Author name: oisinkelly

As expected, a Fine Gael bill seeking to introduce administrative penalties for minor fishing offences was defeated in the Dail last night, with Minister Brendan Smith indicating that the government weill bring in its own bill shortly. Among those who spoke on the debate last night was Donegal South West Deputy Dinny Mc Ginley, who […]

A senior government minister admitted in the Seanad last night that the EU commission would like to see VRT abolished. Speaking on the adjournment, Donegal Senator Pearse Doherty told Minister Tony Killeen that a campaign had begun in Donegal against VRT, and also against the heavy handed way in which people believe the tax is

A dissident republican group says a device found at a leisure centre in Derry yesterday had been left there five days ago. A group of school children from Castletown, St Johnstown were among those evacuated from the pool yesterday afternoon when the device was found. Evelyn Devenney, Principal of the Castletown National School, says the

A robbery at Carrigans Post Office in February of last year has been raised by Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh at an Oireachtas Communuications Committee meeting. During the meeting, Deputy Mc Hugh claimed that Carrigans and other rural areas close to major population centres in Northern Ireland are being treated differently to similar

A teenager has told a Central Criminal Court jury that a friend’s father gave her “five or six” bottles of beer before putting her hand on his penis while she was on a sleepover. The 44-year-old Donegal man, who can not be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to three counts of sexually assaulting

There are calls for all illegal signs and hoardings around Letterkenny advertising businesses to be removed by the council. Councilloir Tadhg Cullbert has also called on the council to review the process by which businesses are given planning permission to erect signs. He says the illegal, and some legal, signs are an eyesore and are

Fine Gael Fisheries Spokesperson is calling on the Government to take on board a Fine Gael Bill to introduce administrative sanctions for fisheries offences, instead of the system of exclusively criminal sanctions currently in place in Ireland. Tom Sheehan says Ireland is out of step compared to other EU countries in relying on criminal sanctions

Publicans say people should be able to have two alcoholic drinks and still drive home legally. They’re warning of further job losses in the sector if the Government goes ahead with plans to reduce the limit from 80 miligrammes to 50. Incoming VFI president Gerry Mellett says publicans are going through difficult times. But Anti

A group of school children were among those evacuated from a Derry leisure centre today after a suspicious object was left. The children were in the swimming pool at the Templemore Sports Complex when for the second time in less than a week the building was evacuated. Last Thursday during the election count the building

It’s been confirmed that 75 jobs announced for Donegal Town four years ago are finally coming on stream. The jobs are part of a package which was announced less than nine months after Hospira closed with the loss of 560 jobs in August 2005. In March 2006, the then Enterprise Minister Michael Martin announced that

The number signing on the Live Register in Donegal at the end of April was 20,996, a rise of 2,638 on the same period last year. That’s a year on year increase of 14%, although the number was down slightly on March. In Letterkenny, there were 5,602 people signing on the live register at the

A 50-year-old man who had been charged with robbing and falsely imprisoning an 83-year-old woman in Derry was yesterday found not guilty by a unanimous verdict of the jury. Anthony Burke of Eglinton Terrace had been charged with robbing the woman in her own home last May. The court had heard that the woman had

Representatives from An Post are being invited to a meeting of Letterkenny Town Council to explain why, as many councillors feel, it provides such a limited service for Letterkenny. The decision comes off the back of calls from Councillor Jimmy Harte that An Post provide a sub office service for the Gortlee/Ballyraine areas of the

It has emerged that Letterkenny Town Council is now considering two sites for the proposed community allotments. One site in Glencar, from the council’s own land bank, is being evaluated while it has been revealed that Bishop Boyce has offered church land in ‘the back road area’ for the allotments. That offer was made to

A Donegal man has gone on trial accused of sexually assaulting three teenage girls staying overnight at his home on separate occasions. The 44-year-old man, who can not be named for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to three counts of sexually assaulting the then 13-year-old girls on dates between

Letterkenny town council has been told that a communal graveyard for Donegal is required urgently. Councillor Dessie larkin first brought forward the idea a number of years ago and has expressed his frustration that plans have not progressed. Today’s council meeting was told that Letterkenny has neither the resources or land to provide the graveyard.

