Author name: oisinkelly

Monday’s  monthly meeting of Donegal County Council was abandoned after a row erupted between acting Chairperson David Alcorn and Councillor Frank McBrearty.  In scenes that one councillor described as ‘ a farce’ the two traded insults with each accusing the other of trying to trying to gain publicity in their actions.  In scenes that are […]

The County Manager says he is hopeful that work on the Greencastle Harbour Project will now be able to continue in the coming years after the council managed to raise money for its share of the funding. Earlier this year the government said it was withdrawing from the project blaming Donegal County Council who had

Donegal County Council has agreed unanimously to call on the government to ban ‘head shops’ and the legal highs that they sell. Councillor Thomas Pringle had proposed the motion which will now be forwarded on to every local authority in the county seeking support. There are at least five head shops operated in Donegal which

A Strabane parish priest has said he “deeply regrets” that Catholic Church authorities didn’t tell him about the past of a cleric they placed under his roof. Moville native, Fr Declan Boland insisted he wouldn’t have allowed Fr John McCullagh to live in the parochial house in Strabane if he had known about his secret

Donegal TD Dr James Mc Daid says he believes many of his party colleagues would vote against the Government if it sanctioned pay increases for the public sector. Talks between union and government officials were adjourned until 7 o’clock this evening following marathon discussions over the weekend. The talks focussed on reform of the sector,

Figures published today have given an indication as to how many businesses have closed in Donegal with the Glenties elecoral area the worst affected. The council, for 2008, has written off almost 17% of rates due in the Glenties Electoral area, far in excess of other areas of the county. The level of rates written

Michael McLoone has confirmed that he is to retire from his position as County Manager in July of this year. The manager confirmed the news  in a letter to the Mayor which was read out at today’s monthly meeting of the council. He thanked all those that he has worked with over his 16 years in

A controlled explosion has been carried out on what’s been referred to as an improvised viable explosive device left close to a shop which sells legal highs on Pearse Road in Letterkenny. The device was discovered at 1 o’clock this morning, and an army bomb disposal team arrived shortly before 5 o’clock. The area was

The N13 Letterkenny to Derry Road has reopened following an overnight security alert in Bridgend. The Coshquin border crossing was closed after a white Transit van was hijacked by four masked men on the Coshquin Road in Derry at around 7.30pm last night. The van was found abandoned a short distance across the border near

A controlled explosion has been carried out on a suspect device left close to a shop which sells legal highs on Pearse Road in Letterkenny. The device was discovered at 1 o’clock this morning, and an army bomb disposal team arrived at 5 o’clock. After the controlled explosion was carried out, the area was declared

The N13 has been closed near Bridgend this evening due to a security alert. The Coshquin border crossing has been closed after a white Transit van was hijacked by four masked men on the Coshquin Road in Derry at around 7.30pm this (Sun) evening. The van was found abandoned near Burnfoot. The scene was been

Figures published this week show the Northern Ireland Fire Service crosses the border to help in Donegal and the other border counties far more than the help given in the opposite direction. The figures were published by Health and Public Safety Minister Michael McGimpsey at the request of East Derry MLA John Dallat, who says

A new drop in centre for cancer patients and their families is being officially opened in Letterkenny on Saturday afternoon. The Good and New Centre, at Grand Central on the Canal Road Roundabout, incorporates a second hand shop to raise money for cancer services in Donegal, and a space for people to mingle and talk.

A Nigerian with an address in Letterkenny has pleaded not guilty to child abduction charges when he appeared at Derry Crown Court today. Victor Ibeyo of Riverview in Letterkenny was charged with unlawfully abducting a15-year-old female on a date unknown between May 14 and May 17 last year. When the charge was put to him

The Community Workers Co-operative is welcoming the creation of the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, saying it unifies a number of important issues. For the first time, community, poverty and equality issues will be aligned under one ministry, and that’s something that CWCs nationally have been advocating for many years. Donegal CWC Project

Sinn Féin Councillor Daren Lalor has announced that he is to stand down from Buncrana Town Council. Cllr Lalor, a married father of four young children, who was first elected to the council in June 2004 and reelected last June said that he “remains a proud member of Sinn Féin but wants to pursue a

