Author name: oisinkelly

Concern has been raised in Derry following a rise in burglaries and distraction robberies. It’s understood that there have been a number of such incidents in the Bogside area recently. Foyle MLA Karen Mullan is appealing to residents to be extra vigiliant and report any suspicious activity to the police. She says police are already […]

Two people have been arrested after a planned raid on a premise in Letterkenny overnight. It’s understood that a substantial amount of drugs were uncovered during the raid. The search was conducted by Letterkenny Gardai yesterday evening at a house in the Glenoughty Close area of the town. Gardai say that 7 and a half

A Donegal Deputy says the HSE and Saolta should introduce a Phototherapy service at Letterkenny University Hospital to facilitate people in Donegal who are being treated for psoriasis. Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue was speaking as he reiterated his call for the reinstatement of dermatology clinics at the hospital. The outreach clinic was temporarily suspended in

A Donegal County Councillor has given a cautious welcome to the Housing Minister’s commitment to progress to the next stage of the MICA resolution process. Yesterday Minister Damien English was in Donegal to meet with the MICA Action Group, local elected representatives and homeowners affected by the defective block issue. He committed  himself to implementing

The Donegal County Coroner has said that he will be contacting the council to ask them to review the safety and signage at Tullan Strand, Bundoran following the inquest into the death of a soldier at the beach. The journal.ie reports that Dr Denis McCauley made his remarks at the inquest into the death of

Ireland’s ban on selling alcohol on Good Friday is set to be abolished in time for next Easter. It’s after the Seanad today unanimously passed a bill which would totally remove the current ban on Good Friday alcohol sales. The bill passed only after the Government made amendments to ensure the ban would be scrapped

The Chair of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland says it’s not her job to assess the position of the Garda Commissioner.  Noirin O’Sullivan has been under pressure after a PAC report criticised her delay in telling the State auditors about financial irregularities at Templemore. During a speech at the MacGill Summer

The Housing Minister has today committed to progress to the next stage of the MICA resolution. While not able to commit to a redress scheme Minister Damien English has confirmed that recommendations 1 and 2 of the expert panels report will be implemented before the end of the year. During the meeting with the MICA Action

Animals In Need are urgently appealing to people in Donegal for help to purchase a new van in order to continue vital animal rescue work. Last year they rescued over 700 animals in Donegal, including 410 dogs who came from the Pound or were surrendered by their owners. The charity estimates that the figures for

  An Post has been warned the country’s post office network could face collapse. The warning comes from the Irish Post Masters’ Union after its talks with the company on a new contract broke down. The Union is calling for a better deal from the company, including the right to offer more services. Post Masters

  A special wind turbine noise seminar is taking place in Donegal this week. It’s hoped that during the meeting, wind groups from North and South can co-ordinate and discuss issues in a bid to move forward with their campaign. The seminar is taking place in Jackson’s Hotel, Ballybofey tomorrow at 8.30pm and will be

It’s been confirmed that childcare services in Donegal are to receive more than €300,000 in extra funding. The money will be used to provide new childcare places, maintenance and building work as well as outdoor play areas and is available for immediate draw-down by providers here in Donegal. It’s also been revealed that there are

24 hours on from one of the hottest days of the year – thunderstorms and heavy rain are sweeping across the country. A weather warning’s in place until 9 o’clock tonight and may cause localised flooding in some areas. Temperatures in the region of 20 degrees also mean it will stay humid. Forcaster John Eagleton

  Questions are being asked over the delay in progressing work on a key bridge on Arranmore Island. The bridge at Baile Ard has suffered structural damage over the years with serious safety concerns being raised by residents in the area. It’s understood that the Council has been asked to carry out the repair work

  A Donegal Councillor says the authority needs to appoint a liaison officer to work with landowners when disputes arise over access. Cllr Liam Blaney says he is hopeful the issue of access to the Great Pollett Arch in Fanad can be resolved this summer, with car parking also being provided as part of a

  The Moneymore Road in Magherafelt has been closed due to a serious one-vehicle road traffic collision. Diversions are in place at the roundabouts in Moneymore and Magherafelt.

