Author name: oisinkelly

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

Donegal County Council is warning that customers who repeatedly ignore water bills that their supplies will be disconnected. The council is set to reach its water revenue targets this year, with County Manager Seamus Neely saying arrears are coming down. He’s urging any businesses having difficulty to engage with the council with a view towards

Letterkenny Town Council has instructed officials to write a 3% reduction in the commercial rate into the budget for next year, but only after Mayor Cllr Tadhg Culbert used his casting vote. The motion was moved by Cllr Dessie Larkin, and supported by his Fianna Fail colleagues. The other members in the chamber said they

Surveillance cameras are to be placed at litter blackspots across Donegal. The Council says that a pilot project in Inishowen has proved very successful. Senior engineer Con Mc Laughlin has confirmed, as a result, that cameras are going to be used county wide:

Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has described the use of data from several Irish passports by members of a Russian spy ring uncovered in the US earlier this year as “disturbing”. Gardaí are investigating the use of the passports, including one belonging to a volunteer with an Irish charity which works with orphans in

The Mayor of Donegal Cllr Cora Harvey says a council trip to Boston next week should pay real dividends for the county. The invitation to travel to Boston from the Irish Echo newspaper, and involves a number of speeches and meetings in Boston. They include Cllr Harvey making keynote speeches at a business awards ceremony

Donegal County Council’s reconvened monthly meeting was adjourned for a time today after repeated interjections from Cllr Frank Mc Brearty. His comments centred on his opposition to the council paying for two members and the manager to attend a number of functions. During the County Manager’s report, it emerged that the Mayor of Donegal has

The Minister for Disability and Mental Health will this evening address a public meeting this (Monday) evening about mental health stigma and what can be done to reduce it. John Moloney along with representatives from ‘See Change’ will address the meeting taking place in the Balor Arts Theatre, Ballybofey from 8 o’clock. See Change is

Donegal Councillor Frank Mc Brearty has accused the government of ignoring motions moved by local authorities. Cllr Mc Brearty says ministers send stock replies to the council promising that matters are “receiving attention”, but nothing is done. This morning, Cllr Mc Brearty was supported by all members when he moved a motion calling for commitments

Police are investigating damage caused to 30 cars parked in a mainly Protestant area of Derry at the weekend. The cars parked in the Irish Street area were vandalised sometime between 1.30 am and 10am on Sunday. DUP MLA William Hay says he believed it was a sectarian attack – that is a view shared

A Donegal County Councillor has claimed that foreign national women are openly involved in prostitution in Donegal. Thomas Pringle says the problem is such that women can be seen openly soliciting for trade on the streets. He raised the issue at a recent Joint Policing Committee meeting. Councillor Pringle says he is surprised that prostitution