Author name: oisinkelly

There have been record levels of overcrowding in our hospitals in the first six months of the year. More than 51-thousand patients were left on trolleys or admitted to overcrowded wards between January and June. The figures from medical union, the INMO, show that University Hospital Limerick was the worst affected last month with 640 […]

A Donegal Deputy says the delay in the roll out of the National Broadband Plan is shocking. Recently Minister Denis Naughten said he doesn’t expect any more developments with the scheme over the next 18 months. It’s believed up to half a million homes in rural Ireland are unable to connect to high speed broadbad,

The Northern Ireland secretary will announce the UK government’s next move later, after failure to restore power-sharing at Stormont. James Brokenshire had already extended the talks process until today, but Sinn Féin and the DUP have failed to reach agreement Options include setting another deadline, calling assembly elections, or imposing direct rule. Belfast Security Correspondent,

A protest will be held this evening outside City Hall in Dublin opposing the new planned bin charges system. Under the changes, households will pay by weight or by lift instead of a flat fee. The charges were due to come into force yesterday but have now been delayed until September. Right2Water Donegal Activist Owen

A security alert in Derry last evening has been described as an elaborate hoax. Police attended the scene in the Glengalliagh Road area of Derry following reports of a suspicious object. The investigation is ongoing and the PSNI are appealing to anyone who may have any information to contact them on the non-emergency number 101.

The UK’s pulling out of an agreement that allows Ireland to fish in British waters. Withdrawal from the London Fisheries Convention, which was signed in 1964 before the UK joined the EU, will take two years. Under the deal, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands can fish within 6 and 12 nautical miles of

Police in Derry are appealing for witnesses following a report of an explosion in the Ballymagroarty area of the city. At approximately 6am this morning a number of aerosol cans were ignited at a property causing an explosion. The Northern Ireland Fire Service attended the address and extinguished the fire. Damage was caused to the

Negotiations ahead of tomorrows deadline on power sharing in Northern Ireland appear to be as wide apart as ever. Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams says the DUP are showing “no urgency or no real inclination” to address rights-based issues. He says they’re prepared to negotiate with Arlene Foster’s party – but doesn’t think they’re ready

The Taoiseach’s been praised for appointing an envoy to the US Congress to work on the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. Waterford Deputy John Deasy is taking up the role and will work with the Embassy in Washington DC under the leadership of the Irish Ambassdor to the US. This is

The National Lottery has confirmed that last night’s winning ticket was sold in Ramelton. Whoriskey’s EuroSpar Store sold the winning €500,000 EuroMillions Plus ticket yesterday. The winning numbers were 16, 17, 43, 47, 49. Proprietor of Whoriskey’s EuroSpar, John Whoriskey said; “This is unbelievable. Ramelton is a small town just outside Letterkenny so you can

A new hourly train service from Derry to Belfast will be of huge benefit to the Donegal economy. Thats according to Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney who was speaking after Translink NI announced details of the new timetable which begins this coming Monday. McCartney says the service will open up the whole tourist product for Donegal

The British Prime Minister has spoken by phone overnight, with the leaders of the DUP and Sinn Fein in a bid to boost power-sharing talks at Stormont. Theresa May assured the DUP’s Arlene Foster about the UK Government’s priority to restore devolved Government as soon as possible. In a separate call, Mrs May spoke to

A Donegal man described by police as ‘a significant member of an organised crime gang’ involved in the importation of drugs into the North has appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court. 25 year old Blaine Curtis of Drumitoland, St Johnston faced a total of five charges, relating to dates in August last year and June 20

Work has begun on replacing a key footpath in West Donegal following a local campaign highlighting serious health and safety concerns. The footpath, which had been situated outside Loch an Luir school, was removed last year due to road works being carried out and had not been replaced. Since then, residents participated in protests while

Police in the North have discovered a body of a male at Magilligan Point, Co Derry. Police were conducting a search for missing west Belfast man Gerard Stevenson this morning when the body was located. A formal identification and post mortem examination will take place in due course however, at this time police are not

Calls have been made to Tusla to immediately formally and publicly clarify their position on the closure of Letterkenny’s Knocknamona residential unit. Trade Union IMPACT say they have correspondence dating back to the closure of the centre in May 2016 when the Child and Family Agency confirmed their intention to reopen the facility. Reports suggest

The number of drink driving detections in Donegal has risen by a staggering 24% in the first six months of 2017. There were 227 drink driving instances recorded in the first half of 2017 compared with 173 in the same period last year – a rise of 54. Nationally there were over 1000 more detections

Six year prison sentence for 18 year old who killed Derry man on night out An 18 year old Derry man has today been sentenced to 6 years in prison, 3 of which will be served on licence, for killing Gerard Quinn and injuring his twin brother following an altercation in the city last year.

The family of Denis Donaldson has called on the Police Ombudsman to take legal action against Gardai to gain full access to a journal seized from his home after his murder in 2006. BBC News reports that the family claim a journal seized by Gardaí from Donaldson’s home has “significant investigative value”. Denis Donaldson was

  There were 20 people waiting for a bed at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the INMO. The latest trolley watch report has revealed that two people were waiting on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 18 were waiting on wards. University Hospital Limerick was the most overcrowded today with 34

Sources close to the DUP and Sinn Féin negotiating teams suggest they’re no closer to restoring power-sharing in Northern Ireland. They’re apparently not convinced they can reach a deal before Monday’s revised deadline. The political crisis could mean a return to direct rule from Westminster for citizens in the north or another round of elections.

  Councillors in Inishowen are to put forward motion at the next sitting of Donegal County Council to insist on a redress scheme for those affected by the defective block issue in the county. This is despite the Government’s lack of commitment on the issue. In the Dail yesterday, Deputy Charlie McConalogue called on the

  Hundreds of people turned out for the official opening of the Sinn Fein offices in Letterkenny last evening. The Eddie Fullerton/Bobby Sands centre was initially meant to be opened by Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams however due to on-going discussions at Stormont he could not attend. The centre located on the High Road in

A Donegal Deputy is calling on the Tanaiste to seek a response from the Health Minister following an announcement that 1 in 5 women in Donegal are waiting over a year to be seen at the symptomatic breast cancer clinic. Earlier this week, Deputy Pearse Doherty revealed that 143 patients referred to the clinic by