Author name: oisinkelly

The trial has begun of a 27-year-old man charged with dangerous driving causing three deaths in a crash on the N15. Niall McGrath, of Grahamstown, Ballintra has pleaded not guilty at Donegal Circuit Court to three charges of dangerous driving causing death in a collision on the N15 at Ballinacarrick, Ballintra just over five years […]

A teenager is being treated for a suspected broken jaw after he was kicked in the face while tying his boot laces during a GAA football match. The 15-year-old St Eunans player was attacked with just minutes to go in the underage game in Burt against Urris here in the County on Sunday. Shocked spectators

The Government has banned the use of all poisons for pest control under new rules aimed at stopping the killing of birds of prey. There will be no poisons which can legally be used to kill birds or animals, apart from rats and mice. And the new regulations also make it an offence for a

Gardai in Milford are appealing for information about a fatal collision at Bunlin Bridge last evening. 81 year old Leonard Devanney, also known as Leonard Orr, was pronounced dead in hospital after the collision which happened at 5 o’clock. Mr Orr, was a single man from Ballyare near Ramelton, and was the driver of a

The government’s legal team will be in the High Court today to defend the ongoing delay in holding the Donegal South West by-election. Sinn Fein Senator Pearse Doherty is arguing that the people of Donegal South West are being denied their constitutional rights to representation. His legal team told the High Court whe the case

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group will present its Road Safe Road Show at Aura in Letterkenny over the next two days. At the event people directly affected by road tragedies tell their stories to second level students – who will soon be beginning their own driving careers. The first of the road shows was

District Court Judge Seamus Hughes has been accused of insulting the people of Donegal over comments he made about our attitudes towards gardai in the county. Last week Judge Hughes launched a scathing attack on the people of Co Donegal claiming they think Gardai are ‘fair game’ while out on duty. Cllr Frank McBrearty says

A pensioner was killed last night when his car was involved in a collision with a truck. 82-year-old Leonard Orr died following the crash at Bunlinn Bridge on the Carrigart Road, near Milford. Mr Orr, was a single man from Ballyare near Ramelton. The crash happened at around 5pm yesterday evening. The road is closed

It’s been confirmed that a man in his 80s has been killed in a two-car collision near Milford. The crash happened at around 5pm this afternoon at Bunlin Bridge on the Milford to Carrigart road. The man who died was the driver of one of two vehicles involved in the collision. The road remains closed,

There’s been a serious road collision at Bunlin Bridge between Milford and Carrigart. We understand the collision which happened just before 5 o’clock involved a lorry and a car. Emergency services are still at the scene, and while we understand there are injuries, they are still being assessed, and gardai say they cannot comment on

The Historical Enquiries Team has found that a former soldier lied about the fatal shooting of a woman in Derry in 1975. The HET report concludes a claim that 22-year-old Bernadette Friel sustained the single wound during a game of “Russian Roulette” was fabricated. The report says Thomas Ramsay deliberately shot her and then told

An 88-year-old Donegal man who raped five women is to be sentenced later at Dublin Central Criminal Court. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to raping a woman on or around dates between April 1st, 1991 to June 30th, 1991 in a place unknown in County Donegal. He also pleaded

The Government will fight a legal challenge today, aimed at forcing the holding of a by-election, by arguing the courts can’t tell the Dail what to do. The Coalition will also commit again to holding the three by-elections early next year. In the unlikely event of the Government losing, it would have to hold the

A couple have described their devastation at losing their four-year old son in a freak accident at their home. Nico Price was tragically killed when the wheel of a lorry fell on him at his father Neil’s breaker’s yard at the rear of their rented cottage in Burnfoot, on Friday evening. 4-year-old Nico Price had

Donegal County Council plans to carry out a Garda background check on every person who applies to them for housing. The measure was revealed at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in Lifford during a presentation on the councils new draft anti-social behaviour strategy. Chairman of the housing SPC, Cllr Dessie Larkin, said he

Plans for a long-awaited airstrip on Tory Island have been turned down according to Fine Gael Deputy Dinny McGinley. Deputy McGinley said he was told this week by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs there was no money for the airstrip. The propsed airstrip was to be situated closed to the lighthouse on

Senator Pearse Doherty has welcomed the news that his High Court challenge against the government will get a full hearing on Monday. Senator Doherty, who unsuccessfully contested the general elections in 2002 and 2007, as well as the European election in 2004, brought the challenge earlier this year to the Government’s refusal to move a

Over 20,000 claimants who have been denied social welfare will have to wait 6 months to have their appeal heard, according to Donegal South-West Deputy Dinny McGinley. And he says many of these claimants are people from Donegal. The claims include Job Seekers Allowance, Disability Allowance and other payments. Deputy McGinley says it’s a scandal

Young motorists will be called on to mark European Night Without Accident by taking extra care on the roads. Several pubs and nightclubs across the country including here in Donegal are involved in the road safety initiative, which is being held in 220 nightclubs across 27 European countries. Designated drivers who wear a wristband to

As part of the ‘Winning the West’ campaign in the North and West, the Labour Party is organising a major conference in the Breaffy Woods Hotel, Castlebar, today. Today’s one day conference which will be addressed by party leader, Deputy Eamon Gilmore. The party are using today  to show that in the next general election

The counting of votes in the Donegal Youth Council elections has finished and the 36 new council members have been name. Voting began last Friday, and finished yesterday. Counting finished this afternoon Kelli Gallagher is coordinator of the Donegal Youth Council – said this years Youth Council had some of the youngest council members ever:

