Author name: oisinkelly

Heavy drinkers in the North-West are in danger of developing a condition known as Alcohol Related Brian Injury (ARBI), according to a ground-breaking study which has just been published. It is understood that ARBI – known as “the invisible condition” –  is under-diagnosed, and the number of ARBI sufferers is expected to increase as a […]

A 68-year-old Derry man charged with exposing himself to two young children has been released in bail on condition he stays away from any area where young children might frequent. Frank Callaghan of 28, Glenbank Road, Derry was charged with committing a lewd, obscene and disgusting act by exposing himself to a woman and her

Fighting broke out at a Coroners Court in Derry yesterday during an inquest into the death of a 31-year-old woman who died after taking ecstasy at a party on January 1 this year. The fighting erupted between family members of Charmaine Houston who died in the early hours of January 1 after collapsing at a

The head of Failte Ireland NorthWest says that as of yet, the visits of the Queen and the US President have so far had no noticible impact on the number of tourists visiting Ireland. However, Paul McLoone says that compared to last year, visitor numbers are on the increase. It is hoped that new VAT

Police are appealing for information in relation to the whereabouts of Noreen Sylvester who was last seen in the Derry city area on Saturday, June 25th. Noreen is 32 years old and is in the company of her 2 year old child. She is originally from Tanzania and is not believed to have any family

With well over 4,000 regular users,  the Highland Radio News service for Facebook is growing fast. If you are a Facebook user, you get the latest news headlines delivered straight to your ‘wall’, there are also regular sport and events updates. If you are already one of our friends on Facebook, why not recomend the

The cost of certain goods and services, relating to the hospitality and tourism sector will decrease from today – thanks to a reduction in the VAT rate. The Government has reduced the VAT rate to nine per cent on items such as restaurants, hairdressers, entertainment venues and newspapers. It’s hoped this move will help create

Donegal Deputy Dinny McGinley today became the first Minister to fornally represent the Irish Government at the Battle of the Somme commemorative ceremony in France. Today is the 95th anniversary of the First World War battle which began on July 1, 1916. In the first two days of the ill-planned offensive, over 2,000 Irish soldiers

A planned protest outside the Donegal Chef Conrad Gallagher’s Salon des Saveurs restaurant in Dublin, due to take place today, has been called off. The Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, along with SIPTU had planned the protests over claims that one of Mr Conrad’s staff, Rishi Mohitpulall from Mauritius, had not been paid money entitled to

Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Creggan estate in Derry last night to protest about an attack on a community worker’s car. Several windows of a car belonging to Sean McMonagle were smashed on Wednesday night. The supporters made their way from his home in Rinmore Drive to the community centre in

A viable pipe bomb has been discovered near a play park in Strabane. The device was discovered yesterday evening after police received a telephone warning that a device thrown at the town’s police station on Wednesday had failed to explode. No evacuations took place but a number of local residents were asked to stay to

It is claimed that over 700 third level students in Donegal will see a significant cut to their grants as a result of the Budget 2011 measure to change the criteria for the non-adjacent rate of grants. According to Sinn Fein, 777 Donegal students who previously qualified for the full non-adjacent rate of €3,120 will

A soldier in the Irish army has been returned for trial to Derry Crown Court on a charge of rape. 30 year-old Stephen Healy of Meenan Drive, Derry has  appeared at a preliminary enquiry at Derry Magistrate’s Court. In Court Stephen Healy faced two charges of rape and sexual assault that were said to have

Police are investigating the death of a Donegal based entrepreneur who featured on RTE’s Dragon’s Den. The PSNI said a post mortem examination on the body of Herbie Porsche will take place today. Mr Porsche, 60, was working on a boat when he took ill at Crawfords Marina, Carrybridge, Co. Fermanagh, on Wednesday evening. The

The Minister for Sport has indicated that his department will shortly give Donegal County Council the green light to proceed the Finn Valley Pool to construction. The Finn Valley Leisure Centre project consists of a 25 Metre – 5 lane pool together with other leisure facilities. The estimated overall cost of the project is in

The Irish population has increased by 8 per cent during the last 5 years. Preliminary results from the 2011 census – carried out 12 weeks ago – show there are now more than 4-point-58 million people living in Ireland. The figure represents a rise of over 341-thousand people since the last census in 2006. The

Concerns are growing that the A&E Department at Letterkenny General Hospital is under threat and may be forced to downgrade by the end of the Summer. In a joint statement, Donegal Sinn Féin TDs, Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn have appealed to the Minister for Health, James Reilly to urgently intervene and ensure that

The Government has committed €19m to fund a radiotherapy unit at Altnagelvin hospital in Derry. Enda Kenny said that the Altnagelvin radiotherapy unit had now been sealed by the commitment of Government funds to the hospital. Mr Kenny said the unit was not just for Derry but for the entire northwest, as 30% of those

A court in Mauritius has heard details of a murder confession in the Michaela McAreavey case. The 27-year-old teacher was found strangled in the bathroom of her hotel room on the island in January. A policeman read out a statement signed by Avanish Treebhoowoon in which he claimed his deep regret and asked for forgiveness.

