Author name: oisinkelly

The PSNI says there’s been an explosion at Shipquay Street in Derry, there are  no reports of any injuries or damage. Earlier, the area had been evacuated along with Ferryquay Street, Butcher Street and Bishop Street after an alert began in the Diamond area in the city centre. In a statement issued a short time

Racing has resumed at the North West 200 in Co. Antrim, after an earlier security alert was declared a hoax. The paddock at Portstewart was evacuated for a time after a telephone warning.

There’s major disruption to shopping and traffic in Derry City Centre this afternoon. Police in the city are currently dealing with a security alert in The Diamond area of the city centre. Ferryquay Street, Butcher Street, Bishop Street and Shipquay Street have all been closed and premises there have been evacuated. Police say this is

Environment Minister Phil Hogan pays his first official visit to Donegal today. This afternoon, Minister Hogan will launch the IFI backed “Volunteering in the Community Programme” in Ballyshannon. The scheme, with a budget of over quarter of a million euro is intended to deliver seven development courses targeted at youths in local communities in the

There is hope for those opposed to a controvesial research project off the west Donegal coast with An Taisce saying they have had a second objection to it accepted by An Bord Pleanala. Queen’s Universtity in Belfast wants to build fifty four – 5 tonne – concrete pillars long coast to the west of Falchorrib

A major tourism initiative to attract tourist to Donegal is taking place in  Dublin tomorrow. Up to 20 tourism sectors will be represented at the Donegal Live event which takes places  the Iveagh Gardens, Dublin between 12.00 noon to 6.00pm. The inaugural Donegal Live event took place in Dublin last year, while the first international

Two northern Irish surfers are said to have had a lucky escape having been rescued from the sea off the Donegal Coast this afternoon. The two were swept out to sea while surfing at Tramore beach earlier (Friday) today – they were reported missing at 3.30pm sparking a major sea rescue co-ordinated by Malin Head

Gardai are investigating the death of a 24-year-old father of three at his home in Laghey this morning (Fri). He was found dead on a couch at his home. The man was named locally as Conor Goodway who was due in Donegal District Court next Monday for sentencing. He pleaded guilty along with another man

Highland Radio News has learned that a major research project has been given the go-ahead off the West Donegal Coast because someone at An Taisce appears to have forgotten to sign a cheque. Queen’s University Belfast  was granted permission by Donegal County Council to place 54  – 5 tonne – concrete pillars for research purposes

Its been revealed that three yatchs were denied shelter from a storm in a Co Donegal port by protesters claiming to protect the rights of fishermen. The yachts, from France, Sweden and Buncrana were stopped from entering Greencastle harbour on May 7th after high winds forced them to seek shelter. It’s understood the boats had

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy has said he will wait for the outcome of a public inquiry into the A5 road before making a decision on whether the project will go ahead. The Roads Service has confirmed £35m has already been spent on project development. Mr Kennedy said he would not be “stampeded” into a

The United Health Groups have said a number of high end IT jobs will be filled in Letterkenny in the coming months. Yesterday the company officially opened its new 17,000-square-foot building at Business Park Road in Letterkenny. The group is now the second biggest employer in Letterkenny. Site Director, Padraig Monaghan, says they will offer

The health minister is expected to announce on Monday if he will give the go-ahead for a new radiotherapy unit to be built at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry. Edwin Poots is expected to tell the assembly his plans after consulting with patients and cancer specialists. The former health minister Michael McGimpsey had said there were

A 35-year-old man originally from Ennis in County Clare has been found not guilty of three charges of rape of a woman in September 2008. Patrick McNamara had been on trial at Derry Crown Court since Tuesday charged with raping the woman in his Ardenlee home. However yesterday prosecution counsel Jackie Orr QC said that

The United Health Group has officially opened its new 17,000-square-foot building at Business Park Road in Letterkenny, with the company’s US based Chief Financial Officer predicting that the workforce will grow to well over 500 within  a year. Operations at the site began under the “Pacificare” name in 1999 with 30 staff. Now, the workforce

A Garda Chief Superintendent told the Special Criminal Court in Dublin today that she believed a Co Donegal man was an IRA member in 2010. Chief Superintendent Terry Mc Ginn said that she believed that Philip McGavigan was a member of the IRA on February 2, 2010. She told the court that her belief was

The DPP has interrupted a civil trial in which an elderly man is being sued after his car swerved into another vehicle resulting in spinal injuries to a child. 81-year-old William Barr of Middletown, Gweedore, Co Donegal lost his own wife in the crash and claims he’s not liable because the incident was caused by

The Mayor of Donegal says the government must put pressure on the Obama administration to review US immigration policies, and is calling on the Taoiseach to directly raise the issue of the undocumented Irish with President Obama during his Irish visit next Monday. Cllr Cora Harvey says with an estimated 50,000 undocumented Irish trapped in

Garret Fitzgerald – the country’s seventh Taoiseach – has passed away at the age of 85. President Mary McAleese has led official tributes this morning – she’s described him as one of our national treasures. She says Dr Fitzgerald was the Renaissance man of our time and a true public servant who constantly strove to

The trial of a man accused of murdering Derry woman Jean Quigley at Cornshell Fields in July 2008 has been adjourned unexpectedly at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin. Earlier this week, a  jury was sworn in for the trial of 38 year old Stephen Cahoon, but before the trial proper could start, Mr Justice

Two men arrested after drugs were seized by gardai on the outskirts of Letterkenny last evening have been released pending files to the DPP. Gardai say a quantity of cannabis with an estimated street value of €2,200 was found in the car when it was stopped close to the Dry Arch Roundabout at around 5.30pm.

