Author name: oisinkelly

    An inspection crackdown has resulted in 28% of Donegal farmers inspected losing money under the basic payment scheme. Figures from the Department of Agriculture show that nationally, almost 60% of farmers inspected fell foul of one or more cross-compliance rules in 2016. More than half of those farmers were forced to pay a […]

Services from Pieta House North West are to be expanded from next week. The centre, at the Grand Central Building on Canal Road in Letterkenny will be officially launched tomorrow. Since opening its doors to clients on May 15th of this year, Pieta House North West has worked with 117 clients from all areas of

An 18 year old male arrested by Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the death of Jordan McConomy in Derry during the early hours of Sunday last has been released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service. Detectives had been granted an additional 36 hours to question him. 19 year old Jordan McConomy from Rossnagalliagh

  The partner of a Garda whistleblower says she was suspicious when social services contacted her soon after she withdrew a Garda statement. Marissa Simms is giving evidence to the Disclosure’s Tribunal about her partner Garda Keith Harrison. The Tribunal is looking into contacts made between Tusla and gardai about him. Marissa Simms says gardai

  Anti-abortion campaigner and former Election Candidate Tim Jackson has ended his ten day protest outside Government buildings. His goal was to get the Oireachtas Abortion committee and the Taoiseach to watch an abortion video which he has selected before any further discussion or deliberation on a possible referendum. However it’s understood that the Committee

  A woman in her 20s was knocked down in Letterkenny this morning. The incident happened at approximately 9am on the Pearse Road area of the town. Gardai in Letterkenny say that the woman was taken to Letterkenny University Hospital as a precaution and did not sustain any serious injuries.

Donegal Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn is claiming that three months after the publication of the Mica Expert Panel’s report, there has been no movement on a redress scheme, despite the recommendations of the group. In the Seanad this morning, Minister Damien English took questions from Senators Mac Lochlainn and Rise Conway Walshe. However, Senator Mac

The partner of a garda whistleblower has told the Disclosures’ Tribunal she was asked intrusive and irrelevant questions when interviewed by gardai. Marissa Simms gave a statement about Garda Keith Harrison’s behaviour at Letterkenny Garda Station in October 2013. She’s told the Tribunal she made the statement during an ‘extremely bad’ time in their relationship.

Anti-abortion campaigner and former Election Candidate Tim Jackson says he will review his ongoing protest fast later today, ten days after he began refusing food. He wants the Oireachtas Abortion committee and the Taoiseach to watch a video of an abortion which he has selected before any further discussion or deliberation on a possible referendum.

A number of key roads in the North West have been included in the Government’s draft National Planning Framework 2040. Government Chief Whip Minister Joe Mc Hugh says the document, which goes out to public consultation today, commits the government to improving the Letterkenny Lifford Road and the A5, as well as the Letterkenny Derry

A Donegal Deputy has raised serious concerns about the gap between the minimum wage and the living wage, particularly in the public sector. The minimum wage is currently set at €9.25 an hour, although that is to go up by 30 cent to €9.55 in January following a recommendation by the Low Pay Commission. Even

  The partner of a garda whistleblower is due to give evidence before the Disclosure’s Tribunal this morning. This section of the Tribunal is focused on garda whistleblower Keith Harrison, and communications about him between TUSLA and gardai. So far this week the Disclosure’s Tribunal has been focusing on a statement given by the partner

Two DUP politicians in Derry say they had to leave a public meeting in the city last night after they became fearful for their safety. MLA Gary Middleton and Cllr Hilary Mc Clintock were attending a meeting hosted by the Western Health Trust at the Verbal Arts Centre in the city to discuss proposed spending

Donegal County Council has been asked to make an application to government for funding to deal with all bridges in Donegal that need to be upgraded. Cllr. Ian Mc Garvey says there are many bridges across the county that are currently incapable of dealing with traffic levels. He has described the situation as a county wide issue

A Donegal Senator is highlighting the fact that there is still no redress scheme for families in Counties Donegal and Mayo affected by defective concrete blocks in their homes. That’s despite the fact that the the Mica Expert Group report published in July recommended a scheme be put in place. Senator Padraig Mac Lochlainn wil

  A Garda Sergeant has told the Disclosures Tribunal she found a letter sent to the Children’s Minister about her – ‘disturbing’. She says the letter alleges that gardai coerced the partner of a garda whistleblower to make a statement against him.   This section of the Tribunal is focused on garda whistleblower Keith Harrison.