A male teenager charged with having sex with a 14 year old girl in Donegal has lost a High Court challenge to try stop the trial on grounds of gender discrimination. He’s been charged under the Criminal Law Sexual Offences Act which was hastily passed by the Oireachtas in 2006 after the Supreme Court struck

A 29-year-old man who admitted assaulting two gardai and causing them harm when he was stopped drink-driving has been jailed for 18 months for the offences. Philip Melly, of Caravan Rd, Dungloe, was also given a concurrent three months sentence and banned for six years for drink-driving at Doochary on September 1st, 2008. Donegal Circuit

A new project to promote and develop Marine Tourism in three partner regions is being lauinched today in Donegal Town, The Sail West project brings together partners from Donegal, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It’ll be launched this afternoon by Tanaiste and Education Minister Mary Coughlan. Donegal County Council Director of Services Michael Heany says it’s

Calls are being made to bring Belfasts big wheel to Derry. It was annouced on Tuesday that the Belfast Wheel is to shut down in a matter of weeks. It’s understood the last ride on the wheel in Belfast will be Sunday 11th April. The wheel has been a familiar sight outside Belfast City Hall

Legal drug mephedrone could be banned within weeks, the Northern Ireland Health Committee has been told. At an urgent session tabled by the Committee, a drugs official told members that the issue is being regarded by the government as high priority. The committee chair, Jim Wells, said he was concerned that the legal high wont

The former Financial Director of Anglo Irish Bank has been released from Garda custody without charge. Rathmullan born William McAteer – who was also the Chief Risk Officer at the bank – was arrested at his home in Rathgar in Dublin by officers from the Garda Fraud Bureau at 6.30 yesterday morning. The 59 year

A young man was driving almost naked with his trousers off when he careered across the road and crashed into an oncoming car causing severe injuries to a 69-year-old Derry man and his wife. Later, Donegal Circuit Court heard today, Colm Nibbs celebrated his 30th birthday lying in a hospital bed beside the injured man,

The campaign against ‘head shops’ in Donegal is to escalate with a public protest march to be held next month. The announcement was made at a public meeting  last night with the march scheduled for Saturday April the 3rd in Donegal Town. A number of the so called ‘legal highs’ sold in head shops are

The County Manager has again given a vigorous defence of a decision to employ the services of two experts to develop a new system of work to streamline local government. It follows questions raised in in an audit of the council’s accounts for 2008 which question why the services of the two tenders did not

The new NCT facility in Carndonagh is to expand. From Tuesday April 6th, the centre will be open 5 days a week, and a second mechanic will be employed. This is being welcomed by Senator Cecilia Keaveney, who says it was very disappointing that serious delays began building up immediately after the centre opened, with

There’s no sign of any light at the end of the tunnel for those trying to get a passport at the office on Molesworth Street in Dublin. For the fourth day in a row, hundreds of people gathered from the early hours, hoping to wait out the delays in getting their application processed. Fine Gael

A 23-year-old Strabane man accused of punching a 67-year-old woman in the face at the weekend was remanded in custody at Omagh Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Bryan McShane, of Lisnafin Park, is charged with assaulting the pensioner, on the Melmount Road last Saturday evening. A detective constable told the court that he believed he could

Calls are being made for an all-Ireland market for electricity and water. SDLP Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Tommy Gallagher has asked regulators on both sides of the border to sort out the provision. One of his constituents, who lives close to the Donegal border, was turned down by ESB, as the company cannot connect

Calls are being made for the Minister for Helath to reverse her decision to slash home help hours in Donegal by 78,000 hours. Speaking in the Seanad yesterday evening, Senator Pearse Doherty said that if home help hours are slashed, then it will mean great hardship for many elderly people in Donegal. He says that

The UUP have launched a scathing attack on West Tyrone DUP MLA Tom Buchanan. Mr.Buchanan currently has four jobs; he’s a councillor, a member of the transition committee, a member of the assembly and a member of the policing board. And Secretary of the West Tyrone Young Unionists, Ryan Moses, says that Unionism can be

Visiting has been suspended to Letterkenny General Hospital’s Medical Wards 2 and 3 due to the presence of the winter vomiting bug. Management is advising that, in exceptional circumstances, people should telephone the wards to make arrangements for next-of-kin only. All visitors to other wards in the hospital are asked to wash their hands prior

