Author name: oisinkelly

  Deputy Thomas Pringle has criticised the Government’s failure to ratify the UN Convention which would see the passing of legislation protecting the rights of people with disabilities. During Leaders’ Questions in Dail, Deputy Pringle read out an excerpt of a letter written to the Taoiseach over 6 months ago by local Donegal disability activist […]

An Irish missionary nun, originally from Donegal, has been named among this year’s recipients of the Presidential Distinguished Service Awards. Sr Mary Sweeney, a Sister of St Joseph of Cluny and a native of Dungloe, will receive the award today for her role in coordinating a response to the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone. The

A thug who pushed a small 84-year-old woman off the footpath so that she ended up on her back on the road with shoulder and knee injuries has been jailed for 10 months. He was also jailed for assaulting a middle-aged woman and a male tourism coach-driver on another night. Donegal District Court was told

  None of the recent batch of newly qualified recruits released from the Templemore Garda Training College were posted to Donegal. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher says he was shocked to learn this especially in the context of recent figures which showed a 21% decline in Garda numbers within the county since 2009. Deputy Gallagher

Reports investigating former soldiers involved with Bloody Sunday have been sent to prosecutors. A murder probe into the deaths of 14 civil rights demonstrators shot in Derry 44 years ago- was triggered after a public inquiry found their killings were unjustified. An investigation was launched in 2012 after a UK government commissioned inquiry found none

Two sitting Sinn Féin TDs have sensationally stated in the Dáil they were not involved in the 1983 killing of prison officer Brian Stack. Dessie Ellis and Martin Ferris made the short statements after being named under privilege by a Fine Gael TD. It came after Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams accused Brian Stack’s son

Clarification is being sought from Management at Letterkenny University Hospital over the failure to advertise a vacant senior position in the Oncology Department. It is understood a senior member of staff left two months ago but has not been replaced. The issue has been raised by Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn who says this will inevitably

The search has continued today for a missing man near Rathmullen. 73 year old Jim Boyle also known as Philemy was last seen 3 to 4 weeks ago near his home at Oughterlin. Yesterday the search by Donegal Mountain Rescue and Mulroy Coastguard was stood down in the early afternoon due to the adverse weather

A senior Garda has expressed his dismay at the increase in the number of drink/drug driving cases in Donegal. It’s understood that in the last few months the number of arrests involving both drink and drug use behind the wheel have risen dramatically – particularly in the Letterkenny area. As part of the Garda Annual

  There were 25 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning according to the latest figures from the INMO – the same figure as yesterday.  11 people were waiting on trolleys in the Emergency Department while a further 14 were on wards or in overflow areas. South Tipperary General Hospital is the most

Festivals and Events in Donegal can now apply for funding under Fáilte Ireland’s 2017 Regional Festivals and Participative Events Programme. Last year, the initiative saw 205 events across the country supported to the value of over €690k. Applications opened this week with the deadline at 12.00 noon on Monday 16th January. Fáilte Ireland’s Head of

It’s hoped that work on phase two of the Blackburn Bridge project – one of Donegal’s most infamous black spots – will be granted funding in the New Year. Work has already taken place to remove bends and widen the road near Cappry outside Ballybofey however it’s understood that a further half million euro is

  A case of alleged assault involving a Donegal County Councillor is expected to go ahead in the New Year. Cllr John O’Donnell appeared before yesterday’s sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court when a request for a witness and exhibits order was heard from lawyers. The case had been referred from the District Court in October.

A Donegal County Councillor has expressed serious concern over some people continuing to park in disabled bays without a permit. It’s after Gardai in Buncrana detected a driver parked in a disabled bay without parking permit at the weekend. The driver in question was also believed to be under the influence of alcohol and court

  Settlements amounting to more than €750,000 were agreed with Revenue between July and September of this year in Donegal, according to the latest tax defaulters’ list. Two Donegal tax defaulters were among the 64 nationwide who have been named in the latest figures. E L McGettigan & Sons from Kilmacrennan, Co Donegal – which

The North West region is in a strong place to respond to Brexit a major conference has heard. Over 150 people attended yesterday’s Driving Growth in the North West conference in Burt to consider the region’s response to the challenges and opportunities of Brexit. Tourism in the North West and its potential was a key

  A Donegal Deputy is calling on the HSE to provide a long term solution for the radiology service in Dungloe community Hospital. The service had been suspended for a number of weeks due to equipment failure. It’s understood that replacement equipment components have been granted approval with the HSE confirming that the service will

  Funding has been granted by The Department of Education to build an additional classroom at Glencovitt National School in Ballybofey. The commitment means that the school is now in a position to seek planning permission for the extension, and proceed to construction stage. The school currently has 85 pupils, with 4 mainstream Teachers, an

