Author name: oisinkelly

Police in Derry have confirmed that A 32 year old man and a 31 year old man are expected to appear at Derry Magistrates Court next month charged with behaving in a threatening manner onboard an aircraft, being drunk onboard an aircraft and using threatening or insulting words towards aircraft crew. The charges relate to […]

An investigation has been launched into a suspected spate of arson across Inishowen. In the last week it is understood that two houses, a barn and Cockill School were targeted, the suspicion is that it is the same person or group of people responsible for all the attacks. Local Deputy Padraig MacLoughlainn says it is

There is hope that a resolution to the issue which forced the closure of Laghey Post office in South Donegal may be in sight. The facility was closed last month due to what was described by An Post as unforeseen circumstances. A group was formed to campaign for its re-opening claiming that its closure was

A difference of opinion has emerged between Stranorlar area councillors over how to deal with safety concerns for students attending Finn Valle College. It emerged this week that a new footpath will not now be in place for the new school term despite a commitment made earlier that it would. A temporary route through Drumboe

Almost 58,000 people, the vast majority of them secondary school students, receive their Leaving Cert results today. Of those, just over 2,200 are in Donegal. A total of 2,205 people sat the Leaving Cert exams in Donegal in June,  1,128 female and 1,077 male. A further 148 students sat the Leaving Cert Applied. Results will

Passengers using the Belfast to Derry railway line are to be taken by bus between Coleraine and Derry for up to two years because of concerns over safety. The disruption will affect a third of trains using the route. It’s also emerged that a complete refurbishment of the track between Derry and Coleraine has now

Retired GAA  broadcaster Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh says he will announce next week whether he will run as a candidate in the Presidential election. The 80 year old says he’s been approached by a number of political parties, and has not ruled out putting himself forward as a candidate. Mr O Muircheartaigh, who turns 81 on

A footpath leading to the new Finn Valley College will not be ready for the new term in 2 weeks time. Earlier this year, in the run up to the General Election, former Tanaiste Mary Coughlan claimed that money was available and that the footpath would be completed before the new college opened. But work

470 children were killed or injured on Donegals roads between 1997 and 2009, a new study reveals. The RSA released the figures yesterday, as part of its research into child fatalities and injuries on the nations roads. The research also showed that 56% of all child casualties in Ireland between 1997 and 2009 were pedestrians

A Derry Councillor says it’s time to reopen the debate about a third bridge over the Foyle in Derry, this one linking Newbuildings and the Letterkenny Road. The need for such a bridge has been discussed before, most recently in a report last year, which found that of 6,100 vehicles arriving into the city from

The latest daft.ie rental survey finds that although there’s been a large percentage increase in rental costs around Letterkenny IT, accomodation for students at the college is still the cheapest in the country. The survey finds an increase of just over 7%, second only to Limerick. Conversely, rental costs across all sectors in Donegal have

Two men have appeared in court in Derry charged in connection with public order offences following an Apprentice Boys parade in the city on Saturday. 35 year old Gerard Anthony Kelly from Corrody Road in the Waterside, and 36 year old John Patrick Duffy from Lone Moor Gardens each face a number of charges. The

Phase 2 of a £3 million junction improvement scheme at the Culmore Road Roundabout in Derry has been completed, with traffic now flowing normally in the area. Local politicians say the new road scheme will help ease the flow of traffic, particularly for those who travel between Derry and Donegal on a daily basis. Foyle

A man has appeared in court charged with stabbing four men, including a Garda Sergeant outside a nightclub in Letterkenny. 46-year-old John Boyle of Leck Cottages in Letterkenny, appeared at Mullingar District Court this morning accused of four counts of assault causing harm. Claire O’Brien was in the court….

