Author name: oisinkelly

Derry’s urban regeneration company, Ilex, has confirmed plans to build a cross-border regional science park. It would be based at two sites: the former army base at Fort George in Derry and at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Ilex said the venture could create up to 280 high-paid technology jobs, 100 hundred of those based in […]

A snap poll of Highland Radio News facebook users shows that the majority are in favour of an outright ban on smoking in cars. Today it’s emerged the Government is considering plans to completely ban the habit in cars. It would be a step further than the original idea of making it illegal for drivers

Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill has clashed with Environment MInister Phil Hogan over proposalsd top increase the amount of money charged at landfill sites. During as debate on the Environment Bill, Senator O’Domhnaill said sharp increases in landfill levies double household waste collection in Donegal to ass much as €800 per year. He said this will

Donegal South-West Deputy Thomas Pringle has condemned the introduction of the ‘Household Charge’ as a tax too far and an unfair burden on our already heavily taxed working people. It was announced by the Government yesterday that householders face fines of ten euro a month – and will be unable to sell their home –

A judge has revealed how he received angry letters from the public because he did not jail a man who took part in a number of armed robberies in West Donegal. Judge John O’Hagan sentenced Tadhg McKelvey to a total of 17 years in prison for various charges including attempted robbery and carrying a firearm

A judge has described dangerous driving as “a disease’ amongst young people in Co Donegal. Judge John O’Hagan said he does not see such driving in any part of the country where he travels. Judge O’Hagan was speaking during the case of Stephen McLaughlin, 24, of Ballyare, Killygordan who was charged with dangerous driving. Letterkenny

Households are facing a 100 euro charge from next year. The Cabinet approved the new levy earlier today. However around 100,000 low income homes are likely to be given a waiver. The charge is an interim measure put in place until water charges and a property tax can be rolled out in a couple of

A date for the hearing of a High Court action against Donegal County Council over a recent co-option will be set on Thursday Solicitor Dessie Sheils has been granted a judicial review in the High Court over the co-option of Michael McBride to replace Senator Jimmy Harte. Dessie Sheils, who unsuccessfully contested the recent General

Gardai are investigating an arson attack on a Nigerian families home in the Ard Na Ri area of Letterkenny. It’s believed the attack may of been racially motivated. At around 7 o clock last night a garden shed was set alight. Family friend, Sean McClafferty, says the it’s not the first time the familes home

Police in Strabane are appealing for information after KFC in the town was robbed last night. Shortly before 210am this morning it was reported that a sum of money was stolen from the premises on Bradley Way. It’s believed entry was gained through a smashed window. No-one was in the premises at the time. Anyone

A date for the hearing of a High Court action against Donegal County Council over a recent co-option will be set on Thursday. Solicitor Dessie Sheils has been granted a judicial review in the High Court over the co-option of Michael McBride to replace Senator Jimmy Harte. Mr Sheils contests that the council seat should

Five men have been arrested and a major search operation is under way across Northern Ireland over the murder of police officer Ronan Kerr. The 25-year-old Catholic policeman was killed when a bomb exploded under his car in Omagh on 2 April. About 200 officers are currently involved in seven searches in Coalisland, Toomebridge, Bellaghy

A Donegal County Councillor has hit out at officials, saying it’s a disgrace the council applied for government funding without first consulting with elected members. The debate centered on an application for 600 thousand euro in funding for low cost road safety remedial works. Councillor Barry O’Neill took issue with the fact that a number

A pensioners home has been targetted in an overnight pipe bomb attack in Derry. The incident happened at 11.15pm last night when a masked person threw the object at the house in the Glenbank Road area. A police spokeswoman said the object exploded causing extensive damage to the building. Foyle MLA Mark H Durkan said

Donegal County Council is to formally object to the H.S.E. over the decision to close beds at Dungloe Community Hospital. The council will also ask the executive to allow for long term absent staff to be replaced and allow the beds re-open. Donegal County Council’s monthly meeting yesterday was told that a HIQA report was

A man who was asked to leave a party in Killybegs has admitted at Donegal District Court that he later set fire to a PVC door in the next building. The 28 year old from Derrybeg was fined, and ordered to pay compensation. The court was told that former catering student Michael Gibbons, whose girlfriend

A fresh appeal has been launched by police in Strabane in the search for missing Lifford man David Colhoun. Police are calling for anyone who saw the 22 year-old on the night he disappeared to contact them. Mr Colhoun was last seen at Bridge Street in Strabane at 4am on Sunday, May 22. Foyle Search

The family of Sean McNair are “relieved” that his body has been recovered and can now bury him at home. The remains the teeanger from Creggan were found yesterday – nine days after he drowned in Lough Swilly. SDLP councilllor Jim Clifford was with the McNair family when Sean was taken from the water….

