Author name: oisinkelly

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

The IMPACT trade union is accusing the H.S.E. of dismantling the NowDOC service in Donegal by stealth. If follows confirmation that HSE plans to compulsory redeploy 16 Reception/Call Handler staff based in four outlying centres in Derrybeg, Carndonagh, Mountcharles and Carrick on Shannon to other HSE facilities. IMPACT says the move seems to be part

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