Author name: oisinkelly

Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating a robbery at the Dry Arch Petrol Station on the outskirts of the town. At 2.35 this morning, two males entered the premises, produced a handgun, and escaped with what gardai are describing as a substantial quantity of cash. Gardai say they made their getaway in dark coloured vehicle. Gardai

A Derry Councillor has said repair costs following the theft of lead piping in the City will run in to tens of thousands of pounds. Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Councillor Tony Hassan says that thieves have targetted over 100 homes, businesses and schools in the Greater Shantallow area alone. He says it’s clear that an

An inquest has heard how a father of four died after taking up to a dozen ecstasy tablets at a New Year’s Day party. 30 year-old David Orr took the tablets at a party in Letterkenny on January 1st, 2008. Mr Orr of Trentamucklagh, St Johnston, was also drinking vodka on the night of the

Sinn Fein claims to have a document which shows that Ambulance Services for Cancer and Dialysis patients on the western seaboard will no longer be available from the end of this month. The issue was raised in the Dail by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin who expressed his anger that the Health Minister would not be

The Donegal ICSA has expressed concern over what it says is a lack of third level places at agricultural colleges for those wishing to enter the sector. There has been an increase in second level students who are turning to agriculture as their career path but  the ICSA is concerned that there aren’t enough opportunities

Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty  will this afternoon seek to introduce a Bill to the Dáil that would dramatically cut payments and salaries to politicians. The Reduction in Pay and Allowances of Government and Oireachtas Members Bill 2011 seeks to impose pay cuts of up to 30% on senior office holders including the Taoiseach

An initiative to stress the importance of play is underway across the border counties, with a special focus  on the educational importance of play. The Border Counties Childcare Network says 20,000 children in Pre-school services across the Border Counties will today learn and sing a special “play song” as part of Play Awareness Week which

A Strabane man who raced along Derry’s Strand Road with a 6 month old baby in the car deserved to be disqualified District Judge Barney McElholm has said. 23 year old Dean McCauley of 27, Millbrook Park, Artigarvan, Strabane admitted a charge of careless driving on October 10 last year. Derry Magistrate’s Court was told

A conference exploring the two biggst causes of deaths among young people is continuing today in Buncrana. The event at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, coordinated by the Irish Association of Suicidology is exploring the theme “The Road Ahead – Safer Journies and Positive Perspectives”, looking at road safety and suicide. Practicioners on both sides of

The new Mayor of Letterkenny says securing the position for Sinn Fein is the culmination of many years hard work and campaigning. Speaking after his election last night, Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle says less than 10 years ago, there were no Sinn Fein councillors in the Letterkenny Town Council or County Council Electoral Area. Now,

Largo Foods has announced an additional investment of up to €2.6m in its manufacturing facility at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Business Park in Gweedore. The announcement came as the company’s new rice and tortilla based snack-food manufacturing line was officially launched by Junior Minister Dinny McGinley this afternoon. Largo Foods currently employs over 190 people

A Donegal TD is accusing the government of refusing applications for help from the families of autistic children as a cynical means of saving money. Deputy Thomas Pringle says the Domicillary Care Allowance was previously administered by the HSE, but that’s now been transferred to the Department of Social Protection, and since then, the number

A woman was rescued from her home near St Johnson last night in one of  two overnight house fires  the county. At around midnight, a neighbour checkin on animals noticed smokle coming from a house at Sterevedge outside St Johnson. He entered the house and brought out the elderly lady who lived there. Fire crews

It’s expected that over 30 jobs will be confirmed today at Largo Foods on the Gweedore Industrial Estate. Over €2 million euro is being invested in a new manufacturing line at the plant, which employs over 180 people. However, many of those are on part time contracts, and hope that these latest development will see

Today marks one month since Lifford man David Colhoun went missing. The 22-year-old escaped from Police custody after he was arrested in Strabane for minor offences on the 22nd May. The search for David Colhoun is now being concentrated further down the River Foyle near the Red Bridge in Porthall. Family, friends and Foyle Search

Fresh evidence has emerged to cast doubt on the army’s version of events in an alleged cover-up following the deaths of three Irish soldiers in the Lebanon in 1989. Defence Minister Alan Shatter has already ordered an independent inquiry into the case after a witness came forward and undermined the findings of three military investigations.

The Swilly Ferry is back on the water – The service between Buncrana and Rathmullan will operate for the rest of the summer, but local politicians and tourism providers are concerned at the length of time it took to agree contract details and get the service running again. Buncrana Mayor Cllr Nicholas Crossan says the

Fine Gael MEP Mairead Mc Guinness is in Donegal today to seek support from party councillors for her bid to secure a nomination to contest the presidential election later this year. Ms Mc Guinness is one of three potential Fine Gael candidates – The others to declare are Pat Cox and MEP Gay Mitchell. As

Junior Minister John Perry has announced a return of some cancer services to Sligo General Hospital, but campaigners say it falls far short of what’s needed. Minister Perry announced the return of mammography services before the end of the year, and the deployment of more staff. However, there is no commitment to a full return

The funeral takes place today of Sean McBride from Rosheen, Burtonport, who died in a construction site accident in Western Australia a fortnight ago. Mr Mc Bride was working in the town of Dampier, taking down scaffolding on a jetty owned by a mining company when part of the scaffolding collapsed, pulling him into the

Employers in the North West say the government must redouble its efforts to support job creation. Padraig O’Grady, North West Regional Director of IBEC says figures now show 27,500 people unemployed in the Border region, that’s just over 13% of the workforce, a level that’s remained more or less unchanged for six months. Mr O’Grady

