Author name: oisinkelly

A row is looming at a meeting in Cork next week to agree how to manage mackerel stocks in the North East Atlantic. Representitives of the  EU, Norway, Iceland and the Faroe Islands will meet in Clonakilty for four days in a bid to secure a sharing arrangement and joint management strategy. It’ll be the […]

Following reports of a number of telephone and brosdband outages in West Donegal today, Eircom is acknowleging there are around 5,000 faults on the network this evening. Eircom say as a result of the windy weather, fault levels have increased across the country, with the worst affected areas Donegal, Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford.

A Junior Minister in Stormont says a partnership between the Northern Ireland Science Park in Belfast with ILEX and Letterkenny Institute of Technology in the North West will hopefully lead to a major development on the Fort George site in Derry. Foyle MLA Martina Anderson says the partnership is now considering the feasibility of establishing

The Association of Catholic Priests has been critical of some bishops claiming the rights of innocent priests had been eroded. The ACP said the reports on six dioceses this week from the NBSCCC showed that of the allegations against 85 priests, just eight were convicted of a criminal offence t in some other cases a

The number of people signing on in Donegal in November was virtually unchanged from the previous month. 21,129 were on the live register last month, an increase of 19 on October and 75 on November of 2010. Donegal Town saw the biggest month on month increase with an extra 89 people signing on, the biggest

Just one prosecution was taken in Donegal last year for littering. The Council employs a number of litter wardens across the county and last  year the authority issued 214 litter fines. The information was revealed to Councillor Terence Slowey who tabled a question on the matter to the Water and Environment section. He was told

The Association of Catholic Priests has been critical of some bishops claiming the rights of innocent priests had been eroded. The ACP said the reports on six dioceses this week from the NBSCCC showed that of the allegations against 85 priests, just eight were convicted of a criminal offence. The Association of Catholic Priests has

An exhibition showing the only excavated remains of a WW2 Spitfire anywhere in Ireland was launched last evening at the Workhouse Museum in Derry. The remains were taken from a bog in Inishowen in June ; this week marks the 70th anniversary of the crash. Members of the pilot’s family were in Derry for the

The HSE has reversed plans to defer expenses payments to staff until January. The executive blamed budgetary overruns for the decision to defer payments, but unions immediately wrote to the Health Minister Dr James Reilly urging him to intervene. Last night, the HSE confirmed expenses would be paid before Christmas. IMPACT’s North West spokesperson Richie

In a move to help families avoid moneylenders,  Letterkenny Credit Union is offering members the option to borrow 1,000 euro at a total cost of 1,020 euro. Director Denis O’Donnell says the board took the decision to offer the loans in the run up to Christmas so people could avoid interest rates from some moneylenders

A Lifford based GP has accussed the HSE of pursuing an agenda to close Lifford Hospital within the next six months. According to an internal HSE document which was recent;y leaked, Lifford is one of a number of community hospitals and facilities in Donegal which are currently under review, and the only one identified for

The public is being urged to attend a Sinn Fein organised “anti-austerity” protest in Inishowen at the weekend. Councillor Jack Murray says a strong turn-out will send a message to the Government’s Oireachtas members in Donegal North East that people will not accept any further cuts. The protest takes place 3pm on Saturday at the

A Strabane bus driver has been found guilty at the Special Criminal Court of the murder of fellow Strabane man Andrew Burns He was shot dead in a church car park in Donegal almost four years ago. 36 year-old Martin Kelly from Barrack Street had pleaded not guilty but the three judges said he was

The Children’s Minister is not ruling out a full inquiry into yesterday’s report on clerical sex abuse in Raphoe. An audit into the handling of allegations in the Diocese claimed successive Bishops made significant errors of judgement. The review – by the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church – says

A Coast Guard helicopter and lifeboat last night carried pumping equipment to an Donegal fishing vessel which began taking in water. The trawler, the Paul Stephen, with four people on board, was about 18 miles south-east of Cork Harbour when the alert was raised. Weather conditions were rough, with force-eight winds and five-metre-high waves. The

A Fine Gael MEP says he wouldn’t be optimistic about the outcome of next week’s crucial EU summit, where the future of the euro will be on the line. The pressure’s on leaders ahead of the meeting in Brussels next Friday, as concerns grow about the spread of the debt crisis in the single currency.

