Author name: oisinkelly

A man on his way to a family wedding died when he lost his way and made a U-turn that led to a crash with another car, an inquest heard yesterday. The other car was carrying an elderly couple on their way to see their new-born grandchild. They were hospitalised with injuries. 66-year-old  Paddy Fitzgerald, […]

The number of new cars sold in Ireland last month was down 35% on the same period last year following the end of the scrappage scheme in June. In Donegal, the drop was even more stark, falling by 54% from 186 to 86. Nationally, new car sales for the year to date are still up

Five people have been arrested over the attempted theft of an ATM cash machine in County Derry. Police arrested four men, aged between 15 and 47 and a 37-year-old woman in Newtownstewart, County Tyrone. Three men wearing balaclavas attempted to steal the machine from a post office in Dungiven early on Monday. They smashed a

The lives of hundreds of vulnerable children are being put at risk – due to a lack of resources. According to reports in today’s Irish Times, social work teams in several parts of the country say they’re being forced to ignore potentially serious reports of suspected abuse or neglect due to heavy workloads and under-staffing.

A tyre-dumping ground has been found in a forest in Donegal. The mound of more than 100 used tyres was found on a scenic forest walkway in Trentagh. Cllr Mick Quinn, who was made aware of the sight by a neighbour, hit out at the small minority who continue to dump constantly throughout the County.

The group calling itself “Republican Action Against Drugs” has said it will kill drug dealers in Inishowen. Last year, the group issued an unspecified threat, but now, they have made a comprehensive statement to the Inish Times newspaper. Speaking to Greg Hughes on the Shaun Doherty Show today, the paper’s editor John Gill said the

A woman has been slightly injured in a robbery at her home in Strabane Police say the woman was confronted by the man when she walked into the kitchen. The man, who spoke with a Southern Irish accent went for her handbag and a short struggle ensued before he struck her on the head. The

A study of the voting patterns of TDs in Dail Eireann has shown that of Donegal’s six TDs, Deputy Pearse Doherty has the best record missing no votes, while conversely,  Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue missed seven while logged in as attending the Dail that day. The study carried out by the Irish Independent covers 24

A 21 year old from Burtonport has become the fourth local woman to win the Mary from Dungloe title in the festival’s 44 year history. Graduate Debbie Rodgers was crowned at the festival’s final night on Sunday. She says she hopes to spend her year promoting the festival:

Gardai have stepped up their investigations into allegations of a sexual abuse ring in Co Donegal with the arrests of two men in separate raids. The two men, who are both in their 60s, were arrested in Bunbeg and in Crolly early yesterday morning. Gardai searched the men’s homes and both are still being questioned

Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle has withdrawn his support for  Presidential candidate David Norris. In a statement issued late last night, the Independent TD confirmed that having spoken at length with his supporters, he will not now be nominating Senator Norris. In his statement, Deputy Pringle says that had he been aware of the

The future of Senator David Norris’ bid for the presidency is in doubt, but as it stands, he still has the support of Donegal Independent Deputy Thomas Prinhle. A number of the politicians who already supported his nomination to run as a candidate say they will continue to do so – despite revealation’s about a

Northern Ireland’s Environment Minister is planning a summit to tackle crime against the north’s built heritage. Alex Attwood was speaking after promising help to save the listed Herdman’s Mill building in Sion Mills in County Tyrone which was badly damaged by a blaze yesterday. He says the Stormont government, along with the community, the emergency

The opposition are calling on the Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald to outline how the new legislation on reporting child sex abuse allegations will impact on resources. It comes after the HSE’s Head of Child and Family Services, Gordon Jeyes  likened the accountability structures of the HSE to those of the Catholic Church. Speaking at a

The Dungloe fire crew had to withdraw from their participation in the Mary from Dungloe carnival parade just before it started due to a fire at the rear of a house in the town today Sunday. The fire in an outhouse at the rear of a private house at Carnmore Road (just off main street)

One of the politicians supporting Senator David Norris’ presidential campaign says he would like further information about the latest controversy to hit the Senator’s bid for the Aras. It’s reported two key figures in the campaign have stepped down – Director of Communications Jane Cregan and Director of Elections Derek Murphy. The resignations are understood

The organisers of the MacGill Summer School in Glenties have expressed there disappointment that Senator David Norris was a no-show at the first public forum for declared presidential candidates last night. However, since it was confirmed that Senator Norris would not be attending, details have emerged of two high profile resignations from his campaign team

It is reported today that simple background checks were not carried out on an incompetent junior doctor who secured work here in Donegal despite having already failed a competence test abroad. The junior doctor, who was hired to work at Letterkenny General hospital,  had already failed an exam for a similar job abroad. According to

An Post is promising to reopen the post office at Laghey as quickly as possible once an investigation has been completed. Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle says hundreds of customers in the Laghey area have been left without adequate post office services for the last three weeks, since a sign suddenly appeared on the

It’s emerged that Letterkenny General Hospital could be upgraded to regional status without a name change. As budgetary shortfalls loom, Health Minister Dr James Reilly has confirmed he is looking at a possible reclassification of the hospital, which would allow management charge private patients and insurance companies more. Hospital Manager Sean Murphy says the issue

Motorists travelling to Croke Park via the N3 for this evening’s All Ireland Quarter Final clash with Kildare are being advised to allow extra time for their journies. An agriculture show in Virgina County Cavan will lead to delays af at least half an hour in the town all day today. Gardai say diversions are