The counting of votes in the Donegal Youth Council elections is due to finish this afternoon, with 36 young people to be elected onto the body. Voting began last Friday, and finished yesterday. Now, votes cast in the Letterkenny area are being counted, and the final make up of the new council should be known

The High Court has been told a 27 year old Donegal student who took his own life two days after he was discharged from Letterkenny General Hospital had clearly expressed suicidal thoughts in front of hospital staff. Michael Orpen, a former Naval employee, went to the hospital in November 2006 after taking tablets and driving

The Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture has rejected the Ombudsman’s report on the Lost at Sea scheme, with Fine Gael accussing Fianna Fail of sacrificing the ombudsman in order to protect one of their own. Emily O’Reilly had concluded that the Byrne family in Donegal should be compensated because they were unfairly denied relief when they

Buncrana Town Council has been told that work to secure land for improvement works on the Aghilly Road is making progress, and discussions on drawing up Compulsory Purchase Orders are at an advance stage. However, member were not happy with the pace of progress this week, with Mayor Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn saying the project

Letterkenny Town Council is to look at how best the town can capitalise on Derry’s designation as UK City of Culture 2013. Motions were moved on the issue in the council chamber this week by a number of members. Cllr Gerry Mc Monagle said the Town Council should seek meetings with Derry City Council to

Donegal County Council is to begin developing a new halting site at Elaghbeg in Inishowen with work due to start early next year. The new site will eventually replace the site at Lisfannon outside Buncrana. Buncrana Town Manager John Mc Laughlin has told concillors that a legal dispute over ownership of part of the Elaghbeg

A Donegal father has been jailed for seven and a half years for sexually abusing three young girls in his daughter’s bed while they were on sleepovers at his house. 44 year old Martin McCurdy of Emmet Park, Castlefinn, Co Donegal had pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting the then 13 year

Donegal County Council has agreed to issue reminder notices for those who are liable for the second home tax. This year, for many the first reminder the got about the tax was 3 months after it is due. It is claimed many were unaware that the new deadline was earlier this year and are now

The Donegal Mayor has confirmed that she will not be travelling to the US for St Patrick’s Day next year and will instead invite dignitaries to visit Donegal. Councillor Cora Harvey made the announcement in the same week as a Donegal County Council meeting was adjourned when a row broke out over a trip by

The High Court has granted an injunction restraining a builder from cutting off sewerage services to Áras Uí Dómhnaill nursing home. The home, which  has 32 residents, is in receivership. The interim order was granted by Ms Justice Mary Laffoy against John O’Donnell, Ballyherrin, Kilmacrennan, Letterkenny,and Kilmac Formwork Ltd of the same address, to receiver

Buncrana Town Council is urging people to consult with planners before submitting applications. It follows refusal of a planning application for the change of use of an apartment into an office in an area of the town. However, Cllr Peter Mc Laughlin told the council monthly meeting that the applicant told him the development was

The mother of a man who killed himself after being discharged from a hospital psychiatric unit where he went following a deliberate overdose has sued the HSE, alleging it failed to provide adequate care to her son. Reported in the Irish TImes it is claimed that Michael Orpen had attended the Emergency Department of Letterkenny

Donegal County Council officials are to examine the possibility of implementing a number of new Community Employment Schemes through FAS. The issue was raised in the chamber this week by Cllr Ciaran Brogan who says many improvements are needed in the county which could be done through CES schemes, and there are plenty of people

A man had to be rescued off Creevey Pier in Ballyshannon yesterday after it was reported that a man was seen in the water. The casualty had been thrown from his boat when the steering wheel broke. He was spotted by two local fishermen who raised the alarm with the coastguard and then the Bundoran

Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh is in Belfast to meet Northern Ireland Justice Minister David Ford and PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott. Deputy Mchugh is Fine Gael North-South Cooperation Spokesperson and Justice Spokesperson. On the agenda will be Security and policing concerns in the Border region and in Northern Ireland, Justice and legal issues of common

Donegal VEC IS not in plans to reduce the number of VEC’s across the country. The number of Vocational Education Committees is to be cut from 33 to 16 under proposals agreed by the Cabinet yesterday. There had been indications that Donegal would be exluded from the plans because of its size and geographical location.

A leading judge has launched a scathing attack on the people of Co Donegal claiming they think Gardai are ‘fair game’ while out on duty. Judge Seamus Hughes was speaking after Gardai were surrounded by a drunken mob outside a nightclub after arresting two brothers. Shane and Michael O’Donnell were arrested after becoming involved in

Another jobs boost could be on the cards for West Donegal, with Udaras na Gaeltachta believed to be on the verge of announcing an expansion at an existing company on the industrial estate in Gweedore. Members of Udaras in Donegal held a site visit along with officials from the agency this week, and it’s believed

Letterkenny Town Council is to change its traffic by-laws to make the first half hour’s parking in the town centre free. It’s expected the change will be implemented in early December. Officials advised against the change, saying the council would lose a substantial amount of money as a result, and on street parking fees would

One hundred new jobs are being created with the expansion of the Smiles dental care clinic. With an investment injection of three million euro it’s opening ten new premises around the country, including one in Donegal. Smiles Dental, a privately owned provider of dental care plans, has announced a €3m expansion which will create 100

The future of the Public Service Obligation at Donegal Airport topped the agenda at a meeting with the Transport Minister Noel Dempsey this week. Donegal South West Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill met with the Minister about the importance of the PSO to the future of the airport and the region. O’ Domhnaill said the daily

Donegal County Council is being urged to make immediate payments when it buys land. The issue was raised at today’s reconvened council meeting by Cllr Noel Mc Bride, who said it’s not fair that landowners can be left for a considerable time without payment, and he wants that to be addressed. Officials say disputes and