Gardai in Letterkenny have confirmed that two people arrested following drug finds on Friday evening have been freed pending files to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai have confirmed the two searches were linked. Gardai in Letterkenny have confirmed that two people arrested following drug finds on Friday evening have been freed pending files to

It’s been confirmed that Health Minister Dr James Reilly will visit Letterkenny General Hospital on Thursday next for meetings with management and hospital campaign groups. It follows his appearance before the Oireachtas Health Committee last week, during which he warned that there will be no extra money for Letterkenny General at the end of the

Taoiseach Enda Kenny was in Glenties last night for the opening of the MacGill Summer School. Delivering the annual John Hume Lecture, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the government is committed to delivering the reform that is needed, and welcomed the school as an arena where that discussion about that reform can be encouraged. The school

Two of the victims of Gweedore paedophile Michael Ferry are to sue him and the owners of the Irish Language school were they were abused. Dungloe based lawyer Patrick Sweeney confirmed that he has recieved instructions to initiate civil proceedings on behalf of two of Ferrys victims. Mr Sweeney said he would be seeking damages

It’s been confirmed that the Twin Towns are to get a muiltimillion euro grant  for the proposed new swimming pool at the Finn Valley Centre. A grant of €3.8 million has been approved for the Stranorlar project. The work proposed includes a 25m x 5m lane swimming pool, children’s pool, plunge pool, changing facilities, sauna

Donegal’s senior footballers will face Kildare in the All Ireland Quarter Final, to be played next weekend. The venue and time will be announced tomorrow. The winners of that match will face either Dublin, or the winners of the Tyrone/Roscommon replay in an All Ireland Semi Final. The other  side of the draw sees Kerry

The body of Sean Mc Nair has been found in Lough Swilly after a nine day search. 17 year old Sean disappeared after he went swimming in the early hours of last Saturday morning with friends at Rathmullen Pier, but searching during the week was hampered by sea conditions and poor visibility. At the height

Gardai in Letterkenny have confirmed that two people arrested following drug finds on Friday evening have been freed pending files to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Gardai have confirmed that two small drug finds were made on Friday night in Letterkenny as part of an ongoing surveillance operation. The first seizure happened when a car

Police in Norway have confirmed that the 32 year old man being questioned in connection with two attacks yesterday is an extreme right wing Christian Fundamentalist. He has been named locally as Ander Beh-ring Bre-vik. The death toll has now risen to 91 and the number is expected to increase. A bomb was detonated in

A 39-year-old council worker has died after becoming trapped by a lorry at a council recycling depot on Gateside Road in Coleraine. He’s been named locally as married father of two Alan Devenney, who was from the town. The Health and Safety Executive has launched an investigation, and the depot will remain closed until further

A former Mayor of Donegal is to raise an emergency motion at Mondays Donegal County Council meeting, which she hopes will save the Donegal Food and Craft Market. The market, which is held in Donegal Town, is expected to be served a closure order in the coming days. The move is off the back of

A ward at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry has been closed to new admissions because of an outbreak of  Norovirus. Ward 42 has been temporarily closed as a result of the bug, which causes diarrhoea and vomiting. The Western trust has urged anyone who is unwell not to visit the hospital. It has also issued guidelines

The search for missing teenager Sean Mc Nair resumed on Lough Swilly at 5 o clock this morning, with members of the Irish Coastguard and the RNLI carrying out searchs in and around the Lough throughout today. Naval divers are also in the water, and volunteers are carrying out shoreline seaches. The 17-year-old from Derry

A bookmakers shop in Strabane has been gutted by fire in what is thought to be an act of arson. The Fire and Rescue Service has been praised for their efforts in controlling the fire at the bookmakers in the Butcher Street area of Strabane. It is understood the fire broke out a little after

The PSNI has apologised after mistakenly arresting a couple on suspicion of a “sham marriage” for immigration purposes. Neil McElwee and Yanan Sun, who is of Chinese origin, had just arrived at the Guildhall building in Derry on Tuesday when police arrived and detained all 40 guests. Yanan is five months pregnant, after being released

The High Court has approved a 2.5 million euro settlement to a 23 year old Donegal woman with cerebral palsy – which is alleged to have arisen from a birth injury. Lauren Tinney from Buncrana sued the HSE through her mother Eleanor over the handling of her birth at Letterkenny General Hospital in May 1988.

