandywell last night. Eyewitnesses said that a small number of Linfield fans had smashed windows at private houses near the Derry ground. There were also reports that at least one bus carrying Linfield supporters had windows smashed by local

The Mayor of Donegal wants a closer working relationship between Donegal County Council and the Youth Council. Councillor Noel McBride has again expressed his regret at the scenes witnessed by youth councillors during a recent visit to the council chamber. They were present at the Febuary monthly meeting that decended into chaos when councillor began