Two Inishowen men have been have been sentenced to two months detention for their part in an act of cruelty to a sheep last year. 20 Year-old Mark Fair from Fahan and 19 year-old Shaun McLaughlin from Ballinarry, Buncrana pleaded guilty to cruelty charges in court yesterday. The court heard that Fair and McLaughlin were

One month on the police in Derry has re-newed an appeal for information on the murder of Kieran Doherty close to the Donegal border. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Ian Harrison, said the victim, Kieran Doherty, had suffered a horrific death. Kieran Doherty had been in the family home until about 8pm on Wednesday

The Chairperson of Donegal VEC is welcoming the appointment of Mary Coughlan as Minister for Education, saying he believes her appointment will help speed up reform of the system. Cllr David Alcorn says Ms Coughlan has been a major supporter of Finn Valley College in Stranorlar. He says the long standing plan to construct a

The newly formed Donegal Public & Civil Service Workers Alliance holds a public meeting this evening to organise a campaign of action in the county. The Alliance hopes that a coordinating committee will be formed from tonight’s meeting to organise how the alliance develops. At a recent meeting of public sector unions in Letterkenny, it

At least one Catholic secondary school in Derry could close under new plans set out by the Commission for Catholic Education. It is reported that either it could be St Peter’s High School or Immaculate Conception College, both of which have low numbers of pupils. All Catholic post-primary schools in the city are expected to

Better Deals supermarket in Strabane is to close with the loss of 105 jobs, and the owner is claiming that more local businesses will suffer with the closure. The owner of Better Deals, Gary McLaughlin buys all his products from local suppliers, and he claims they could also close. He says he’s spoken to a

A catamaran once used to smuggle half a tonne of cocaine from the Carribean to west Cork in 2007 is en route to Donegal. The vessel has been sold at auction – raising 58 thousand euro for the State. “Lucky Day” was for sale, along with two smaller boats and three jeeps used in the

Tanaiste Mary Coughlan has been made Minister for Education as part of a cabinet reshuffle announced by the Taoiseach this afternoon. Minister Batt O’Keeffe has moved in the opposite direction to the newly named Department of Enterprise Trade and Innovation. Minister Eamon O’Cuiv moves from the Department of Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to the newly

The jury in the rape trial of a Donegal man has been directed to find him not guilty after the judge ruled there was deliberate tampering with the evidence. The man had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to raping his ex-partner in the county on July 1, 2004. Mr Justice Barry White

A Donegal Publican has sued an insurance company for 3 million euro over its alleged failure to pay out under a policy following a blaze which destroyed the bar. The case is due to come before the Commercial Court. Seamus McLaughlin, owner and operator of the Waterfront in Moville claims Aviva Insurance is liable to

NOTE:  SOME CONTENT MAY OFFEND The trial of a Donegal man accused of raping his ex-partner has reached its closing stages at the Central Criminal Court. Earlier the complainant denied under cross-examination that she cut her own knickers with a blade to allege her ex-partner ripped them off while raping her. Mr Brendan Grehan SC,

Communications with HSE services in Donegal are likely to be affected today as a result of continued industrial action this week. IMPACT has confirmed that telephones will not be answered in the HSE West area from 9am until 1pm today. The union has agreed to grant a derogation for switchboards, and for direct line emergency

A 31-year-old forger claimed to be dead after swindling her lover and banks in Donegal out of €26,800. Leading up to her escape from her fiancé before he ran out of cash Diane Connelly first pretended her father died in a plane crash between the US and Canada. Step two meant she told her fiancé

A Fianna Fail Councillor in Donegal says he believes the Community Hospital in Lifford is being subjected to the death of a thousand cuts. There’s been speculation about the future of Lifford Hospital for some time, and Cllr Gerry Crawford says he now believes the HSE plans to close the facility. He’s written to the

The IFA President John Bryan is urging Donegal farmers to put pressure on government TDs to ensure a proper replacement is provided for the REPS scheme. Speaking during his first official visit to the county last night, John Bryan told the Donegal IFA AGM that money was set aside in last year’s budget, but the