A Derry man has been left badly shaken after he was assaulted and robbed in the Waterside area of the City last night. Three masked men entered the mans house shortly before midnight and threatented him to hand over money. The victim was in his bed at the time men entered his house, but when

Two men have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 38-year-old man in Derry last year. Convicted drug dealer Jim McConnell was shot by two masked men in his home in Woodland Avenue in February 2009. The men who have been arrested are aged 42 and 44 and have been taken to Antrim

Figures from the AA show there has been a marked increase in the number of people in Donegal claiming to have hit a pothole while driving so far this year. A survey of 7,000 people across the country indicated that it is a major problem right across the country, particularly on secondary roads. In Ulster

Donegal North East Deputy Joe Mc Hugh says fear and uncertainty continues to surround the future of jobs at Keith Prowse in Lisfannon, Buncrana. The company has been based in Lisfannon since 2002, employing over 100 people. Last week, it emerged that up to 20 of the staff are likely to be let go, with

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson in Derry is calling for an urgent review of emergency housing provision in the city. Councillor Tony Hassan says he’s shocked at figures showing that nearly 450 people needed temporary accommodation in Derry over the past 3 years, with 150 people currently in temporary accommodation. He says there is a three

It’s been confirmed today that the new A&E and medical building currently under construction at Letterkenny General Hospital will be open and operational in less than a year. Progress on the new Acute Psychiatric Unit is also continuing During a site visit for local journalists today, the HSE confirmed that construction on the unit should

Police in Derry have launched an arson investigation following a house fire in the Galliagh area of the city. The fire, which damaged a house at Moss Park, was reported at 6 o’clock yesterday morning. Police believe it was started deliberately. There are no reports of injuries.

Gardai in Milford say a pair of eight year old friends who went missing yesterday in the Kerrykeel area have been found safe and well. It’s understood the children’s parents thought each was in the other’s house, and when it was realised they weren’t a search was launched. Gardai have confirmed the pair were found

A Donegal man has been acquitted at the Central Criminal Court of raping a woman after a party in the county almost three years ago. The man, who can not be named for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the woman in a house in Donegal on May 20, 2007.

SIPTU is calling for a huge turnout at the planned march and rally in support of the retention of Lifford Community Hospital. The event will be held in Lifford on Sunday 23rd May at 3.00 p.m. The union’s Donegal Secretary Martin O’Rourke says before the ongoing HSE review reaches a decision, the people of Donegal

Alcohol Action Ireland has praised the principle of Pobalscoil Gaoth Dobhair for highlighting the issue of underage drinking in his area. Principle Noel O Gallcoir sent a letter to parents of all 1st, 2nd and 3rd years at the school warning of an increase in anti-social behaviour and underage drinking in Gweedore. He detailed instances

Letterkenny estate agent Paul Reynolds of Property Partners Reynolds & Co. has been appointed the new President of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers. Mr Reynolds has highlighted a number of issues which he hopes to tackle during his presidency. These include the doubling of the exemption limit of 125,000 euro, to 250,000 euro,

North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher has still yet to confirm if he is to give up his ministerial pension. The former Donegal South West Deputy is now being billed as the  ‘last man standing’ after Deputy James McDaid and Galway East TD Noel Tracey said they have or will be donating theirs to

Six Irish airports, including Donegal Aiport, have to re-opened earlier than expected this morning after flights were restricted because of the volcanic ash cloud from Iceland. The Irish Aviation Authority withdrew restrictions on flights in and out of the airports after reviewing the position of the cloud of volcanic ash. However, we are still being

Gaeltacht Minister Pat Carey says he will inspect the R259 Airport Road in West Donegal to see if his department can provide some funding to upgrade it. Mr Carey made the commitment in the Seanad after the need for improvements was raised on the adjournment last evening by Senator Brian O’Domhnaill. Speaking after their exchange,

