Author name: oisinkelly

  The Taoiseach will make a formal state apology to Mother and Baby Home survivors in the Dáil later. It follows yesterday’s publication of the long-awaited Commission of Investigation report, which found an “appalling” level of infant mortality among the children born there. 9,000 died in the 18 institutions examined between the 1920s and 1990s.

  A body has been recovered from the River Foyle near St. Johnston. The alarm was raised yesterday afternoon after the body was observed in the river by a kayaker. At around 3pm, a multi-agency recovery operation was launched, involving the Rescue 118 helicopter, An Garda Siochana and Community Rescue. In a statement Foyle Search

  The Irish Second-Level Students Union is calling for the standard Leaving and Junior certs to be scrapped this year. It has written to Education Minister Norma Foley, calling for an alternative format for 2021. Schools are closed until at least January 31st – but the Minister says she intends to run the exams as

  50 new jobs are to be created by Home Instead in Donegal. The home care provider is adding new caregivers to its team across the county. Home Instead say the 50 new jobs come at a time of increased activity within the home care sector, with factors such as the ongoing winter, continuing challenges

The reproduction number for Covid-19 has dropped from 1.8 to 1.1 in Northern Ireland. First Minister Arlene Foster says the decrease has been recorded over the past few weeks, after rising over the Christmas period. The R number measures the infection rate of coronavirus. A total of 1,205 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in

The Taoiseach says the Mother and Baby Homes report highlights a “dark, difficult and shameful” chapter in Ireland’s history. The Commission of Investigation has found 9 thousand children died in the 18 institutions examined, including The Castle, Newtowncunningham and The Stranorlar County Home – around 15% of all those born. 56,000 unmarried mothers – ranging

There has been an additional 46 Covid-19 deaths – the highest number since late April. 2 of the deaths occurred in December, with the remainder recorded this month. 3,086 new cases of the disease have been recorded, 81 in Donegal. 1,692 patients are in hospital, while a record 158 people are in intensive care. The

There have been a further 22 covid related deaths in the North and 1,205 positive cases confirmed in the past 24 hours 55 people are in ICU, 38 of whom are on ventilators. There are 751 patients with coronavirus being treated in hospital in Northern Ireland. Meanwhile, there are currently 149 active Care Home outbreaks.

A motorist has tested positive for cocaine in Convoy after failing a Garda roadside drug test.  Gardaí from the Letterkenny Roads policing Unit were conducting an ‘Operation Fanacht’ patrol in the area yesterday evening when they observed a vehicle take evasive action. They stopped said vehicle and the driver tested positive for the presence of

  Further meetings will be held today in an effort to ensure schools can reopen safely on February 1st. It comes as students and parents across the country deal with home schooling during the latest lockdown. The INTO says the school inspectorate will be engaging with schools on a weekly basis. The Union’s General Secretary,

  Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating an incident of criminal damage at a local business over the weekend. A window was broken at ‘Bookmark’ at Letterkenny Shopping Centre at around 6am on Sunday morning last. No entry was gained to the premises. Any witnesses or anyone with information is being urged to contact Letterkenny Garda

  Gardai have confirmed that a fire at a solicitor’s office in Dungloe last week was started deliberately. The fire broke out at the premises in Dungloe Business Park in the early hours of Thursday morning January 2nd. There were no injuries reported and an investigation is ongoing. Gardai are continuing to appeal to anyone

    Northern Ireland Ministers are to receive an update on the situation involving hospitals there – when it meets later. It comes after the First Minister denied suggestions the pressure facing hospitals is a result of restrictions being relaxed for Christmas. Arlene Foster warned that the UK’s NHS will not benefit from falling case

  13,877 people in Donegal will receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment today. Just over €118 million will be paid to 398, 206 people in receipt of PUP across the country today. There’s been a 16% increase in the number of people in Donegal due to receive the Pandemic Unemployment Payment today, compared to last week.

A drunk driver has been apprehended by police in Strabane. Officers were conducting a vehicle checkpoint in the area on Sunday in support of the Health Protection Regulations came across a suspected drunk driver. As a result a 65 year old man has been charged to appear at Strabane Magistrates Court on January 28th. Police

Daniel O’Donnell is warning of a fake Facebook page that’s attempting to contact his fans. The country singer says that a page impersonating him is operating under the name Daniel-Francis O’Donnell Music. Some fans say they had been contacted from the fake page in recent weeks and asked to send an email to a certain

4,929 covid cases have been confirmed and 8 additional deaths. 157 of the cases are in Donegal. The 14 day incidence rate in the county is now 1493.8 per 100,000 people. As of this afternoon, 1582 patients are in hospital with 146 in ICU.

People who breach Covid-19 travel restrictions for non-essential purposes will be fined €100 from today. It’ll be issued by Gardaí to anyone who refuses a request to turn back. The fixed charge penalty notice will arrive in the post and a person will have 28 days to pay it. Gardaí say it’ll also no longer

A man has been arrested following the seizure of cannabis herb in the Ballintra area. The Donegal Town District Drugs Unit stopped and searched two vehicles in Ballintra acting suspiciously at around 7pm yesterday evening. During a search a large amount of cannabis herb was located and other items associated with the supply of drugs

759 people tested positive for Coronavirus in the North in the last 24 hours. There have been an additional 16 Covid related deaths. Over 700 patients are being treated for the coronavirus in hospital in Northern Ireland, while there are 52 patients in ICU. The North’s hospital network came under intense pressure at the weekend,

Rapid Action Packaging in Gaoth Dobhair has been acquired by US company ProAmpac Holdings. ProAmpac, today confirmed the acquisition from Ludgate Investments. The acquisition of RAP by ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging represents a significant expansion opportunity for the company. RAP, an Údarás na Gaeltachta client company which employs 200 people in Gaoth

  Detectives in Derry are appealing for information about the report of a vehicle hijacking in the Cornshell Fields area of the city last night. A report was made to police at 9:30pm that a silver-coloured Mitsubishi Outlander on Ballyarnett Road was hijacked by four masked men. The vehicle was later found burnt out in

  The security alert in the Racecourse Road area of Derry has ended. Police and ATO examined a suspicious object, which was discovered in the area at around 2am this morning and have declared it an elaborate hoax. The object has been taken away for further examination and officers would ask anyone who noticed any