15 new jobs have been created with the construction of a new Aldi store which opens in Letterkenny today. It is the company’s second outlet in the town. The new Letterkenny store is Aldi’s fourth to open in Co. Donegal with the first Aldi stores in Ireland having opened in November 1999.

A number of houses in Donegal were among  108 properties offered at auction in Dublin yesterday. 97 of the properties located around the country were  sold under the hammer. Modern houses in the Beechwood estate in Convoy sold for comfortably over their guides. A three-bedroom semi sold for €32,000, or €11,000 over its guide price.

A verdict of death by misadventure has been returned at the inquest of a 17 year old youth from Dublin who died after falling 40 feet from a roof at the end of a surfing trip in Bundoran. The inquest was told that Joseph Olwill, from Shanliss Way, Santry, Dublin, was locked out of his

A senior union official in the North West is urging the HSE to reverse a decision to withhold the payment of staff expenses until next month. Staff have been told that money owed to them will not be paid until January at the earliest. HSE Management blames a budget overrun, but unions say it constitutes

Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue is calling for a full, independent investigation of how allegations of abuse have been handled by Church and State in each Diocese in the country. He’s also calling for an ongoing HSE probe to be expedited. Speaking after the publication of audits in Raphoe, Derry and four other

A Donegal inquest jury has called for urgent legislation to stop illicit drugs being available on the Internet. They made the call in Donegal Town at an inquest into the death of man who bought a 500 milligramme bottle of liquid morphine online. 24 year old Conor Goodway died after drinking three quarters of the

The Dail has been debating the second stage of the amended Water Services Bill to incorporate new regulations governing septic tanks. Minister Phil Hogan clashed with opposition deputies about the costs that the new regulations will impose on rural communities. Mr Hogan accused the opposition of scaremongering, a charge that Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein

A Councillor has described the council’s current engagement with Donegal’s Diaspora as Ad hoc suggesting the county is missing out on tourism and inward investment. The Government has designated 2013 as a national gathering of all the country’s Diaspora with Councillor Brendan Byrne urging the council to make sure plans are in place so Donegal

Retired Bishop of Derry, Bishop Edward Daly has this evening released a statement  following the publication of the National Board for Safeguarding Children’s Review of Child Safeguarding in the Diocese of Derry He says: I welcome today’s report.  I welcome the fact that the diocese has decided to  publish the full unedited text of the

Not every representation Councillors make on the public’s behalf  gets on the news or in the papers,  but each month many issues are raised. Here is a selection of questions asked by public representatives and the council’s response to them. Councillor Marie Therese Gallagher has been told that the shortlisting of contractors for the Dungloe

‘Towards Healing’ is a new, independent and confidential counselling and support service for survivors of abuse. Following the publication of today’s six reports, it’s extending it’s opening hours over the coming days. It’ll operate from 11am to 11pm today, tomorrow and on Friday – and until 8pm on Saturday and Sunday. Callers can use the

Following his exclusive interview on the Shaun Doherty Show, Bishop Philip Boyce attended a press conference at the pastoral Centre in Letterkenny. He was challenged by one abuse survivor to call for a full public inquiry. John O’Donnell said he believes todays’s report is a cover up, and claimed many people people committed suicide as

A report into the handling of clerical child sex abuse in the Diocese of Raphoe says successive bishops made significant errors of judgement. The review – by the National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church – says too much emphasis was placed on the situation of the accused priest – and

The review of Safeguarding Practice in the Diocese of Derry has also been published today. Derry was one of the first Diocese in Ireland to invite a review. The review finds that historically there was a lack of awareness of the suffering caused to victims by abusers as well as an ignorance to the habitual

Over a thousand people are taking part in a public sector strike in the Guildhall Square in Derry this lunchtime. The action by public sector workers is expected to become the second biggest strike in British history in terms of numbers taking part. The action is to protest at the threat of further cuts and

The family of missing Derry man Eamonn Moore say they were becoming increasingly worried for his safety. The 21-year-old, from Jefferson Court in the city centre, has not been seen since he left his apartment on Saturday morning. It is understood that his family received what they regarded as worrying texts from him at the

Due to lightning hitting the phone lines in Buncrana last night Buncrana Garda Station landlines were out of operation for a period today. Engineers have repaired the fault and the lines are back operational.

