Author name: oisinkelly

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Wednesday 13th December

Two Donegal men stopped by police in Belfast city centre in possession of more than an estimated half a million pounds worth of cocaine and herbal cannabis were sentenced at Laganside Crown Court today. Dominic Porter, aged 32, from Lifford, Co Donegal and Conrad Clarke, aged 29, from St Johnston, Co Donegal both received a

As 30 people await admission to Letterkenny University Hospital today, a Donegal Deputy has called on the Government, once again to approve a funding request to reopen the short-stay ward at the hospital. Deputy Charlie McConalogue is urging the Taoiseach to intervene and work in conjunction with Minister Simon Harris and the HSE to enable

A Donegal man has been commended by Minister Shane Ross for his commitment and dedication to save lives on the roads. Richard Alcorn was today awarded the Road Safety Authority’s ‘Education – Community Award’ at the RSA’s 10th annual ‘Leading Lights in Road Safety’ Awards at Croke Park. Richard was involved in a serious road

Councillor Paul Canning has proposed a number of changes be made to the Draft County Development Plan 2018-2024. He is calling for more land be included in the settlement framework to allow future development of social housing. The proposed areas include; Muff, Raphoe, Carrigans, Bunbeg and Manorcunningham. Councillor Canning says the infrastructure in these areas

It is estimated that the cost of restoring Swan Park in Buncrana is in the region of €2 million. Work is needed to reconstruct the bridge, walkways and walls in the park after it was destroyed during the flooding on August 22nd. Senator Padraig MacLochalinn is now calling for a meeting with Minister Michael Ring

The European Parliament’s given its backing to moving on to the next phase of Brexit talks. But it says the UK must “fully and faithfully” turn last week’s hard-fought divorce deal into a final exit treaty. MEPs added an amendment accusing the UK Brexit secretary David Davis of trying to undermine good faith between negotiation

Two women aged 43 and 50, and a 47 year old man, arrested under the Terrorism Act in Strabane yesterday by Detectives in connection with ongoing investigations into violent dissident republican activity have been released unconditionally. The 50 year woman was also arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm during yesterday’s operation, and for

There were 30 people awaiting in-patient admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, nine more than yesterday. of those, six of whom were waiting in the hospital’s Emergency Department. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, there were 540 people awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning, 59 of them in Limerick.

There are calls for Killybegs Community Hospital to be protected as discussions on the Draft County Development Plan continue. Councillor Niamh Kennedy put forward a motion today proposing the upgrade of the Community Hospital be included in plans due to go to public consultation. Councillor Kennedy says this Hospital is vital for the area and

Letterkenny Chamber’s new president is Leonard Watson, who has operated a menswear business on the Main Street for the past five years. Mr Watson took the chain from outgoing president Gerard Mc Cormick at the Chamber’s AGM last night. He says he wants to continue building relationships with chambers and other organisations across the North

Cockhill Celtic Football Club is to receive €189,200 in funding to repair damage caused to the club in August’s flood, Minister Joe McHugh has announced. It follows discussions between the Minister and Ministers Shane Ross and Brendan Griffin to secure €139,200 in Government funding, with an extra €50,000 coming from the FAI. This represents the

The Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation has welcomed the outcome of the Council of Fisheries Ministers, which finished early this morning, as generally positive but stated it again underlines the imperative to have fisheries and the wider trade inextricably linked in the phase two Brexit negotiations. The KFO says after protracted negotiations, a favourable result was achieved

A Donegal Deputy says hill farmers affected by gorse fires should not be unfairly penalised. Many hill farmers across the county had land destroyed when the fires hit in May. These farmers’ payments have been withheld with some receiving summary fines on their Single Farm Payment as a result of their land being burned outside

€25 million has been sanctioned for three phases of the N56 due to commence next year. It was previiously announced that work would begin next year on the Coolboy to Kilmacrennan Road, the Kilkenny to Letterlilly Road, and the Mountcharles to Drumbeigh Road. Minister Joe McHugh says the works are vital for Donegal’s infrastructure…….  

Works are due to commence today on the back of Muckish road which will see €90,000 invested in upgrading this stretch of road. The work being undertaken by Donegal County Council will include upgrades to drainage works on the route and resurfacing works at the Glassan junction. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnaill has welcomed what he has

  Over 1900 patients in the past year have been added to outpatient waiting lists at Letterkenny University Hospital. Figures obtained from the National Treatment Purchase Fund by Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty show that there are now over 14,000 patients on the outpatient waiting list, an increase of 15% on last years figure. It has

A murder suspect wanted in Northern Ireland has been arrested after he was extradited from the Republic. The PSNI says the 41-year-old was held in Armagh earlier over the death of prison officer David Black. He’s appeared before Armagh Magistrates Court and been remanded in custody until next month.

