Author name: oisinkelly

  Leo Varadkar’s plans for the national debt have been undermined by the national budget watchdog. The Fiscal Advisory Council says the current plans for lowering the national debt don’t go far enough – and need to be stepped up. But the warning comes just weeks after the new Fine Gael leader said he wanted

The Donegal Crime Prevention Officer has confirmed that a notorious conman who posed as a Garda operated in Donegal for a time. John ‘Buddy’ O’Brien of Abbeyfeale Co. Limerick has been jailed for 20 months for impersonating a member of the Gardai, theft and driving without insurance. It’s understood that O’Brien presented himself as a

A book of evidence is to be served on a 45-year-old man accused of forcing a girl in her early teens to strip off her clothes in a sex-card game.     Donegal District Court was told today(Tues) that gardai need another month to prepare the book for service on the defendant.      He is also

Speculation is mounting that a new Bishop of Raphoe will be announced this week by Pope Francis. Bishop Philip Boyce tendered his resignation in January 2015, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 75, and this year during confirmation ceremonies, Bishop Boyce clearly indicated he expected it would be his final time carrying out

The Crime Prevention Officer in Donegal has urged people to ensure that they don’t compromise on home security over the summer period. In particular, windows should not be left open unattended and sheds and garages should not be left unlocked. Sergeant Paul Wallace also urged people to be careful about announcing holiday plans on social

A Coroner at the inquest into the death of a 27-year-old Derry man has said that he is dealing with ‘a tidal wave of deaths involving young people and drugs’. Coroner Patrick McGurgan was speaking at the inquest of Steven Coyle, a father-of-two from Duddy’s Court, in Derry who died last year on October 27

Businesses in the North West have until this Friday to submit expressions of interest to take part in a special trade mission leaving for Boston in November. The trip, which runs from November 14th to 17th, offers places for 12 local companies across a range of industries. It’s being led jointly by Donegal County Council

A Donegal Deputy says the Public Expenditure Minister should give Donegal County Council an input into the review of the Capital Plan. The plan, which was published in 2015, sets out a six year timeframe for an extimated €42 billion in infrastructural investment up to 2021. A reivew gets underway shortly, but Deputy Thomas Pringle

More than 120 thousand students will begin their state exams this morning. Nearly 57 thousand Leaving Cert students face English Paper 1 this morning – while it’s English and CSPE on the cards for the 62 thousand Junior Cert students. In Donegal, 2,207 students are registered to sit the Leaving Cert, with 114 sitting the

3N Diagnostics Ltd have confirmed that they are establishing a new subsidiary in the CoLab in Letterkenny. The company, who are currently working on a new test for breast cancer say the move is to ensure they have a base in the EU post Brexit. The CoLab situated on the grounds of Letterkenny Institute of

A man arrested in Limerick overnight in connection with the London Bridge attack has been released without charge. The Moroccan man was arrested under the law that relates to forgeries and fraudulent ID. It’s reported that ID documents were found at the man’s home, which shared the name of Rachid Redouane, one of the London

  Transport Infrastructure Ireland has given the green light for proposed improvement works on the N56 at Mountcharles to Drumbeigh road. The first phase from Turris Hill to Drumbeigh is going to tender by July and tenders to be returned by the end of August. The proposed works will involve the design and construction of

  Tributes have been paid Queen’s University professor Patrick Johnston who died suddenly while out cycling at Pinch Mountain on Sunday. The road near Clonmany was closed for a time on Sunday while Gardai carried out an investigation. It’s understood that he died of natural causes. Professor Johnston’s death has been described as a ‘terrible loss’

  More than a year after Britain voted to leave the EU much uncertainty still surrounds the future of border regions. In particular, businesses have been left in limbo with some Northern Irish companies setting up a second operation across the border in Southern Ireland. Midlands North-West MEP, Marian Harkin, speaking in Brussels says that

There were 16 patients awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, eight of them on Emergency Department trolleys and eight in overflow areas and on wards. According to the INMO, there were a total of 345 patients awaiting admission across the country this morning, with Midlands Regional Hospital in Mullingar reporting 28 patients, the

Retail Excellence Ireland says shopping centre owners and managenment companies need to look at rents, service charges and retail mix. The group which represents retail shops and chains has just published its annual review of the health of shopping centres and retail parks. It concludes that Brexit and sterling fluctuations are creating difficulties in border

Seven community groups in Donegal are to share in almost €278,000 worth of grants. Social enterprise groups in Malin Head, Carndonagh, Termon, Lifford, Killybegs, Pettigo and Drimarone are to receive funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. The announced funding is the second largest allocation per county in the country. Under the funding package announced today, the

The M1 motorway is closed in the northbound direction between junctions 13 and 14, the turnoff for Ardee and the North West. The collision involved a car and articulated truck. The driver of the car, a man in his late 30s was seriously injured and removed to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda where he

The newly elected Mayor of Derry and Strabane has said he believes Brexit is the greatest challenge facing the district and the region. Cllr Maoilísa Mc Hugh says already, strong links have been forged with neighbours in the Donegal council area, and he will continue to encourage and support the development of these strong bonds.

The Carndonagh Community Hospital Liaison Group has confirmed that respite care will be reinstated at the hospital on a phased basis. Although welcoming the news, the group has expressed their disappointment that the temporary suspension was imposed in the first instance. The group is now seeking a commitment from the HSE that a major capital

Donegal Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher is urging Irish Water to fast track the improvement of the water supply in Fintown. The call comes after a Boil Water notice was issued on the Fintown Public Water Supply and Meenmore-Meenatinney group water scheme following the detection of crytosporidium in the water. Irish Water announced earlier this

The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service have issued a fire safety warning after a car which caught fire in Strabane on Saturday contained fire arms. The incident occurred in a supermarket car park in the town after an electrical fault caused the car to catch fire. Whilst tackling the blaze, firefighters discovered two legally

Two people have appeared at Derry Magistrates Court today in connection with a stabbing incident in the Dungiven Road area of Derry on Friday last. James Moore aged 32 of Moss Park, Derry was charged with assaulting a man occasioning actual bodily harm on June 2nd. Laura Stepp also 32 of Clooney Terrace, Derry is

An emergency meeting over the recent spate of break-ins and thefts in Carndonagh is taking place tomorrow. The meeting between public representatives and local Gardai has been called to explore preventative measures in response to the number of attacks on business premises in the town. Last week it was revealed that Gardai have apprehended a

Irish Water are currently working to repair a burst water main in the Letterkenny area. Homes and businesses in the town have been affected today by supply disruptions. Irish Water have advised that Beechwood Park, Ard O’Donnell, Main Street and surrounding areas are the main areas affected. Work was due to be completed at 2pm

Pressure has been put on Justice Minister, Frances Fitzgerald to establish an Independent Intelligence Service in the wake of the recent terror attacks in England. A former Donegal Garda Sergeant is calling on the Minister to establish a service to protect the island from both internal and international terrorist threats. Retired Garda Sergeant, Christy Galligan

Two people are due to appear at Derry Magistrates Court tomorrow morning charged in connection with a stabbing incident in the city on Friday night. A man and woman both 32 were arrested following a report that a man in his 40s was stabbed a number of times to the back of the head at