Pressure is mounting on Junior Minister John Perry this morning before today’s press conference regarding the restoration of breast cancer services to Sligo General Hospital. Many people are eagerly waiting to see if the Minister of State for small business will uphold his pre-election promise. He vowed to restore breast cancer services within his first

An investment company in which a number of Donegal co-ops have significant shareholdings has confirmed new Banking Facilities totaling €200 million with a group of its banks. One51 employs over 1,000 people in Ireland and the UK, and says the new banking facilities will support further growth and development of its exports base. The investment

Junior Health Minister Roisin Shorthall has told the Dail the government cannot intervene in the delay in completing the new extension at Letterkenny General Hospital, but a meeting last week may see progress shortly. The project has been stalled since last year when Mc Namara Construction went into receivership. The delay was raised in the

Senator Jimmy Harte says his calls for the Seanad to meet in a number of locations outside Dublin have been recieved very positively. Last week, Senator Harte said he believed the Seanad should come to Donegal and other counties, particularly those on the Western Seaboard. He argues that with a major debate on the future

The HSE is playing down fears that difficulties in recruiting Junior Doctors will compromise A&E Services from the 11th of next month. The Irish Association of Emergency Medicine this week claimed there won’t be enough Non-consultant doctors to fill all the vacancies conming up in July. Letterkenny General Hospital is one of the hospitals facing

Drivers are being urged to respect the roads this weekend as the Topaz Donegal Rally celebrates it’s 40th anniversary. The Donegal Road Safety Working Group and the RSA have launched a campaign stressing the importance of road safety during the rally. The campaign invloves ads on Highland Radio using the slogan ‘keep the race in

A Donegal man has pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run incident in America. 28-year-old Damien Crossan from Trentagh was arrested on board a plane which was set to take off from JFK International Airport in New York in February, as he tried to flee to Ireland. 28-year-old Damien Crossan from Trentagh tried to flee America after

A man who went on a driving rampage in West Donegal earlier this month has been jailed for six months. 24-year-old Martin McClelland drove for more than 20 kilometres at speeds of up to 130kph as he tried to shake off Gardai after stealing a car in Doochary. The court was told McClelland  passed out

Letterkenny Town Council has been told that Stevenson’s Airfield on the outskirts of the town has the capacity to bring in hunderds of flights and thousands of euro in revenue each year. However, members were told in order for that to happen, the airstrip needs an Irish Aviation Authority license, and that will not be

Letterkenny General Hospital has been forced to cancel a number of clinics again today as staff struggle to cope with the large number of patients there. The hospital says it will try to contact patients. But anyone with appointments with Dr.Thomas, Dr.Steel, Dr.O’Shodi or Dr.Patel in the fracture, medical and ENT clinics should not travel

A Donegal software company based at the CoLab centre at Letterkenny Institute of Technology has announced plans to recruit a number of additional positions over the next 12 – 18 months. N-volve, which develops training software to meet the needs of compliance in the food industry will employ up to 15 more people as it

A leading Garda has said he is concerned a leading criminal trial cannot go ahead – unless audio visual equipment at a local courthouse is working properly. Detective Garda James Frayne is involved in an upcoming trial during which CCTV evidence will have to be given. However Detective Frayne revealed that he is concerned about

Letterkenny Town Council is going on the offensive in a bid to have the Bonagee Link Road included in a key NRA Strategy Document. The document, which lays out priorities for the next 10 to 15 years did not include the new road, which would include a bridge over the Swilly and effectively act as

Donegal Council are to crack down on those who continue to litter the County’s beaches. Insihowen Cllr Jack Murray has welcomed the steps being taken by the council, and he says fines may prevent future littering on our beaches. Cllr Murray says after he reported a spate of littering on a beach in Greencastle recently,

A 28-year-old man has appeared in court in Derry on charges connected to a Real IRA Easter commemoration held in the city on April 25. Frank Quigley, from Elmwood Road, is accused of arranging or managing a meeting in support of the IRA on April 25. He also faced a charge of aiding and abetting

The chairman of NAMA, Frank Daly, has said it was a difficult decision to push McNamara Construction into recievership. Questioned by Donegal North East TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn at the British Irish Interparlimentary Group meeting in Cork today, he also said it was something that couldnt be achieved without pain. However, Deputy Mac Lochlainn says

A cost-cutting plan for the health service which could involve hospital ward closures will be put before the people in the next few weeks, the Health Minister has said. Each of the Health Service Executives four regions have been ordered to devise cost-cutting plans. Hospitals were 99 million euro over budget for the first four

An auctioneer has been ordered to do 80 hours community service and pay 500 euro compensation after he beat up a man who accused him of bringing down the hammer on an auction too quickly. Declan Robinson beat up Paul Hegarty after a row about an auction at a mart in Co Donegal last year.

One of the largest crowds ever seen in a council chamber in Donegal arrived at the Public Services Centre in Letterkenny last night to see Cllr Pascal Blake take the Town Council seat vacated when Jimmy Harte was elected to the Seanad. Cllr Blake remarked that he is the seventh member of the Blake family

It’s been confirmed that Donegal County Council will be in possesion of the former army bases in Lifford and Rockhill within six to eight weeks. Agreement in principle has been reached on the handovers, and the final details are now being ironed out. County Manager Seamus Neely says he will be referring back to councillors

A husband has told how his wife will never be the same again after she was savagely assaulted by a 14-year-old boy. Retired nurse Anna McDaid suffered horrific injuries after she was set upon by the teenager in Letterkenny, in August last year while walking to her local post office. She suffered a broken arm,