There were 25 people awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital this morning. According to the latest figures from the INMO 16 people were on trolleys in its Emergency Department while a further 9 were waiting in wards or overflow areas. Nationally there were 451 people waiting to be admitted to hospitals across the country today

A Donegal man who was ordered to pay a woman compensation of €21,000 over childhood sexual abuse has been declared bankrupt by his victim. At the High Court, Ms Justice Caroline Costello made an order declaring the assailant, originally from Co Derry but now living in Donegal, bankrupt. He had failed to pay compensation awarded

The Driving Growth in the North West with the Challenges and Opportunities of Brexit conference is underway in Donegal today. The event hosted by Donegal and Derry City and Strabane District Councils will be the first in a series of events led by the two authorities in the context of new regional co-operation arrangements for

Searches are continuing today for an elderly man who is suspected missing for nearly a month. The Mulroy Coastguard has begun searching high ground near Rathmullen this morning. Yesterday afternoon search and rescue service were conducted by Gardai to launch a major search operation for the 73 year-old from Oughterlinn near Rathmullen who hasn’t been

It’s reported this morning that pay-by-weight bin charges won’t now kick in next month. The cost-by-kilo plan was due to apply from January with people opting in before July. However the system is now being seen as too inflexible and more time is to be given to coming up with a range of pricing options.

A Donegal County Councillor is reiterating his call for more funding in flood prevention measures in Donegal. The call comes following the anniversary of the second of two floods which hit Finn Valley last year causing extensive damage to many homes and businesses in the area. Local Councillor Gary Doherty says while there has been

A major clean up has concluded on Tory Island which has sparked further talks about a ‘tidy island initiative’ there. Almost 20 loads of rubbish were removed from the island over the past week with 20,000 euro also being announced for a holding bay for recycling on the island. Councillor Michael Colm Mac Giolla Easbig

Rank and file Gardai have voted to accept the recent Labour Court pay deal by a margin of 3 to 1. The GRA announced the result of its ballot of 10 thousand Gardai last evening – with a turnout of 69 percent. 75 percent were in favour of the Labour Court’s pay deal – which

  A major search operation was launched earlier today for an elderly man who is suspected missing for nearly a month. The 73 year old from Oughterlinn near Rathmullen hasn’t been seen for 3-4 weeks. The alarm was raised by a neighbour and a search by Mountain rescue, Mulroy Coastguard and the Sligo 118 helicopter

352 people are awaiting admission to at hospitals across the country today. According to INMO figures 19 people are awaiting admission at Letterkenny University Hospital. 5 on trolleys in the emergency department and 14 on wards.

A man in his 30s has died following a crash on the Foreglen Road earlier this morning. The two vechicle road traffic collision ocurred this morning at aprroximately 6:30am, involving a car and a van. Sinn Féin MLA Caoimhe Archibald has expressed her sympathies with the family of the man, and is urging all road

A 16 year-old has been praised for saving the lives of his family after their house caught fire on Friday last. Oran Doherty raised the alarm at approximately 1:40am when he was alerted by a fire alarm. Seven family members were in the home at the time and escaped unharmed but their home was gutted

  Sligo has received the title of European Capital of Volunteering today in London Independent MEP, Marian Harkin along with representatives of Sligo County Council and Sligo Volunteer Centre are attending the handing over of the title at London’s City Hall. Sligo follows Barcelona, Lisbon and London, the current European Capital of Volunteering. MEP Marian

Employment Minister Pat Breen is in Donegal today to meet with managenment and clients at the Local Enterprise Office, which replaced the County Enterprise two years ago. That was part of a shake up which the government says was intended to bring local councils to the fore of local development. Speaking to Highland Radio News

Donegal has the lowest rate of judicial separations in the country. The least amount of legal split ups was recorded in Donegal, with 66 divorces or judicial separations per 100,000 people, followed by Longford and Leitrim. Official figures show that County Carlow has the highest divorce and legal seraration rate in the country, with 150

The A6 is closed at Foreglen Road between Claudy and Dungiven this morning following a crash between a car and a van. The PSNI say diversions are in place, and there are major delays for local traffic, as well as traffic between Derry and Belfast. Emergency services are at the scene.

  Local councillors in Derry are speaking out following a spate of vandalism at the Glen walk in Cregganburn Park. Sinn Féin Councillor Mickey Cooper and SDLP’s Shauna Cusack have both expressed their disgust following the trail of destruction left at the scene on Friday night last. On Saturday morning a local resident raised the

One in four of Irish people are planning to leave the state to do their Christmas shopping. That’s a 300 per cent increase on last year. A survey of 9 thousand members of motoring group the AA, found that 12 per cent were planning a trip to the north – while a further 5 per

Detectives in Derry are appealing for information following an arson attack on a car which caused significant damage to a family home. In the early hours of this morning the car was set alight in the Temple Park area of the city. Sinn Fein Foyle MLA, Raymond McCartney has spoken out on the incident, he