Author name: oisinkelly

Up to 1000 people attended a rally calling for vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) to disband in the Guildhall Square over the weekend. The public protest was organised by the ‘RAAD – Not In Our Name’ group and was attended by MLAs and councillors from both Sinn Fein and the SDLP. Recently, RAAD […]

Anti-household charge campaigners have condemned plans by the government to track down people who do not pay tax, through utility bills. The Sunday Times yesterday reported that the move follows discussions with the Data Protection Commissioner. Just 12 percent of homes have so far signed up to pay the 100 euro tax – which is

Hundreds of parents, teachers and community groups have turned out for a protest in Donegal this afternoon – in opposition to cutbacks to education. The demonstration is underway in the Market Square in Letterkenny. The rally is being addressed by a number of speakers including President of the Irish National Teachers Organisation, the Reverend John

Sinn Fein says ‘bully boy’ tactics are being used to scare the Irish people into passing the forthcoming referendum on the fiscal treaty. The party’s foreign affairs spokesperson says Sinn Fein will lead political opposition to the Eurozone agreement. Members of the party are meeting in the Dublin today to discuss their strategy for a

The civil retrial of two men being sued over the 1998 Omagh bombing is set for October, a judge confirmed yesterday. Mr Justice Gillen said he was setting aside up to six weeks to hear the case against Colm Murphy and Seamus Daly. He also set out his intention to deliver a verdict within a

The threat from the vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs(RAAD) against two Derry men has been lifted. Following the shooting earlier this week of Ciaran McFadden and his cousin Sean by RAAD there were reports that two other young men were due to be shot in connection with the same incident the McFaddens had been

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has met with Senior Police Officers in Derry to highlight the ongoing threat from Republican Action Against Drugs, who carried out the recent shootings. Two cousins were shot during the week by the group. It’s believed the shootings took place after what was effectively a fight in a bar in the

A British Royal Navy submariner has appeared in court charged with breaching the Official Secrets Act. 29-year-old Petty Officer Edward Devenney, from Strabane, was remanded in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Devenney was arrested in Plymouth on Tuesday morning and charged on Wednesday night. Wearing a blue polo shirt and jeans, he confirmed his name

An anti-austerity walk from Malin Head to Dublin gets underway today. The trek, expected to take three weeks, is being undertaken by Donegal Action Against Austerity. One of those taking part is unemployed builder Joe Murphy He believes what they are undertaking will make a difference:

4.5 million euro is to spent in Donegal over the next couple of years tackling racism and sectarianism. The money comes through the EU’s Peace Three Programme and will be used to promote greater community integration within Donegal and on a cross border basis. This is the second tranche of funding for the project which

Deputy Pearse Doherty has said he believes he was unfairly treated after he was banned from the Dail for two days yesterday. He was ordered to leave yesterday for failing to quit his questioning into the background of Ireland’s most senior civil servant. The Donegal South West Deputy wanted to know whether he could ask

A Derry father has told of his horror as he witnessed his 20-year-old son being shot in Derry this week. Kieran McFadden’s son, also Kieran, was shot in the leg in the Bogside on Wednesday night. A cousin was shot in both legs. The group Republican Action Against Drugs carried out the attack. Mr McFadden

Police in Foyle investigating the sudden death of Michelle Clift have renewed their appeal for any information relating to her last known movements. Forty-one year old Michelle was last seen leaving her home address in Foyle Park around 8.30am on February 29th. Her body was recovered from the river close to playing fields in Coshowen

There has been a broad welcomed to the news that two Donegal festivals have been allocated €70,000 from the Government. The Rory Gallagher international Tribute Festival is to receive €20,000,  while the Earagail Arts Festival has been allocated €50,000. The announcement was made from the Tourism and Sport Minister under Fáilte Ireland’s Festival Funding Allocations

The Earth is being battered by the largest solar storm in five years – but scientists say so far there have been no reported problems. It was triggered by a massive solar flare earlier in the week and grew as it raced outward from the sun. There were fears the storm could interfere with power

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has been suspended from the Dáil after refusing to obey the orders of the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett. The dispute arose when Deputy Doherty made allegations about the new Secretary General at the Department of Finance. Mr Doherty told the Dáil that John Moran had headed up a company that

The driver the Clonmany crash in which eight people where killed has been sent forward for trial to Letterkenny Circuit Court on May 1st. Shaun Kelly, 23, from Hillroad, Ballymagan, Buncrana, had been charged with causing the death of the seven passengers travelling in his car and another man, Hugh Friel on 11th July 2010.