Letterkenny Mayor Jim Lynch has launched the Letterkenny Gateway 2010 campaign, aimed at profiling the town as a gateway to the North West region, and a tourist destination in its own right. The campaign will focus on using all available media to market the area, the updating of the letterkenny.ie website, and the production of

In Foyle the SDLP’s Mark Durkan has held his seat with 16,922 votes. Sinn Fein’s Martina Anderson was second. Meanwhile Police say that a device left outside the Derry election count centre was a pipe bomb. Counting in Foyle and East Derry was suspended for an hour and a half after a car was abandoned

Polling in all 18 Northern constituencies began at 7 o clock this morning and continues until 10 o clock tonight. Almost 1.2 million electors are registered and entitled to vote at 624 polling stations across Northern Ireland. After polling, the 1,512 ballot boxes will be taken to eight count centres where, for the first time,

Donegal North-East TD, Dr Jim McDaid has been defending his decision not to give up his ministerial pension on todays Shaun Doherty Show. The controversial Donegal Deputy confirmed that he doesn’t gain from his pension, and he in fact has been giving it to charity for the past 4 or 5 years. Although he didn’t

Two Brazilian men have gone on trial in Portugal charged with the murder of a Derry businessman Paul Houstan on the Algarve last September. Mr Houston, a 51-year-old father-of-four, who owned Houston’s Shoes, was found dead at the resort of Alvor. 27 year-old Jones Dos Santos was remanded in custody, and 20-year-old Diago Dias was

A Senior Government Minister says last nights voting mistake in the Dail is simply ‘unacceptable’ The Government suffered a scare when a vote on holding an immediate byelection in Donegal South West ended in a tie after two Fianna Fail TD’s voted with the opposition Frank Fahey and Timmy Dooley claim they pushed the wrong

Donegal Councillor Jimmy Harte has confirmed he’s joining the Labour Party today. He is in Dublin for a meeting with party leader Eamon Gilmore this morning, at which he’ll sign the necessary documentation to join the party. He’ll then be unveiled by Mr Gilmore as the latest in a number of high profile figures to

A jury in the Central Criminal Court trial of a Donegal man accused of raping a woman who was too sick to resist after a party in the county is expected to retire to consider their verdict today. The man has pleaded not guilty to raping and sexually assaulting the woman in a house in

Deputy  James McDaid has taken 11 minutes in the Dail to lay the blame at the door of some sections of the media for fuelling public opinion and paranoia on the issue of the Ministerial Pension. Speaking last night Dr McDaid once again stated that he will only give up his ministerial pension, which he

As County Manager Michael Mc Loone nears the end of his tenure, he says he wants his successor to continue pursuing change in the council. He says one of his central aims has been to make services more streamlined, and ensure that efficiencies are implemented across the board. However, speaking to Highland Radio News at

A Sinn Fein motion seeking to have the writ moved for the Donegal South West by-election has been defeated on the casting vote of Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk. The vote, which was declared just after twenty past six this evening, was 76 for and 76 against, and as is traditional, the chair went with the

Pre-Christian skeletal remains which went missing after being found in Gweedore at the weekend have been recovered. It’s emerged an unidentified person removed them because he was concerned about people in the area. Other items, reportedly found in the same area, have also been returned. Caroline Carr, from the Donegal Museum, confirmed they recieved the

Plans for a supermarket, petrol station, a six screen cinema, a hotel, office blocks and a healthcare facility to be built in Derry have been lodged with the planning service. It’s claimed the development will create thousands of jobs. Applicant GSB Guernsey Trading Limited, which is part of the Orana Group, proposes to site the

A 20-year-old man described as “the mastermind” behind a two month-long series of burglaries was jailed today for six months. His 21-year-old driver was remanded for a Probation report and was told to pay almost €4,000 compensation before he is considered for a jail term or community service. Donegal District Court was told the burglar,