The head of the Apprentice Boys in Derry has criticised part of the policing operation in the city on Saturday, after violence broke out after the annual parade. Petrol bombs were thrown at police and three vehicles were hijacked. A mother and her daughter were also dragged from their car near Creggan Street during the

Senator Brian O’Domnhaill says he thinks Fianna Fail should run their own candidate in the Presidential election – and he also said that party leader Michael Martin should not step down. And he said that as party leader, Michael Martin had every right to approach Gay Byrne. The broadcaster ended weeks of speculation on Saturday,

More than 200 people travelled to a remote island off the Donegal coast yesterday to remember more than 500 stillborn babies buried in a secret burial ground. The children, all born between the 18th and 19th centuries, could not be buried on consecrated ground because they had not been baptised. The poignant event was attended

The Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce has announced a number of changes for the diocese. Fr Francis Ferry will leave Tory Island to become curate in Conwal & Leck, Letterkenny, replacing Fr Willie Bradley who returns to the Holy Ghost Fathers. Fr Paul Gallagher continues as Chaplain to Cloughaneely Community School in Falcarragh ,

A 46-year-old man will appear before a sitting of Mullingar District Court later this morning charged with stabbing a Garda sergeant and three nightclub bouncers in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. The sergeant injured in the incident is still receiving treatment at Letterkenny General hospital for his injuries. The incident took place in the early hours of

Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating a knife attack in which 4 people were injured including a Garda Sergeant – in the early hours of this morning. The incident occurred shortly after midnight on Lower Main St Letterkenny outside the Voodoo nightclub. Three men – and a Garda Sergeant were injured – and were taken to

The Health and Safety Authority is investigating an accident in which a three-year-old girl tumbled 16 feet from a hotel balcony during wedding celebrations and had a miracle escape. Eva Sweeney, a cousin of the bride, Ashley Gallagher, fell through a hole in a balcony railing on to a sloping tiled roof and tumbled to

At least three people have been arrested – and a number of petrol bombs seized by police – following rioting in Derry after the annual Apprentice Boys parade in the city. A mother and daugther were pulled from their car by a gang near Creggan Street,  while a car was set alight in Fahan Street

Gay Byrne has confirmed he will NOT be in the running for the Presidency. The 77 year old broadcaster, who’s believed to be in his West Donegal holiday home telephoned the Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin earlier today to inform him of his decision not to contest the election. So far, there’s been no reaction

A post office van’s been hijacked and set on fire in the Shantallow area of Derry. This morning’s attack on Madamsbank Road came as thousands of Apprentice Boys prepared for a parade in the city. Four masked men threw petrol bombs into the van and ran off. The blaze was put out by firefighters. Lastc

All GAA matches – scheduled to take place in Co. Derry this weekend have been cancelled – as a mark of respect to a referee, who died at a game last night. Martin Mulholland – who was in his fifties – collapsing during the quarter-final of the senior championship between Kevin Lynch’s, Dungiven, and St

A convicted sex offender has been jailed for failing to notify police of a change of address. 46-year-old William Joseph O’Connor whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison had been ordered to sign the sex offenders register indefinitely which meant he had to inform police of any change of address. On March 7 O’Connor told

The HSE and Gardai are investigating an alleged assault involving two doctors at Sligo General Hospital. Newspaper reports today claim the male and female doctor were on rounds on Thursday morning, when they had an argument in the presence of a patient. The female doctor was seen to fall backwards clutching her forehead, and was

15,000 apprentice accompanied by 140 bands marching through Derry City Centre this afternoon. Today’s parade marks the 322nd anniversary of the ending of the Siege of Derry in 1689. Before the main demonstration at lunchtime, a number of local Apprentice Boys are walking the city’s walls before a religious service in St Columb’s Cathedral and

A referee has died after collapsing at a G-A-A hurling match in Swatragh, Co Derry. It happened during the quarter final of the senior championship between Kevin Lynch’s, Dungiven, and St Colm’s, Ballinascreen. Paramedics treated the referee on the pitch and then brought him to the changing rooms where a defibrillator was used, before he

A Donegal man who was caught performing an indecent act in his car twice within days seemed to have ‘an obsession with this particular form of deviancy’ according to District Judge Barney McElholm. 35 year-old Gavin Porter of Grange, Inch Island,  admitted two charges of indecent exposure in May this year he also pleaded guilty

Following an increase of dolphins off the Donegal coast, people are being warned to be cautious and not to engage with them. Around 100 bottlenose dolphins have been spotted in the inner Donegal Bay between Rossnowlagh Beach and Doorin Head over the past few days. Onlookers will be able to see the dolphins from Mullaghmore

A survivor of abuse in Donegal has said he is angry at Bishop Philip Boyce’s response to media claims that a new report will show that hundreds of children in Donegal were abused by 20 priests numerous times. Dr Phillip Boyce said the claims in the  Irish Independent were inaccurate, misleading and not in the

A new study has found that five out of six homes where a fatal fire occurs do not have a working smoke alarm. The study of 330 house fires in which 379 people died between 2000 and 2009 shows that just 57 of the blazes were in homes where a working smoke alarm was fitted.

