Author name: oisinkelly

The number of drivers getting penalty points for speeding is on the increase, with figures for this year expected to surpass the numbers caught speeding in 2010. The figures, obtained from a Dail question by Donegal North East Deputy Joe McHugh, show that in the first six months of this year over 96,000 drivers have […]

The Government has allocated funding of 50,000 euro for the exploratory excavation of a possible Spanish Armada wreck off the coast of Burtonport. Research to date has shown the wreck, in Rutland Bay, is likely to be part of the Spanish Armada which perished of the coast of Ireland in the 16 centaury. It is

Police believe five people arrested in Newtownstewart on Tuesday are part of a criminal gang responsible for a spate of burglaries north and south of the border. The two men, two youths and a woman were arrested following a botched attempt to steal an ATM machine in Dungiven on Monday last. The five, all members

Two men are due in court in Derry this morning, charged under the Terrorism Act. The pair, aged 43 and 23, are charged with possession of firearms with intent to endanger life. The arrests were made after a car was rammed by police on the Foyle Road, on Tuesday night. The 23 year old was

Gardai are investigating a fire which caused extensive damage to an unoccupied house in the Newtowncunningham area. The house, a large building known locally as “The Castle”, was reported to be on fire at 1 o’clock this morning. Fire tenders from both sides of the border were called to the scene. Gardai have confirmed they

A school principal and Donegal INTO committee member says any proposal to increase pupil teacher ratios will impact on the quality of education at primary school, and see Ireland’s OECD scores fall further. Liam Mc Gowan says this will cause further damage to Ireland’s international reputation at a time when education is more important than

A school principal and Donegal INTO committee member says any proposal to increase pupil teacher ratios will impact on the quality of education at primary school, and see Ireland’s OECD scores fall further. Liam Mc Gowan says this will cause further damage to Ireland’s international reputation at a time when education is more important than

A priest in Donegal is predicting that lay people will have to become more and more involved in the running of parishes. Raphoe Communications Officer Fr Paddy Dunne says a number of parishes in the diocese do not have a full time priest, and while there is no crisis in the short term, radical changes

Gardai and An Post have launched investigations into alleged “irregularities” at Laghey Post Office. However, this has not been confirmed by An Post but Gardai in Ballyshannon have confirmed that they have received a complaint and an investigation is underway. The Post Office in the South Donegal village closed on July 6. It’s understood that

A social networking page, where photos of police had been posted, has been pulled – amid concerns it could have been used to single out officers to be murdered. It followed condemnation from the Police Federation – which expressed fears details gathered on officers could be used in murder bids. It’s not yet clear whether

Reports today suggest that garda investigations into child sex abuse allegations in west Donegal are focusing on up to seven suspects. Greg Harkin reports in today’s Irish Independent that Gardai are also planning to re-interview convicted paedophile Michael Ferry. A number of men in the Gweedore area who claim they were sexually abused when they

It’s emerged that pictures of police officers are being published on a Facebook site which claims the PSNI is harassing republicans. The site encourages members to post images and details of police operations across Northern Ireland. It’s believed the site has been set up by republicans living in Counties Derry and Tyrone, but people from

Donegal County Council, the Donegal VEC and the LYIT are amongst groups ‘named and shamed’ for failing to buy cut-price stationery that could save taxpayers up to €2.5m a year. Half of local authorities,  just 19 of the 33 Vocational Education Committees and only one I.T. have availed of a contract enabling them to purchase

The Town Councils in Letterkenny and Buncrana are to receive extra allocations for improvements to footpaths. The money from the Smart Travel Initiative is additional to the € 302,000 announced last month for Donegal, and is coming from savings made on projects elsewhere. Both town councils will each receive an extra €50,000. Senator Jimmy Harte

Donegal County Council will learn by years end if An Bord Pleanala will approve its plans for linkages to the new A5 road project. The project in the north, financially backed by governments on both sides of the border, will see an upgrade to the entire A5 to dual-carriageway from near Aughnacloy, via Omagh and

Following the decision by Senator David Norris to scrap his presidential campaign sources close to Dana Rosemary Scallan have indicated to Highland Radio News that she is to seek the backing of TD’s and Senators to enter the race. Ms Scallon was an unsuccessful candidate in the 1997 Presidential election, she was subsequently elected as

Foyle Road in Derry has reopened after Army technical officers completed their examination of a suspicious object. It was found last night during a planned operation against dissident republican activity. During the operation, a car was stopped close to the junction with Ferguson Street, and three men aged 54, 43, 23 were detained, along with

Thousands of people are having to endure lengthy waiting times for treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital’s A&E Department according to new figures published in Stormont. The figures reveal that in the three months between April and June, Altnagelvin failed to meet targets to treat, admit or discharge patients within a four hour time frame. According to

Thousands of people are having to endure lengthy waiting times for treatment at Altnagelvin Hospital’s A&E Department according to new figures published in Stormont. The figures reveal that in the three months between April and June, Altnagelvin failed to meet targets to treat, admit or discharge patients within a four hour time frame. According to

Planning permission has been granted for a proposed new Waste Water Treatment Plant at Ballyness, Falcarragh, with a campaign to secure funding now underway. Councillors say at present, there are unacceptable levels of effluent in the bay, and the way is now clear for the construction of the new plant, which is set to cost

Hundreds of people attended a vigil last night for the Lifford man David Colhoun, who has been missing for more than two months. The 22-year-old has not been seen since he escaped from police custody in Strabane on 22 May. Hundreds of friends and neighbours attended the vigil along the Lifford and Strabane river bank

Four people have been arrested in Derry in connection with dissident republican activity. Three men aged 54, 42 and 23 and a 16 year old boy were detained in the Brandywell area last night. Police say a firearm was also recovered during the operation.

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