There’s been a pollution incident at the Inch Wildfowl Reserve in Inishowen. The Inish Times says it was contacted by a person who saw the effluent as they crossed the Iron Bridge at Inch Level. Donegal County Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service are investigating. Dermott Mc Laughlin is Chair of the Wild

Brexit has caused political instability in Northern Ireland, with a House of Lords Committee telling the British government to “raise its game” in talks with devolved regions. A report from the committee says meetings with officials from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland aren’t “being treated with respect or organised efficiently”, and the Brexit process has

Following the  return of the Foyle Ferry service this week, a North Inishowen councillor says planning must begin now for next year. The ferry was to set sail earlier this month but was delayed because a pipe had to be replaced. It’s scheduled to operate until September 17th although there are hopes locally that the date may

The Minister for Finance has claimed that “to be moderate is to be radical”. Paschal Donohoe made the claim as he hit out at left wing parties in the Dáil, in a speech at the MacGill Summer School in Donegal. In an apparent reference to the controversy over the Jobstown verdict, he said some on

What’s been described as a ‘productive’ meeting has taken place to discuss the Market Square in Letterkenny. The meeting, attended by elected representatives, council engineers and local Gardai discussed options to make the landmark more attractive and welcoming to visitors. It follows a significant rise in reports of anti-social activity in the area lately. Cathaoirleach

An Post has been warned the country’s post office network could face collapse. The warning comes from the Irish Post Masters’ Union after its talks with the company on a new contract broke down. The Union is calling for a better deal from the company, including the right to offer more services. Post Masters are

  Police are reissuing an appeal for information following the death of young Donnacadh McGuire in the Bogside of Derry on Tuesday 11th July. Donnacadh was found significantly injured in the road in in Tyrconnell Street at around 10.30am. He was taken to hospital but sadly passed away from his injuries. Inspector Marty Mullan is

  There has been a decrease in the number of people killed on our roads so far this year. 77 people have lost their lives in crashes compared with 87 for the same time in 2016. Out of those 77,  five people have lost their lives in Donegal. But the number of cyclists killed in

The public consultation period for the Donegal County Development Plan has been extended until September 1st, with individuals and groups being invited to make submissions. Donegal County Council is encouraging more members of the public to make submissions to the plan, which will set out a policy framework to guide the way in which Co

The HSE has released figures showing a slight increase in people attending sexual assault centres across the country with alcohol found to be a factor in many cases. The unit in Letterkenny had 46 referrals last year, 44 of them women, and according to the HSE, nearly 59% of those had consumed at least six

A heroic student who rescued an elderly woman from a sinking car in Donegal says he had to dive beneath the water four times. 21-year-old Andrew Johnston saved Loreta McKinly by dragging her out of the vehicle unconscious. She was driving with her husband when their car left the road near Lifford on Saturday. Mr

There were 12 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, according to figures published by the INMO, 10 of them on Emergency Department trolleys. The latest Trolley Watch report shows Limerick University Hospital was the most overcrowded in the country today, with 39 people waiting on in-patient beds. There were 319 patients awaiting

A Foyle MLA has written to Transport NI regarding the closure of the Northland Road from the junction of Great James street to the William Street roundabout for roadworks. Raymond McCartney says the works are due to commence within the next few weeks on what is one of the main thoroughfares in the city. He

Police in Derry are appealing for witnesses after a 60 year old woman was assaulted outside her home in the Newbuildings area on Saturday night last. At approximately 11pm, the woman was outside her Primity Crescent home when she was approached by two males and a female. One of the males asked the woman for

A member of the Public Accounts Committee says its time for Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan to go. A report to be launched today will declare that she failed in her duty to raise concern about financial irregularities at the training college in Templemore. It also accuses Gardaí of internal dysfunction – and an attempt to

The process of setting up a Text Alert scheme in the Ballybofey and Stranorlar area is underway following a meeting last night attended by gardai, Muinter na Tire and local community groups. Cllr Patrick Mc Gowan says it was decided to begin the process immediately, and a door to door campaign to promote the scheme

The Save Our Services group, which campaigns for Lifford, Ramelton and St Joseph’s Community Hospitals, has met with Senior HSE officials to discuss the future of the three facilities. The group was briefed on plans to spend €2.7 million on the Stranorlar Hospital and €1.7 million on the Ramelton unit, complying with HIQA standards. The

Minister Damien English is due to visit Donegal tomorrow to meet with the Mica Action Group, Donegal County Council and elected representatives. Ahead of the visit, Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue hopes the Minister’s visit will mark the start of new approach in dealing with the defective block issue. Deputy McConalogue has reiterated his call for

Renewed searches are getting underway around the crash site of the Irish Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 116. The bodies of winchmen Paul Ormsby and Ciaran Smith have never been recovered. Garda dive teams are joining a Donegal based fishing trawler which has been fitted with specially designed nets to trawl the sea-floor off the Mayo

Ireland has almost 4 thousand “property millionaires” who own homes worth in excess of one million euro. A Wealth Report from the property website Daft.ie says an average of 12 homes worth more than a million are being sold every week in Ireland. It says Sandycove in south Dublin is the priciest area in the

A number of Donegal campaigners met with Minister Shane Ross today in Dublin to discuss the new Road Traffic Bill. Moyagh Murdoch, Chief Executive of the RSA, along with Minister Ross met with 20 campaigners to discuss the new bill which would see stricter penalties imposed. Among the campaigners in attendance today was Mary Clinton,