Plans have been submitted by the Department of Education for a major new school in Stranorlar. The new three-story building with 24 classrooms, a teachers room and a library and resource room will be situated at the Mill Brae. The site, across from the Finn Valley Centre, will allow for much needed extra car-parking spaces.

The Order of Malta says the convicted child abuser, Michael Ferry, had no contact with children through the group while he was a member of it. Michael Ferry worked with the organisation in 1993 with a view to setting up a branch in Gweedore. However a spokesperson for the order says it never got off

Letterkenny General Hospital may be upgraded to regional status in order to being in more money from the hospital’s private work. Health Minister James Reilly indicated at an Oireachtas Health Committee meeting last evening that he is considering the classification of the hospital, as it is paid less than other large hospitals which do similar

Doctors from other EU countries who want to register and work in Ireland are not subject to any test of their medical skills according to the Irish Independent. The Medical Council, which regulates the profession here, reported 361 complaints against doctors last year — a rise of 22% compared with 2009. On Tuesday it emerged

After weeks of speculations it is expected that the popular Donegal Food and Craft Market, held in Donegal Town, is to be served a closure order in the coming days. The move is off the back of a complaint form a local business that Casual Trading is taking place in Donegal Town, contrary to the

A man who led detectives on a 30 kilometre pursuit before crashing into another patrol car and killing a young Garda has been jailed for seven years. Martin McDermott was found guilty of the manslaughter of Garda Gary McLoughlin in Co Donegal in December 2009. McDermott, 25, of Castlegrove, Raphoe, was also found guilty of

Donegal Senior Football Manager Jim Mc Guinness is denying that a rift has opened between  himself and County Board Chairman PJ Mc Gowan. Suggestions of a rift increased when it emerged the bill for the players’ overnight stay in the Slieve Russell Hotel the night before the Ulster Final last Sunday was paid not by

The CEO of the HSE say that Letterkenny General Hospital will have to meet a 7% reduction in it’s volume of work to keep within budget this year. Cathal Mc Gee was responding to Donegal Deputy Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue at a meeting of the Oireachtas Health Committee this afternoon. Deputy Mc Conalogue said it

A 41-year-old Derry man has appeared in court charged with causing a bomb scare that resulted in more than £20,000 in lost trade last Tuesday. 39-year-old Martin Stokes of Barr’s Lane, Derry was charged with claiming there was an explosive device behind Specsavers on Ferryquay Street. The court heard that an employee in the shop

The youth organisation Foróige has confirmed that Michael Ferry worked as a volunteer at one of its clubs. Foróige said Ferry, worked with children for the organisation in Co Donegal between 1984 and 1987. A spokeswoman said the group had been contacted by both the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the gardaí to make them

The HSE says it is is reviewing its involvement in relation to the case of Michael Ferry to establish that all appropriate actions were taken by both the former North Western Health Board and the HSE. The executive is also urging anyone who may have been abused to seek counselling. In a statement this afternoon,

David Norris says he’s on track to be nominated to run for the Aras. The Independent Senator now has 13 of the 20 Oireachtas members required – including eight Independent TDs. But he says he’ll also make a fresh bid to secure four local authorities in September in case he can’t make the 20 TDs

A former Detective Garda and author of the book ‘Breaking the Silence says that it is his belief that a paedophile ring was operating in West Donegal. Martin Ridge, who investigated the notorious child abuser Eugene Greene, was speaking today on the Shaun Doherty Show. He says that he knows of a number of paedophiles

The budgtary situation at Letterkenny General and other hospitals around the state is coming under the microscope today, with members of the Oireachtas Health Committee questioning HSE CEO Cathal Mc Gee and Minister James Reilly. Donegal North East Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue, a member of the committee says he will be raising Letterkenny General at