A Donegal solicitor has criticised receivers acting for National Irish Bank for attempting to have developer Brendan Gildea who is seriously ill jailed for contempt of court. Brendan Gildea Ltd of Magherennan was taken into receivership on May 30 this year after failing to repay debts of €6.4m, and since then, questions have been raised

The Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says there is no scope to make savings by reducing elective surgery, because only a very small proportion of the hospital’s admissions are elective ones. Sean Murphy says last evening’s meeting with Dr James Reilly was a constructive one, but the minister remained clear that no more money will

Fishery Officers tasked with staming out poaching along the Lifford and Strabane river banks have been attacked with knives, hatchets and breeze blocks. A Loughs Agency official said a member of his staff could have been killed when a breeze-block was dropped from a bridge onto a patrol boat. The incident, at Lifford Bridge was

A group of local residents in West Donegal is vowing to boycott the new Household Tax and begin a campaign of mass non-payment when the charge comes in in January. Local activist Míchael Mc Giolla Easbuig is involved in the campaign, which has come out of a number of meetings over the past number of

Health Minister Dr James Reilly says he will visit Letterkenny General Hospital again in the near future after what’s been described as a constructive series of meetings at the hospital last evening. Minister Reilly received a comprehensive presentation from management at the hospital, and also met with health campaigners and local representitives. One of them,

A 23-year-old woman arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr has been released. The woman was arrested in Omagh on Wednesday. Five men arrested in raids involving 200 police officers across three counties were earlier released from custody.

The Health Minister is blaming hospital managers for the surge in patients on A and E trollies during the winter months. James Reilly says the surge is not down to increased sickness – but rather to badly organised staffing arrangements over the holiday period. Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties – Minister Reilly

Gardai at Milford are appealing for information following an attempted robbery at a house at Ballyheerin, Kilmacrennan on Saturday night last. At approximately 11:45pm, two armed and masked men entered the house and threratened a fifty year old woman before leaving empty handed. The woman, who was alone in the house at the time, was

Highland Radio has again  topped the radio listenership tables. The latest TNS/MRBI listenership survey shows that 67% of respondents who had listened to radio the previous day had listened to Highland, 7% ahead of the second station, 95fm in Cork. Significantly for advertisers, the station has a market share of 63.5%, 10% ahead of the

A prominent road safety campaigner in Donegal has hit out at comments made by Judge John O’Hagan this week, saying it’s time for encouragement rather than condemnation. Judge O’Hagan referred this week to the disease of dangerous driving in Donegal, which seems worse here than in any other county in Ireland. He said he sees

Health Minister Dr James Reilly is in Donegal for a series of meetings today. Before addressing the MacGill Summer School this evening, he travels to Letterkenny, where he will meet with management at Letterkenny General Hospital and also campaign groups including Donegal Action for Cancer Care and Cooperating for Cancer Care North West. DACC spokesperson

Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding a house fire in Letterkenny last night. The fire at Glenard Park in the Long Lane area was happened just after 11 o clock. It’s understood a matress caught fire in the house. The fire service extinguished the fire quickly. Gardai said the house had been unoccupied since Sunday.

A judge has adjourned an after-hours drinks case to establish if the law covering the offence has been translated into Irish. The case is linked to the Central Bar in Ardara, which is run by Donegal All Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy. At Glenties District Court,  Defence solicitor Sean O’Shea said that under the Constitution

The funeral will take place later of 17-year-old Sean McNair who drowned in Rathmullen almost two weeks ago. The body of the teenager from Derry was recovered from Lough Swilly at the weekend. He had been celebrating a birthday with friends iwhen he jumped off Rathmullen pier and was swept away by strong currents. Diving

A 62-year-old man has admitted carrying out a number of sex acts on a drunken teenage girl he met in a Derry park on Sunday night. Defence solicitor John Fahy told District Judge Barney McElholm that during two interviews after his arrest, his client admitted sexual activity with the girl. James Gallagher from St Columb’s

All five men arrested in connection with the murder of Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr in Co. Tyrone were released last night. A 23 year old woman remains in police custody. Northern Ireland’s Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has hit out at the investigation into the dissident republican murder of Constable Kerr. The Sinn Fein

Letterkenny athlete Ruairi Finnegan has taken a gold medal at the Youth Olympics in Turkey. The Letterkenny AC member led the race  throughout, with 120m to go he moved away from the rest of the leading pack, to win in convincing style in 3:53.78.    

There has been strong condemnation of the state campers left sand dunes in Culdaff last weekend. It is claimed the campers burnt almost everything in sight before they left including tents, chairs, parts of a nearby fence to the point that the dunes themselves caught fire. Donegal County Council has been praised for its swift

A 19-year-old man has been charged with arson following an early morning attack on a Strabane bookmakers last week. A second 20-year-old man arrested in relation to the fire has been released and a file has been sent to the Public Prosecution Service. Police said wheelie bins were set alight and pushed up outside the

Plans to introduce anti-fraud and corruption laws within Donegal County Council have been deferred over concerns that they aren’t clear and could incriminate councillors. Despite an audit in 2009 highlighting the fact that the council hadn’t such a policy in place, only now is the local authority seeking to introduce the measures. When councillors were

There father of missing Lifford man David Colhoun has called for a dived search of the River Mourne to resume. Joseph Colhoun was speaking today on the Shaun Doherty Show. David Colhoun has been missing for 10 weeks; he disappeared after escaping from police custody in Strabane having been arrested over a minor incident. His