Author name: oisinkelly

The Justice Minister is pledging ‘total co-operation’ and an ‘absolute commitment’ to bring the killers of Ronan Kerr to justice. The 25 year old PSNI officer died when a bomb exploded under his car in Omagh on Saturday afternoon – the incident’s been blamed on dissident republicans. The PSNI Chief Constable will join with local […]

Inishowen Councillor Jack Murray has expressed his shock at the living conditions that those residing in unfinished estates are forced to endure, and he wants a special council initiative to address them. The Sinn Fein representative, who was co-opted onto the council two weeks ago, says there are unfinished estates all over the peninsula, some

A new steering group is being formed in Ardara to come up with ideas for job creation. The decision to form the group came at a weekend meeting called in the wake of the Gallagher’s Bakery redundancies, which have now begun to take effect. Local traders spokesperson Stephen Mc Cahill says it’s clear that from

Also in Omagh, Detectives from the PSNI serious crime branch have today arrested a 38-year-old man for possession of ammunition and firearms in suspicious circumstances. Police say this is not connected to the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr in the town yesterday. The man is being held at Omagh Police station.

There’s been widespread condemnation of the armed robbery of a bookmakers premises at the Village complex in Derry’s Rosemount last night. Derry City Councillor Maeve McLaughlin says it’s the third armed robbery in the city over the past few weeks, and that’s a very worrying development. Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey said the use or threat

The killing of Constable Ronan Kerr has been condemned by Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Justice Minister Alan Shatter, as well as by Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan. In a statement, the Commissioner said the members of An Garda Síochána stand together with their colleagues in the Police Service of Northern Ireland. The uniforms may be woven

The PSNI are hunting the bomber who killed a police recruit in Omagh. 25 year old Catholic police officer Ronan Kerr died when a device exploded under his car as he left home yesterday. He was based at the PSNI station in Enniskillen. Dissident republicans are being blamed for the killing – but no group

The PSNI officer killed by a device planted under his car in Omagh this afternoon has been named. He was 25 year old Constable Ronan Kerr, who hads recently graduated from the Police Training College. Chief Constable Matt Baggott said tragedy has returned to Omagh. He said everyone should mourn the loss of “one of

A policeman has been killed in a bomb attack in Omagh. The 25 year old police officer, who had recently joined the force,  died after a device went off under his car outside his home in Highfield Close, just before 4 o’clock this (Saturday) afternoon. The killing has been roundly condemned, First Minister Peter Robinson

Police have confirmed that the 26-year-old killed in this mornings car crash in Omagh was Simon Glen from Strabane. The two car crash occurred outside the Omagh Meats factory on the Doogary Road just after four o’clock this morning. The mans mother, girlfriend and 3-year-old niece, were travelling in the same car, but their injuries

A Donegal woman, who had a life changing transplant after receiving a kidney from a man who was stabbed to death, is celebrating after having her first baby. Vienna White from New Mills had suffered from kidney failure and had to undergo daily dialysis. But another family’s tragedy has given the 29 year old a

Gardai are warning homeowners in Glenfin to be on the lookout for any suspicious activity as there was a number of break-ins in the Reelin Bridge area yesterday. Out of one of the houses that was burgled cheques, cash, a laptop, a digital camera and the family car was stolen. The robbery is believed to

A 20-year-old was jailed for four months yesterday when he admitted burgling two schools and a 63-year-old man’s cottage. Judge Kevin Kilrane told Declan Heron the cottage raid at 3 a.m. in Ballyshannon last August when he stole €200 was “the very meanest type of offence.” Heron, of Saimer Drive, Ballyshannon, also admitted separate burglaries

A claim from the Minister for Education and Skills Ruairí Quinn that farmers and the self-employed manipulate their incomes to secure student grants has caused anger and concern among rural communities, according to Donegal North East TD Charlie McConalogue. Speaking on Newstalk Radio, Minister Ruairí Quinn said that up until now the agricultural community were

A 27-year-old Strabane woman has won her appeal against a prison sentence for stealing jeans worth £10. Alison Hewitt, a single parent from Patterson Park, was sent to jail for three months. The Court of Appeal ruled today that the original three months prison sentence was “manifestly excessive” and ordered her to serve 100 hours

A security alert is continuing in Derry, in the carpark where a 50kg bomb was found on Sunday. A suspicious object was discovered this morning and police have evacuated nearby premises. Police said a member of the public had spotted the object and alerted the emergency services. Foyle MP Mark Durkan, said those responsible are

For the second time in less than a week, Bishop Street in Derry is closed because of a bomb alert. This morning, a motorist reported a suspect device to a carpark attendant, who alerted the police. It’s the same car park in which a viable 50kg bomb was found on Sunday evening last. Police have

Gardai in Letterkenny are urging anyone trying to contact the local Garda Station to use the new number which is 074 91 67100. Up to recently, the previous number which was 91 22222 did work, but it is now out of service. Inspector David Murphy  says a number of people have been  trying to use

The government is being urged to lift restrictions on the planting of private forests, with the Donegal Woodland Owners Society seeking an urgent meeting with the Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney. Chairperson John Jackson says the level of afforestation in Donegal in recent years has crashed from over 6000 acres planted in 1995 to under 500

There were 21,711 people signing on in Donegal at the end of March, down slightly on February, but up 3% on the same period last year. That’s an extra 637 people on the Live Register in the county. Increases were recorded in most local offices in the county, with Dungloe the only office to rec