Foyle MP Mark Durkan along with the area’s 6 MLA’s are calling for an independent arbitrator to be brought in to try and end the escalating dispute between staff and management at the North West Regional College. Lecturers and management are involved in a bitter row over redundancies and redeployment, earlier this year about 60

After an absence of at least 13 years the Letterkenny Town Festival returns this weekend under the banner Letterkenny Live. Two two day event, headlined by Ryan Sheridan, will see live music in the town, tonight and tomorrow. It is hoped the event will become an annual one once again. Tony Forrester, the head of

An Bord Pleanala has granted planning permission for a new Petrol station in Letterkenny which has been the subject of years of controversy. Tony Kelly has been given the go ahead for the project despite strong objections from near-by business owner Edward Tobin. Letterkenny Town Council gave conditional permission for the erection of a petrol

After the Bishop of Raphoe denied today that a new audit will show hundreds of children were abused in the diocese over a 40 year period, the HSE’s National Counseling Service is putting plans in place to deal with any additional calls ahead of the publication of the report. Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show,

The Chair of Donegal County Council’s Roads Policy Committee is seeking an urgent meeting with Transport Minister Leo Varadker to discuss the suspension of a number of road projects in the county. Cllr Jack Murray says the manner in which news of the suspension broke earlier this week was disgraceful, with councillors and officials hearing

The Bishop of Raphoe, Dr Philip Boyce, has hit out at reports today that hundreds of children were abused in his diocese as inaccurate. Today’s Irish Independent reports that 20 priests abused hundreds of children in the Raphoe diocese over forty years. The Irish Independent states today that a report by the National Board for

A new report is expected to reveal how 20 priests abused hundreds of children in a Co. Donegal diocese over forty years, according to todays Irish Independent. The report, from the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, into abuse in Raphoe will be published later this month. The contents of this report

Upgrading Letterkenny General Hospital to a Regional Hospital will improve it’s chances of securing additional services, especially for patients with diabetes. Donegal North-East Deputy Charlie McConalogue says that The National Clinical Programme for Diabetes proposes that care be centralised for each region in a centre ideally based at a Regional Hospital. Deputy McConalogue says that

Police in Derry are investigating reports that a number of shots were fired in the city last night. The incident happened just after 11 o clock on Quarry Street. It is not thought that anyone was injured

A 50-year-old man has been released on bail after appearing at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with a series of firearm offences. John Feeny of Lawrence Hill in the town was charged with possessing a Walther pistol and 12 rounds of ammunition on December 28 in suspicious circumstances. He also faced three charges of having the

The first leg of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race has ended in Madeira, with the Derry-Londonderry vessel in fourth place, after fighting overnight for a podium finish. The team left Southampton on July 31st, and on Friday, they leave Madeira for Rio de Janerio in Brazil. Mark Light is skipper of the Derry

It’s emerged that referrals to the HSE’s National Counselling Service for adults with a history of child abuse have risen substantially in Donegal since the conviction of paedophile Michael Ferry last month. The Director of Counselling with the NCS in the North West says since a publicity drive was launched in the wake of the

The government has confirmed to Highland Radio News that its funding of the A5 upgrade through the north is not affected by this weeks decision that no major new road projects would progress in the south for at least 3 years. 9 million euro has already been contributed to the project by the Irish government,

A Fermanagh South Tyrone MLA is calling on councillors and public representitives in Donegal to become involved in a campaign to oppose fracking, a means of extracting natural gas from the ground. Hydraulic fracturing is a process whereby gaps are opened in the rock and fluid poured in to facilitate the seperation and extraction of