Three people have been arrested in Strabane today by detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit. Searches were carried out today at a number of properties in the town in connection with ongoing investigations into violent dissident republican activity. The PSNI’s Detective Heaton says a number of items including cash, suspected counterfeit goods and firearms

The Government has announced over €130,000 in funding to the Red Cross in Donegal to replace ambulances lost during flash flooding that hit the Inishowen Peninsula in August. The Red Cross headquarters in Muff were badly damaged with the loss of equipment and vehicles. Government Chief Whip, Minister Joe McHugh has welcomed this evening’s announcement

Main Evening News Sport and Obituaries Tuesday 12th December

A reward for information has been offered after two masked men broke into The Coach House, Donegal Town. It is believed that at approximately 3:05am this morning the men entered the premises, making off with a substantial amount of cash and stock. Anyone with information is asked to contact Gardai in Donegal Town.

An East Derry MLA is calling for harmonisation of postal charges across the island of Ireland. John Dallat says the differential in postal charges is ‘astronomical’, because the Royal Mail treats the Republic as a foreign country and imposes international charges for cards, letters and parcels. He says a card can be sent from Coleraine

Strabane-based Fabplus is planning to more than double its workforce and turnover with support from Invest Northern Ireland, as part of a £7 million investment. The investment is part of a three year expansion plan to increase the firms market share in the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain, and gain a foothold in mainland

The latest Western Development Commission report has revealed that 68% of residents in Donegal work within the county, an increase of over 2000 compared to 2011. An analysis of figures from Census 2016 show that 6% of residents work across the border. While 97% of employees in Donegal are resident in the county. Deirdre Frost,

Gardai in Letterkenny have today arrested a driver after testing positive for cannabis. The motorist also failed to have a driving licence or insurance. Meanwhile, Letterkenny Traffic Corp yesterday seized a motorised bike after the operator was discovered with no helmet, insurance or licence.

A 27-year-old man faces trial on five sex-linked offences, including the exploitation of a child . A book of evidence was served on the man today at Dungloe District Court. The man, who cannot be named is accused of exploiting a child, a girl whose age wasn’t given in court, on December 29 and 30,

  There were 23 people awaiting in-patient admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, nine more than yesterday. of those, 10 were waiting in the hospital’s Emergency Department. According to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, there were 479 people awaiting admission at hospitals across the country this morning, 61 of them in Limerick.

An assessment of Donegal County Council’s environmental performance last year shows that when all areas are examined, the authority reached reached ‘target’ level. Thje EPA says this indicates good performance generally, and is considered to represent the standard to be reached. However, the council was below the national average assessment reached for last year which

Gaeltacht Minister Joe Mc Hugh has issued a comprehensive response to claims that contrary to his assertion that money had been sanctioned for a new ferry to serve Tory Island and a new breakwater for Magheraroarty Pier, there’s no money on the table for either project. Deputy Pearse Doherty says he’s been told by Minister

Fianna Fail’s marine Spokesperson is calling on Minister Michael Creed to ensure that EU commission quota cut proposals do not succeed at this year’s council of fisheries ministers meeting. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says it is essential to the fishing industry that proposed cuts for certain key stocks are reversed, with a potential loss

It has been claimed that contrary to a previous announcement, no funding is available from Central Government to commission a new ferry for Tory Island. Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed to him there is no funding on the table for a new vessel. In September,

An RTE Investigates programme has revealed that over 50% of dangerous driving cases in part of South Donegal were struck out in court last year. The RTE Investigates – Law and Disorder programme broadcast last evening showed that nationally, 48% of drink driving offence cases resulted in a conviction before the District Court in 2016.

The overall cost of flood repair work carried out to date across the Derry City and Strabane District Council area stands at £2.5million, with the total cost estimated to reach £11 million. More than 200 roads in the North were closed or impacted as a result of the flash flooding that hit the North West

Main Evening News, Sport and Obituaries Monday 11th December

Detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch are continuing to appeal for information about Donegal woman Lu Na McKinney who died during a boating holiday with her family in Fermanagh this year. Mrs McKinney’s husband, 41 year old, Stephen McKinney with an address at Flax Fields, Convoy has been charged with