A 27-year-old man was jailed for two years yesterday when he admitted committing a serious sex offence against a 13-year-old girl in what the court was told was a drink-drugs orgy. Judge John O’Hagan heard that the girl was frightened when told earlier by jobless Thomas O’Hara – who was 23 at the time –

A 42-year-old man has gone on trial at Derry Crown Court charged with raping and indecently assaulting a  girl over a nine year period. The man who cannot be named to protect the identity of the alleged victim faced a total of 18 charges including three counts of rape and 15 counts of indecent assault

A meeting will be held in Ardara tonight to highlight job losses in the area, and what can be done in the area to create jobs. The meeting was called in the wake of the announcement of job losses from Gallaghers Bakery, with a substantial number of employees at the bakery fininshing today. Tonight’s meeting,

A former West Tyrone MLA has been banned from driving and fined £500 after being convicted of drink driving for a second time. Strabane District Councillor and Ulster Unionist member Derek Hussey of Garvetagh Road, Castlederg admitted driving while twice the legal limit at Strabane Magistrates Court this morning. It had been indicated that the

Strabane Councillor Eugene McMenamin has resigned from the SDLP. In a statement, an SDLP spokesperson confirmed the party has accepted the resignation. The statement adds that in recent years, the SDLP has invested a significant amount of time and energy in revitalising organisational structures in West Tyrone.

The Government’s preparing to announce a major overhaul of our banks – as tens of billions more Euro are going to have to be pumped into them. Stress tests will show up to 25 billion being needed, and mergers into just two banks are possible. The Tánaiste’s told the Dáil this evening’s announcements will show

Donegal Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn has attacked the Labour party in the Dail, accusing them o9f betraying the people who voted for them. Deputy Mac Lochlainn closed Sinn Fein’s Private Member’s Motion calling for the scrapping of the Universal Social Charge. As expected, Fine Gael and Labour rejected it, voting instead to review the charge,

A senior eye doctor in Donegal says the campaign to secure an OCT machine for the eye clinic in Letterkenny may help save the sight of people with diabetes. Complications as a result of diabetes are among of the leading causes of blindness in Ireland, and a specialist screening service has been rolled out to

An independent advisor has told the family of Kieran Doherty in Derry that MI5 had no connection to his death. Lord Carlisle investigated concerns about the shooting of the former Real IRA member 13 months ago. The body of 31 year old Kieran Doherty was found on Baraehead Road in Derry in February of last

An arsonist who burned the home of his neighbour escaped jail on condition that he do 240 hours community service. Judge John O’Hagan told 22-year-old Reginald Greene it was not a defence to claim provocation but at the same time he was aware “of extreme provocation over a period of time which was a mitigating

A coroner has questioned the materials being used to make mobile homes after a man  was burned to death in a fire in Gweedore. Columba Doherty had been celebrating a 21st birthday party when he returned home to his mobile home in Brinaleck on January 31st, 2008. Only the shell of the mobile home belonging

The creation of a Britsih-Irish tourism visa in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games is a priority for the Government. At present, citizens from many countries such as India and China must acquire separate holiday visas when visting Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Minister for Transport and Tourism, Leo Varadkar  says he

A man charged in connection with the murder of Michaela McAreavey has been released without charge after agreeing to turn state’s witness. Hotel room attendant Raj Theekoy had been charged with conspiracy to commit murder. Mrs McAreavey, the daughter of Tyrone GAA boss Mickey Harte, was murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius in January. Two

Plans to regenerate the riverside area on the border between Strabane and Lifford has received a €1m funding boost. The ‘Reconciliation Through the Riverine Project’ which aims to transform the border area, is now one step closer following the funding announcement. An iconic shared space will be developed and will include features such as a

Sinn Féin has moved a  Private Members motion in the Dail seeking the abolition of the Universal Social Charge. Moving the motion, Donegal South West Deputy Pearse Doherty, the party’s Finance Spokesperson said  the charge is little more than a tax on the working poor, and should be abolished. The government has promised a review,

Donegal may be forced to export its waste with the county’s last remaining landfill site expected to close next year. There are just 30,000 tonnes of capacity left at the site in Ballintra, with no alternative plan currently in place to deal with the county’s waste. At one stage Donegal had four landfill sites at

Political parties in the North are being urged to state their policy on the proposed Radiotherapy Unit at Altnagelvin before the public goes to the polls in May’s Assembly Elections. The call has been made by Co-operating for Cancer Care North West. Earlier this month the North’s Health Minister shelved plans indefinitely for the cross

Donegal anglers will renew their ongoing protest at the contentious Gweebarra River when the new salmon and sea trout season gets underway on Friday. A number of fishermen, who claim they have been fishing the river for generations, will do so again to highlight the dispute over the rights to fish in the area. The

A Coroner today told the inquest in to the death of a mother and daughter that it reflected the worst trauma he had ever come across. Martina McLernon and her teenage daughter Louise were killed instantly when a car being driven by Sean Goldrick hit a drain and flipped across a road in Gaoth Dobhair,

Driving instructors are raising concerns that the new minimum number of lessons required by learner drivers is too low. From next week – the Road Safety Authority’s Essential Driver Training scheme will come into effect. It imposes a mandatory minimum of 12 hours of lessons before you sit your driving test. However, motoring schools says

Brigadier General Gerry Hegarty is in Donegal today visiting the country’s most northerly Irish Reserve Defence Force base – in Carndonagh. The R. D. F’s  main function is to serve as back up to the defence forces and would have been called in to action during the recent cold spell The Brigadier is visited Carndonagh