Author name: oisinkelly

The Children’s ombudsman Emily Logan says uncertainty over the dates of by-elections should not be allowed impact on the date of the proposed Childrens’ Rights Referendum. It had been speculated that the referendum would take place in autumn of this year, but thjere are now fears that will drag into next year. There are three […]

The chief celebrant at the funeral of one of the eight victims of Sundays night’s road crash in Donegal says no words can describe the devastation being felt by the family and friends of those who died. Two funerals have taken place this morning, with a third taking place this afternoon. At 10 o’clock this

A Letterkenny Town Councillor has said elected representatives have a responsibility not to over state the problem of anti-social behaviour in the town’s parks. Councillor Ciaran Brogan was speaking after fellow councillor Tom Crosson brought forward an motion which called for action to be taken to address ‘continued reports of anti social behaviour in the

Inishowen will fall silent today, as three of the eight funerals of the men who died in Sundays horrific road accident take place. The first of the funerals, that of 66-year-old Hugh Friel, will take place at St Michaels Church in Urris, Clonmany at 10 o clock this morning. He was the sole occupant of

The road between Clonmany and Buncrana , where eight men were killed in a crash on Sunday night, has reopened. The families of seven of the eight men visited the scene privately before it was reopened to the public at 10pm on Tuesday night. Some of them left flowers in memory of their loved ones.

The police have said the rioting in the Bogside last night and in the early hours of this morning was the “worst in a decade” in Derry. A masked gunman fired shots at police shortly after 1 o clock this morning. Petrol bombs were thrown at a police patrol car which was on fire when

A 42 year-old man originally from Letterkenny has died in a motorcycle crash in Switzerland. The man, who had moved to London, is understood to have been on a biking holiday with friends from Donegal when his motorcycle collided with another vehicle. The man’s name has not yet been released.

A helpline has been established in Buncrana to help people in Inishowen come to terms with the enormity of the tragedy. It’s being coordinated by the HSE, using structures put in place by the support group “Buncrana Community Combatting Suicide”. The number of the line is 087 279 8412. A support service is being offered

The Garda Commissioner has offered his condolences to the bereaved families and the coounity of Inishowen following Sunday night’s horrific crash which has left eight people dead. Facthna Murphy confirmed it was the “worst fatality count” from a single accident in the country’s history. The mother of a 21 year old man killed in an

The Clonmany to Buncrana Road remains closed this morning as investigations continue into Sunday night’s crash which claimed the lives of eight men. A ninth man, the sole survivor of the crash, remains in a stable condition in hospital this morning. The Road Safety Authority has described it as the ‘worst road accident in the

New figures show that house prices in County Donegal fell by 8%, one of the largest declines in the country. The average asking in Donegal in the second quarter of 2010 was €183,000, a fall of €86,000 from the peak. The figures from daft.ie show that you can buy a house in Donegal for 40

The Minister for Justice and Law Reform, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., has announced the establishment of an Advisory Committee on Garda Interviewing of suspects following recommendations of the Morris Tribunal. The make up of the committee includes representatives of the Department of Justice, the Law Society, the Irish Human Rights Commission and An Garda Siochana.

Three buses bound for Donegal have been targeted by stone throwers in Strabane with one local councillor stating that it was pure luck that a collision didn’t take place as a result. Councillor Brian McMahon says he believes the buses, which were travelling on the Strabane bypass, were targeted because the stone throwers thought they

There are calls for more local input in to the management of the Aura Leisure Centre in Letterkenny after claims it is underperforming in terms of attracting major events and concerts. At this months Letterkenny Town Council meeting it was claimed that not enough major events are being hosted at the multi million euro development

The County Manager has confirmed that work on the much anticipated Letterkenny Sewerage Scheme/ Waste Water Treatment plant could start in a matter of weeks. Seamus Neely has confirmed that the contract for the design build and operate project is close to being finalised with work is due to start in under two months. The

The names of the deceased in Sunday night’s  collision on the Clonmany to Buncrana Road have been released by Gardai. Those travelling in the black Volkswagen Passatt were – Paul Doherty, Ardagh, Ballyliffin 19 James Mc Eleney, Minaduff, Clonmany 23 Eamon Mc Daid, Cruckahheny, Ballymagan, Buncrana 22 Damien Mc Laughlin, Umrican, Buncrana 21 Mark Mc

Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty is at the High Court today seeking a Judicial Review into the government’s failure to hold the Donegal South West By-Election. Senator Doherty, who will contest the by-election on behalf of Sinn Fein, says the refusal of the government to name the date of the poll is unlawful, and against the

Seven new jobs are being created on the Udaras na Gaeltachta Industrial Estate in Fintown by Charles Bonnar and Sons. The company, which supplies oil and solid fuel cookers and stoves, has established a new base where it will undertake production and assembly of its products. The new facility was officially opened by Dr Joe

Up to 200 new jobs could be confirmed for Donegal within a matter of days. Deputy Niall Blaney says after lengthy discussions with Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keefe, he’s confident a significant announcement is imminent of high end jobs in the pharmaceutical sector. However, he wouldn’t be drawn on the identity of the company behind the

Eight people have been killed in a two car collision in Inishowen. The two car collision happened at Glasmullen, on the Buncrana to Clonmany road, at around twenty to eleven last night. Gardai say seven occupants of a black Volkswagen Passat along with the driver of a second car a red Toyota Corolla were killed

Thousands of members of the Orange Order’s only festival march in the Republic today spoke of looking forward to the expected Dublin visit of Queen Elizabeth of England next year. More than 12,000 marchers with 30 bands paraded through two kilometres of country roads to their annual pre-12th beachside gathering at Rossnowlagh. The main festival

The High Court has blocked the Health and Safety Authority from investigating the death of Donegal woman Sinead McDaid. Sinead, from Carndonagh died in a single-vehicle accident  June 12, 2001 when her car skidded and crashed at Dunross between Culdaff and Malin. Her family maintain it had occurred as a result of loose chipping and

The Department of Foreign Affairs has urged the media to respect the privacy of a Donegal family which has, through no fault of their own, been caught up in a case of fraudulent use of a passport. Replacement passports have now been issued to Carndonagh man Eunan Gerard Doherty and his family. In a statement,

Ireland’s first purpose built training facility for the off-shore oil and gas industry has been officially opened in Falcarragh by Tanaiste Mary Coughlan. Effective Offshore Ltd currently employs 13 people and has now confirmed today plans to invest another €500,000 to introduce a range of new courses in health and safety aimed at the oil

The new Donegal County Manager Seamus Neely says he will continue to implement the “Whole System of Work” model of management which was promoted by his predecessor Michael Mc Loone. The commitment to the system led auditors to question how consultants were recruited and paid. The system is a new one developed by a team

It’s emerged that there is now no evening return Bus Eirean service linking Dublin and West Donegal. Previously, there was a service from Dungloe via Glencolmcille early in the morning, and then a return service from Dublin at 5 o’clock. However, since last Monday, the latest available return bus to Dungloe leaves Dublin at 1

A park in Ramelton, which the naming of has caused much controversy, has finally been named. The townpark, which has remained nameless for three years, is due to be officially opened by the council at the end of this month. Outgoing County Manager Michael McLoone, unveiled the name of the park on the Shaun Doherty

The new County Manager Seamus Neely has taken up the position, and is now promising to hit the ground running. Mr Neely, a native of Donegal who has also worked in Cavan, Monaghan and Dublin, says while there are challenges ahead, there are also opportunities, and the next six months will be vital for Donegal……….

Plans for a new cinema and restaurant complex in Derry could bring more than 200 jobs to the city. A planning application has been lodged for a 10-screen cinema development on the site of the former Perfecseal factory on the Buncrana Road. The developer, Ardtullagh Holdings, said an additional 150 jobs would be created during

Two men and a woman had a lucky escape last night when their car went off the road down a 25-foot embankment near the Crolly waterfall. Emergency services said the three where lucky to be alive this morning. The accident happened just before midnight on the Loughanure to Crolly Road. Emergency services including two ambulances,

It is hoped current jobs and planned future investment at Largo Foods in Gweedore are secure after workers voted to accept company proposals to take a pay cut. It was feared that the company, which makes snack foods, would move production elsewhere after staff initially rejected calls for them to take a 3.5% paycut. It

Police say that children as young as 12 and 13 are being found on the streets of Derry heavily under the influence of alcohol at the weekends. Last weekend alone two hundred items of alcohol were seized by police in Foyle with over 3,000 items of alcohol have been seized in the area in the