A 33-year-old Derry man was yesterday given a suspended sentence for supplying drugs to what the court was told was a ‘vulnerable 16-year-old girl.’ Rory O’Doherty of 25, Friel Close in Derry admitted three charges of supplying drugs to the girl on dates between July 12 and December 1 2009. The court was told that

Receivers have been appointed to one of Donegals most popular hotels, the Shandon Hotel is up for sale for 1.5 million euros. The four-star hotel which overlooks Marble Hill Strand and Sheephaven Bay in Port na Blagh, had a reciever appointed by Bank of Ireland in February. The hotel formerly owned by Dermott and Catherine

The Government should run a referendum alongside the Presidential election that would change the laws in relation to adoption in Ireland. Currently there is no provision in the Irish constitution for adoption, making it difficult for Irish children to be fostered. Fianna Fail is to bring forward a Private Members Bill in the Dail this

Any lingering concerns over the future of the Donegal VEC have been eased with news that the Donegal VEC is to remains intact. There were fears that as part of a national  reorganization of VEC’s Donegal could have been amalgamated with other counties. While the last government stated this would not be the case, with

A leading Oncology Consultant has said that while the proposed Radiotherapy Unit in Derry is better than what is currently in place, the Northwest needs a full cancer treatment service Centre. Professor John Crown, who is also a Senator, is calling for one of the four cancer centres in Dublin to be transferred to cover

A convicted child killer and rapist has launched a legal challenge to the holding of an inquest into the death of Arlene Arkinson. Robert Howard was acquitted of murdering the teenager from Castlederg. The BBC reports that Howard is seeking a judicial review of the senior coroner’s decision to examine events surrounding Arlene’s disappearance. Arlene

Details of a second shocking child cruelty case in as many days have emerged with a Derry man sentenced to four years in prison for child cruelty against his son. 27 year- old Robert Anderson swung the 18-week old baby back and forth by the leg over a five-minute period in December 2009. The injuries

Donegal County Council is to carry out a study of the different sewage treatment facilities in Culdaff in a bid to determine what’s needed to bring them together and reduce the risk of pollution. Cllr Bernard Mc Guinness moved the issue, saying haphazard development over the years means that instead of a unified sewerage scheme

Donegal County Council is examining its options to see if a Women’s Officer can be appointed within the confines of the current recruitment embargo. Cllr Rena Donaghey said that on the council, there are three women out of 29 members, and no women in the higher echelons of the council’s executive. She says there are

The Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton will announce five thousand internships today as part of the Government’s new National Internship Scheme. Under the scheme – which was announced as a key element of the Government’s Jobs Initiative – companies will be encouraged to take on an intern for a period

Six machine guns and a large quantity of ammunition from World War 2 have been discovered in Co. Donegal. The find was made today during the excavation of a crashed RAF Spitfire aircraft on the Inisowen peninsula – which was buried 30 feet in a bog. The weapons and a thousand rounds of ammunition were

The campaign group Donegal Action for Cancer Care says if action isn’t taken, Letterkenny General Hospital will eventually be downgraded to community hospital status. The group has met with a cross party group of Oireachtas members urging them to be more vocal in their support for Letterkenny General Hospital in the Dail and Seanad. DACC

The father of missing Lifford man David Colhoun has again appealed for anyone who may have information about the last movements of his son to come forward. 22 year-old David hasn’t been since he escaped police custody in Strabane in the early hours of Sunday the 22nd of May – His family believe he may

A BBC production team has begun an operation to excavate a Spitfire fighter plane which crashed into an Inishowen bog almost 70 years ago. A large crowd has gathered at Moneydarragh for the excavation, which is being carried out as part of a BBC programme “Dig WW2”. The programme  is due to be broadcast later

Donegal County Council is meeting with the National Roads Authority this week to discuss salt stocks for the coming winter. Responding to Cllr Martin Farren who raised the issue in the chamber this week, Roads Service Director John Mc Laughlin confirmed that the NRA has brought in extra salt stocks this year, and discussions on

Two sisters from Derry are in foster care and awaiting adoption proceedings after their parents were jailed yesterday for child cruelty by neglect. Derry Crown Court was told that in August 2009, police entered the home on a seperate matter and found the girls, both aged under three, naked, covered in faeces, and locked in

Councillor Noel McBride was this evening elected the new Mayor of Donegal. In a vote he defeated Fianna Fail’s Liam Blaney  by 18 votes to 10. Councillor McBride was first voted on to Donegal County Council in 2004 and replaces Sinn Fein’s Cora Harvey. Councillor Barry O’Neill was elected Deputy Mayor and replaces Marie Therese

Donegal County Council has backed a motion calling for the abandonment of plans to impose domestic water charges. The issue was raised by Cllr Jack Murray, who moved a lengthy motion condemning the lack of investment in water infrastructure, and stating that the central taxation system is the only equitable way to get people to

Donegal County Council has indicated that it is likely to nominate businessman Sean Gallagher to contest the presidential election, but that is not a legal decsion and is subject to change. The decision followed a lengthy procedural discussion, after Mayor Cora Harvey told members that three potential candidates had written to the council seeking a

Donegal County Councillors meet this evening to discuss whether or not they will back Sean Gallagher’s  presidential run The business man and “Dragon” requires the support of four county councils if he is to run for the Aras. A decision was taken today that presidential hopefuls will no longer be able to address the council,

A District Judge in Derry has said that if the prosecution is not ready to proceed with a preliminary enquiry in September against a man charged with murder then he will release him. Thaddeus McAllister (19) with an address in London but originally from Cable Street in Derry is charged with the murder of piazza

Farmer Patsy Brogan will be denying an accusation that he operated a “shebeen” in a shed called the Bog Hotel attached to his home, Donegal District Court was told today. Defence solicitor Paudge Dorrian said the 73-year-old man will be “contesting” a charge that he sold beer and spirits at the premises outside Inver, Co.

The funeral has taken place of former Letterkenny Town Councillor Frank Gallagher, a native of Belfast, who died in the Donegal Hospice at the weekend after an illness. Frank Gallagher served just over six months on the authority, having been coopted in January 2009 after his Green Party predecessor Neil Clarke stepped down. Prior to