Two Donegal festivals have received a significant funding boost from Failte Ireland today. I was confirmed that The Rory Gallagher international Tribute Festival will receive €20,000  while the Earagail Arts Festival has been allocated €50,000. The money was allocated under Fáilte Ireland’s Festival Funding Allocations for 2012.

Sinn Féin TD Pearse Doherty has been suspended from the Dáil after refusing to obey the orders of the Ceann Comhairle, Seán Barrett. The dispute arose when Deputy Doherty made allegations about the new Secretary General at the Department of Finance. Mr Doherty told the Dáil that John Moran had headed up a company that

The Uncle of two men shot in Derry last night says RAAD carried out the shooting to instill fear and avoid reprisals for the murder of Andrew Allen in Buncrana last month. Brian McFadden was speaking after two of his nephews were shot in a punishment style shooting in the Bogside area of Derry last

A Judge in Donegal has agreed there are a “number of shortcomings” in relation to speed camera vans across the country. In Buncrana District court this morning a number of Inishowen solicitors challenged the legality of the speed vans, which have been in operation since November 2010 Solicitors Frank Dorrian, Pat McMyler and Ciaran MacLochlainn

The Donegal Women’s Domestic Violence Service has taken 385 calls from concerned women in the first two months of this year alone. The organisation released the figures to Highland Radio on what is  International Women’s Day. The service’s mission statement is to empower and support women to regain, reclaim and retain control of their lives

The Mayor of Letterkenny is seeking legal advice having been the centre of serious allegations by a Member of Parliament in West Minster. MP Jim Shannon made the allegations under ‘Parliamentary Privilege’, which allows a Member of the House to openly say what they like without the fear of  legal prosecution. Those rules apply to

Two men have been shot a number of times in the Bogside area of Derry. The attack happened at around 11 o’clock last night. The men are being treated in hospital – their injuries are not life-threatening. If the patern of recent times is followed, last night’s shootings are most likely the work of vigilante

Startling figures released to coincide with International Women’s Day reveal that 770 women and children have accessed domestic violence services in a single day. Safe Ireland says it took a snapshot of the situation on November 4th 2011 – the fourth one-day census carried out by the group. Spokesperson Caitriona Gleeson says it’s positive that

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Children Charlie McConalogue has said that patients in Donegal and across the country are facing bigger bills under the health reform plans being pursued by the Minister for Health James Reilly. According to the Deputy, new research shows that the Government’s plans change Ireland’s health service to the Dutch health model

Further details of this weekends demonstration against cuts in primary schools in Donegal have been announced. Protesters will meet at the Port Road in Letterkenny at 2pm, and from there they will walk to the Market Square, were a number of people, including representatives of the INTO will address those in attendance. It was announced

Police in Derry are appealing for witnesses following a report of a robbery that occurred in the Ardmore Road area of the City during the early hours of this morning, Thursday 8th March. The 25 year old man was walking in the area shortly before 12.30am when he was knocked to the ground by two

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh claims a Government plan to allow the household charge be paid in Post Offices comes off the back of public demand. Currently the tax could only be paid at Council offices or by Direct Debit. Deputy McHugh says by letting the tax be paid at Post Offices the Government are not

It’s expected that the Government will announce in the coming days that the household charge will be able to be paid in Post Offices. Currently the tax could only be paid at Council offices. Donegal North East Deputy Joe McHugh says by letting the tax be paid at Post Offices the Government are not trying

Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill has received confirmation that nine primary schools in Donegal will lose a teacher from September. Senator O’Domnhaill received the information from Education Minister Ruairí Quinn and he says it amounts to at least 30 teaching posts. The Minister was responding to questions from the Senator. In addition he says all 101

A judge in Donegal asked today if anything could be done to keep drugs out of prison. He was dealing with a defendant who received counselling for his addiction but relapsed when in Castlerea jail. Judge Kevin Kilrane made his comments following the jailing for five years earlier this week of prison officer Jarlath Walsh

Two of Donegal’s women County Councillors have called on women in Donegal to get empowered and to come out and defend rural Ireland. Councillors, Cora Harvey and Maire Therese Gallagher made the call ahead of international women’s day which is tomorrow. They are calling on more women to come out behind any local campaigns to

A Letterkenny man with a series of drugs convictions has been jailed for ten years by a Cavan Court. Bernard Alcorn of Cluain Ard, Letterkenny faced charges of possession of drugs for sale or supply under Section 15A Misuse of Drugs Act, 1977/8 In April of 2010 in a joint operation between Donegal Gardaí and

  A 12 year old girl from Dungloe, who was battling an immune system disorder, has died. Catriona Melly  was diagnosed with Immunodeficiency, meaning that she had a very poor immune system, when she was just one year old. In 2006 she underwent a bone marrow transplant, which left her with a number of additional medical

Health Minister Dr James Reilley has assured the people of Lifford that the local community Hospital will not close this year and suggestions on how to keep it open will be considered. There is currently a three month consultation process on going into the future of the facility which has been earmarked for closure by

An inquest has heard that a nurse who was home from Australia died in a tragic accident when she was on her way to a morning appointment with her hairdresser. 26-year-old Deirdre Burke lost control of her car and was in a dreadful head-on collision with a car carrying two sisters who were seriously injured,

Figures released from the INMO show that there were 9 people awaiting treatment or being treated on trolleys at Letterkenny General Hospital this morning. This tallies with staff claims that it was an exceptionally busy night at the Emergency Department which lead to an over spill in to the day ward. The overcrowding lead to

County Council engineers are to examine how many home and estates are not connected to the Letterkenny  main sewer put potentially could. Despite being in close proximity to the  town sewer network there are still many homes in the Letterkenny area that would have a septic tank. While housing estates, particularly those having problems with

The fact over 60 people have already applied for a single part time position at the Cara House Family Resource Centre underlines the importance of the services it provides. That is according to Susan McCauley who runs the Letterkenny based facility. It offers services for the community from the very young to the older often

A teenager from south Donegal is recovering in hospital this morning having been struck by car. The incident happened on the Mountcharles by-pass last evening. The 16-year-old man was removed to Letterkenny General Hospital where his condition is described as stable. The driver of the vehicle was treated for shock.

Turf cutters from Donegal are being asked to attend a protest outside Leinster House in Dublin tomorrow evening. The rally, which is taking place between 730pm and 9pm, is against the ban on cutting turf in raised bogs. The protest is being organised by the turf cutters and contractors association. PRO of the group, Deputy

A number of streets in Strabane were cordoned off today because of a security alert. The police said they received a report of a suspicious object in the Butcher street area this morning. Butcher Street and Barrack Street were closed and a number of properties had to be evacuated. Bowling Green Street and Market Street

Northern Ireland’s senior coroner has told a preliminary hearing in Belfast that the inquest into the death of Arlene Arkinson may not start for two years. The 15-year-old, from Castlederg, went missing after a disco in Buncrana in 1994. Her body has never been found. The examination of her death had been due to begin

A Foyle MLA has said he is concerned at a lack of an Irish Government commitment to help fund the running costs of the new radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin. Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan has welcomed the Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s restated commitment to the help fund the construction of the new which will provide treatment

The family of a Derry man murdered in Buncrana last month have held a candlelit vigil in Derry to mark what would have been his 25th birthday. Father-of-two, Andrew Allen who was originally from Derry, was shot dead at his home near Buncrana in February. The vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs later said it