There has been a warm welcome of the decision by An Bord Pleanala to refuse Tesco Ireland permission to build a new access road from its Letterkenny store onto the Port Road. Tesco had lodged a second appeal to the board to allow a second access road from the Letterkenny Shopping Centre but it was

New legislation introduced by government means that elections to Udaras na Gaeltachta may not be held for up two years despite being due by October of this year. Minister for Gaeltacht Affairs Pat Carey has rejected Opposition claims the Government is anti-democratic in introducing legislation which will postpone the elections. The one-paragraph Údarás na Gaeltachta

The trial has begun at the Old Bailey in London of a man accused of murdering a Donegal emigrant in December of last year. 31 year old Keith Stewart denies murdering Inishowen native Seamus Gill in Ealing Broadway. 52 year old Mr Gill, originally from Desertegney outside Buncrana died in hospital three days after the

InjuriesBoard.ie has published figures showing that in 2009, 22 Public Liability awards were made to claimants in County Donegal resulting in the awarding of compensation of just over €527,000. Nationally, 51% of injuries covered happened in privately owned establishments, while 24% in areas administered by local authorities.

Fine Gael Donegal South West Deputy, Dinny McGinley, has been appointed as Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Climate Change and Energy Security. He replaces his party colleague Sean Barrett, who has been named as the new Fine Gael Foreign Affairs spokesperson. Speaking after his appointment, Deputy McGinley said between 80% and 90% of

A Donegal Councillor is warning that if road projects are scaled back to the extent being suggested this week, then hopes of economic growth will be dashed. Cllr Terence Slowey says growth projections betweenc now and 2013 are based on up to 70,000 people working on road projects across the country. However, he says if

The second ballot at Largo Foods Bia Gweedore plant in West Donegal has been extended. Because of the shift system at the plant, and the fact that some workers work limited hours, the ballot has been extended into tomorrow to allow as many staff members as possible cast their vote on the wage cut being

The Transport Minister says he’s ‘mystified’ at reports that the National Roads Authority has run out of money for its capital programme. It’s been reported that the NRA doesn’t have the funds to build 40 roads including bypasses and dual carriageways. Yesterday’s reports suggested that at least five road projects would be suspended in Donegal,

HSE Managers in Donegal and Sligo are being asked to put forward cost cutting proposals after it emerged that HSE West is facing a budgetary overrun this year in the region of 90 million euro. The trade union Impact is in discussion with the HSE on how savings can be achieved, but is warning against

Donegal Senator Cecilia Keavney says she wants to see the proposal to bring natural gas from Coolkeeragh into Donegal revisited following confirmation that the ESB is buying Northern Ireland Electricity. Senator Keaveney says the ESB purchase of NIE will help provide economies of scale, and also promote an all island energy supply. She says it’s

Workers at Largo Foods held a vote yesterday to see if the majority of workers at the Gweedore plant will accept the 3.5% pay-cut which has been tabled by management. The results of the ballot will be released later today. Last week week staff rejected a management call for a pay cut with some claiming

A case in which a 26-year-old man is to be tried for dangerous driving causing the deaths of three people has been adjourned at Donegal Circuit Court.to a date to be arranged. Niall McGrath of Grahamstown, Ballintra, Co. Donegal has pleaded not guilty to three charges of dangerous driving causing death and one charge of endangerment

A second man  walked free from a court, although with a suspended sentence, after he admitted full sex with a 13-year-old schoolgirl. Chef Ronan Lowther, 25, who is now working as a plasterer’s labourer, received an 18 months prison sentence suspended for five years and he was also placed on the sex offender’s register for

The final communique issued following yesterday’s North South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin includes confirmation that the proposal to develop a cross border radiation unit in Derry remains a priority. Taoiseach Brian Cowen last night used the proposal as an example of what cross border cooperation can achieve. The health lobby group Co-operating for Cancer

Letterkenny District Court has heard that a pensioner facing over 100 charges of alleged sexual abuse, rape and indecent assault lives beside a school, and should not be released on bail until an alternative address can be found. Gardai raised concerns, and the case was adjourned to Glenties District Court on July 28th with the

The final communique issued following yesterday’s North South Ministerial Council meeting in Dublin includes confirmation that the proposal to develop a cross border radiation unit in Derry remains a priority. The health lobby group Co-operating for Cancer Care NorthWest has welcomed the inclusion of the Altnagelvin Hospital proposal in the communique, saying the project cannot