An 81 year old Donegal man has claimed he is not liable for a fatal car accident because a medical ailment caused him to lose control of his vehicle. Liability proceedings have been brought against William Barr on behalf of a child injured in a collision in which Mr Barr’s wife Maggie died. Mr Barr

A 45-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman have received hospital treatment following a punishment style attack in Strabane last night. It happened in the Ballycolman estate at around 11 O’clock last night. Up to five masked men forced their way into a house, and beat the the occupants with baseball bats and bars. The two

Donegal North East Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn has hit out at people who rioted and attacked gardai in Dublin last evening on the fringes of the Royal Visit, but says that is not to take away from the legitimate concerns people have about this visit. On the issue of an apology, or whatever words Queen

Donegal North East Deputy Charlie McConalogue has called for a complete overhaul of the Department of the Marine to facilitate a revival of the fishing industry in Ireland. Deputy McConalogue has pledged his full support to Fr John Joe Duffy and Councillor Brendan Byrne in their call for reform of the management structure in the

A car belonging to former Deputy Mayor of Derry Liam Bradley was extensively damaged in a petrol bomb attack outside his Lone Moor home at around 9.30 last night. Speaking after the attack, Mr Bradley’s daughter Kathleen Bradley said she is convinced the attack was carried out because her brother is a serving member of

The North’s new Health Minister has pledged to reassess his predecessor’s decision to shelve the planned North West Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin, but has stopped short of giving a commitment that it will go ahead. Speaking during a visit to the hospital last night, Edwin Poots said he will look at the numbers and announce

Invest Northern Ireland is to spend £7m buying and developing 22 acres of industrial land in Strabane. Arlene Foster, who has retained the enterprise ministry, said the Strabane had been chosen as a priority areas where industrial land was needed to support investment. The Invest NI strategy is aimed at encouraging economic development. Units on

A 35-year old man originally from Ennis in County Clare has gone on trial at Derry Crown Court charged with raping a woman in the city  almost three years ago. Patrick McNamara, faces a number of charges including three of rape, one of attempted rape and one of false imprisonment that were alleged to have

The Donegal Sports Partnership is drawing up a new strategic plan for the years 2011 – 2014, with a view to persuading people in the county to become more active. The partnership has begun a series of public meetings to allow people outline how they believe the bodycan best promote the ‘sport for all’ message.

Foyle MLA Mark H.Durkan says an attack on a bus on Glengalliagh Road last night could have had long term implications for the area, but for the moment, Ulsterbus say services will be maintained. Three masked men, one of them armed with a handgun, boarded the bus at around 10.30 last night. A passenger was

The Letterkenny 400 event has been officially launched, with a series of events to commemorate the history and development of the town since it’s emergence during the plantation The genesis of the commemoration came last year, and Mayor Cllr Tadhg Culbert made it a priority of his term to have 1611 recognised as the year

Foyle MLA Mark H.Durkan says an attack on a bus on Glengalliagh Road last night could have long term implications for the area. Three masked men, one of them armed with a handgun, boarded the bus at around 10.30 last night. A passenger was ordered off, and the driver was told to move the bus

This is European Youth Week, with a series of events taking place at the Youth Information Centre in Letterkenny over the coming days. Today, the focus is on the European Voluntary Service, with a session this evening on how young people can become involved. The Letterkenny centre has hosted seven EVS Volunteers so far over

Fine Gael has upheld the decision to expel Donegal Councillor Terence Slowey. He was dismissed from the party a fortnight ago after a disciplinary hearing into his double expenses claim which was described as reckless by a Standards in Public Office Commission hearing. The hearing, and subsequent expulsion, came after revelations that in 2008 Cllr

The Donegal haulier who has been coordinating a series of protests calling for a reduction in the taxes and duties imposed on diesel has decided to call off a planned protest to coincide with the Queen’s visit to Ireland tomorrow. However, a protest during US President Barak Obama’s visit in a week’s time will go

Arts practicioners in Donegal say they’ve had constructive meetings withs newly elected TDs and Senators in the county. Meetings took place at An Grianan Theatre in Letterkenny and the Balor Arts Centre in Ballybofey today, as part of a series of “meet and greet” sessions taking place around the country. Speaking after the Letterkenny meeting,

Six people, including one child, have been hospitalised following at road traffic collision in Inishowen. The crash, thought to have involved 2 vehicles occurred last evening on the Clonmany to Ballyliffin road close to the school at Rasheney. While no official update on the condition of those involved in the crash has been given, it

Garda in Inishowen have discovered drugs with an estimated value of at least 190 thousand euro. Gardai stopped and searched a vehicle near Burnfoot yesterday afternoon and arrested a man, a follow up search of a house near Buncrana resulted in the discovery of a major cannabis cultivation factory. Three people, thought to be foreign

The Irish Farmers Association is seeking  a meeting with Donegal County Council to discuss what role farmers can play in tackling future gorse fires in the county. Farmers across Donegal played a key role in tackling the fires which raged over a weekend earlier this month. Donegal County Councillor Brenden Byrne has also called on

Highland Radio News has learned that a major drugs operation is ongoing in Inishowen. Gardai stopped a vehicle on the peninsula, a subsequent searched uncovered what has been described a major cultivation factory. Gardai are expected to release further details later this morning.