  The news that a new ferry has been sanctioned for Tory Island has been welcomed – but there are still concerns over what vessel will be used until the new ferry comes on line. People on the island were furious to learn that a 40 year-old ferry was being brought in on the crossing

  There has been a welcome to news today that funding has been approved for the installation of variable speed limit signs at a number of Donegal national schools. Among the schools to get the safety measure is Magherabeg which was the scene this morning of a protest by parents concerned with the speed of

  There were 19 people awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, eight of them on trolleys in the Emergency Department. That’s a drop of 13 on the number awaiting in-patient beds yesterday Latest INMO figures show that nationally, there were 494 people awaiting admission at hospitals around the country this morning, the highert

A garda sergeant has denied it was ‘exceptional’ to interview a garda whistleblower’s partner for 8 and a half hours. Sgt Brigid McGowan was speaking at the Disclosure’s Tribunal – which is currently focusing on garda whistleblower Keith Harrison. Sgt Brigid McGowan was present in October 2013 when a Marissa Simms gave a statement about

  Funding has been approved by Transport Infrastructure Ireland on Friday last for the purchase and installation of periodic speed limit signs at a number of national schools in Donegal, including Magherabeg National School, the scene of a parents’ protest this morning. The signs will display the reduced statutory speed limit along the relevant stretch of

A Parents protest has taken place outside Magherabeg National School close to Manorcunningham on the Letterkenny to Derry Road. The issue had been raised yesterday evening at a meeting of Donegal County Council, with Cllr Paul Canning hitting out at Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the failure to implement safety measures. Catherine Gaffney attended this morning’s

  The Kainos Group is to employ an extra 15 people at its Strand Road base in Derry, bringing the company’s total staff there to 42. The company provides digital services and platforms, with the new recruits working on advising clients about implementing the “Workday” financial and HR software system. A recruitment day will take

A new ferry has been sanctioned for Tory Island. It comes after concern was raised last week about the vessel which is scheduled to service the island when a new contract comes into effect next April.. Now, Gaeltacht and Islands Minister Joe McHugh has confirmed that €4 million has been set aside for a purpose-built

Donegal County Council has approved improvement works to be carried out at an accident blackspot in South West Donegal. The works will take place in the in the townlands of Monargan Glebe and Lurganboy on the L-2863 Inver Road, just outside Ardara. It’s expected that funding for the upgraded works will be discussed at the

A motion is to be put before the Dail today calling for the full delivery of services and supports to assist those affected by the devastating Inishowen floods. The motion will also challenge the Government on the perceived delay in issuing humanitarian assistance to affected households, small businesses, sporting and voluntary organisations. The delay in initiating

Questions are being asked of the TII over a lack of traffic calming safety measures implemented outside schools in Donegal. There is particular concern over schools situated close to National Primary Roads and while the TII has committed to the work it has not yet commenced. Parents are due to hold a protest outside Maherabeg

Donegal County Councillors have voted to maintain the current rate of the Local Property Tax. Members had been asked to consider varying the rate for 2018 by up to 15%, but as in years previous the majority voted to maintain its current format. A public consultation process on the LPT earlier this year resulted in

Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the death of 19 year old Jordan McConomy in Derry during the early hours of yesterday morning have been granted an additional 36 hours to question an 18 year old male. The 19 year old from Rossnagalliagh was seriously injured following an altercation in the William Street area of

Buncrana has been awarded the regional Tidy Towns Local Authority Pollinator Award for the North West & West Region in the Large Town Category. The pollinator project aims to promote biodiversity and the crucial role bees play in the pollination of plants, trees and vegetables. In a bid for the award the community in Buncrana

€431,000 of funding has been announced for community groups in Donegal. The funding is part of a national €6.35m equipment fund to enable local clubs purchase valuable equipment to support their work with young people. Local youth clubs in the county are advised to apply directly to the Donegal ETB to avail of the funding.

A new Prior has been announced for Lough Derg. In the 2017 clerical changes for the Diocese of Clogher, the Diocesan Administrator, Monsignor Joseph McGuinness has announced the appointment of Fr Laurence (La) Flynn as the new Prior of Lough Derg and Parish Administrator of Pettigo. Fr Owen J McEneaney will now move to Tullycorbet

A rescue operation is currently underway at Slieve League. It is believed that a member of the public has been injured. The Coastguard has confirmed that the Sligo based 118 helicopter is in attendance. No further details are known at this stage.  

A Donegal Garda Inspector has denied forcing a witness to make a statement against her partner, Garda whistelblower, Keith Harrison. As the Charleton Tribunal continues, Inspector Goretti Sheridan faced cross-examination today. In a statement made by Keith Harrsion’s partner, Marisa Simms on 6th October 2013, she outlined her relationship with the Garda whistleblower. The statement

Cllr. John Seamus O’Fearraigh has been nominated as a member of the board of Udaras na Gaeltachta after much drama within the Council chamber. Cllr. O’Fearraigh won the Council vote by just one – 12 votes to 11 with Cllr Seamus O’Domhnaill losing out. The nomination has led to Fianna Fail Councillors calling for a

An East Derry MLA is calling for action to prevent the use of illegal fireworks in Limavady, saying that lives are being made a living hell for families with young children, and those who are profiting from selling these illegal and highly dangerous items need to be reported to the police and the local council.