There has been a mixed response to the publication today of the Review of Safeguarding Practice in the Diocese of Raphoe. The review was conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church. We have ongoing reaction to it – you can view the report HERE The Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip

Donegal County Council has passed a motion calling on the Minister for Justice to keep all Garda barracks in the county open. Moving the motion, Councillor David Alcorn stated that the stations are a valued asset to each town and village they are located. It is understood that 12 stations in the county are likely

An inquest opens today into the death of a teenage student who fell 40 feet to his death in Bundoran on August 25th last. 17-year-old Joseph Olwill  from Shanliss Way, Santry, Dublin, was on the final day of a week-long holiday with a group of friends in two flats at Tyrconnell Apartments when he fell

Many schools, colleges and public services across Northern Ireland will be closed or severely curtailed as a result of a one day strike across the UK today. The action by public sector workers is expected to become the second biggest strike in British history in terms of numbers taking part. The action is to protest

The Bishop of Raphoe Philip Boyce has defended his decision to promote a priest convicted of voyeurism. Fr Patrick McGarvey was appointed parish priest of Fanad, last month. Six years ago he was banned from the Foyleside shopping centre in Derry after pleading guilty to spying in men’s toilets. Bishop Boyce said: “He has apologised

A long awaited report into how abuse allegations were handled in the Diocese of Raphoe will be published tomorrow morning (Wednesday). The National Board for the Safeguarding of Children in the Catholic Church review of the Diocese of Raphoe will be posted at 10am,  on the website www.raphoediocese.ie. There will be a press conference later

A 28 year old man has appeared in court in Derry charged in connection with a stabbing incident in the city at the weekend. Kevin Ward of Sheriff’s Glen, was charged with the aggravated burglary of a house at Laburnum Terrace, with intent to cause GBH on a man. Ward was also accused of assaulting

Five more people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the attempted murder of Paul McCauley in Derry five years ago. Three houses were also searched in the city. Three men and a woman were arrested in Derry this morning, and a fourth man was arrested in England. The three men arrested in

The Coast Gaurd Helicopter from Sligo is been tasked to airlift vital supplies to Tory Island which has been cut off by the recent poor weather. The Malin Head Coast Guard Marine Rescue Coordination Centre says that the helicopter is expected to be used to carry food and other essential for the next couple of

The public is divided on the County Council’s decision to grant Finn Harps FC 20,000 euro towards its debt. The clubs chairman has said that without the council’s help the club would have been unlikely to raise the 48K required to secure a license to play in the league next year. It is understood the

The Belfast Telegraph reports that a Catholic priest who was banned from a shopping centre after he was caught spying on people in a men’s toilet has been given a promotion. Fr Patrick McGarvey (43) has been appointed parish priest of Fanad, Co Donegal, by Bishop of Raphoe Philip Boyce. The elevation took place at

New figures show that Donegal County Council receives an average of 22 claims each month from motorists who believe their vehicles were damaged by potholes. It takes the council an average of 4 months to reply to each individual claim, however there are no figures to show how many of those claims are successful. Some

A Councillor says the decision by Donegal County Council to grant €20,000 to Finn Harps will not be repeated. Cllr Martin Harley and Cllr Barry O’Neill met with the Finn Harps board at the weekend with the club asking if the local authority would help with funding. Finn Harps must raise a total of €48,000

A councillor has warned that lives could be lost if flood prevention measures are not introduced in Lifford. A nationwide study is expected to confirm that Lifford is one of the country’s area classed as at risk of flooding. Raising the issue Councillor Gerry Crawford claimed that work to prevent flooding in Strabane in recent

The Mayor is to lead a cross party seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach over the decision to pull most of the funding for the A5 upgrade. It was confirmed earlier this month that the Irish Government will no longer contribute 450 million euro towards the project over the next 4 years. Instead 50 million

A Killybegs-based trawler master was yesterday served with a book of evidence that means he has to appear at Donegal Circuit Court on charges of breaching fishing laws. Donegal District Court was told the book of evidence was served on Michael Munnelly, of Riverdale Heights, Killybegs, by Sgt David Durkan earlier this morning. Munnelly faces