Author name: oisinkelly

The security alert at Spout Road in Strabane has ended. A number of suspicious objects have been removed for further examination by detectives. Meanwhile in another incident, police recovered a suspected firearm earlier today near the community centre in the Ballycolman Estate area of Strabane. It was discovered behind a row of bushes in the

  It’s been confirmed that CCTV will be installed in the City Cemetery in Derry from next week.  The decision was made by council following numerous incidents of vandalism there over the past year, the latest only last weekend. The CCTV is to be installed on a temporary basis with the contract going out to

  Police have recovered a suspected firearm near the community centre in the Ballycolman Estate area of Strabane. It was discovered behind a row of bushes in the area earlier today and has been taken away by officers from the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch for examination. Detective Inspector Andy Workman said: “It is reckless in

  The North’s new Secretary of State says he doesn’t want to return to the border checks of the past with the republic. James Brokenshire has told the House of Commons he recognises the significance of the border issue following the UK vote to leave the European Union. He says solving this problem it is

Bank of Ireland is closing another eight branches in Northern Ireland, including Castlederg, Belleek, Maghera, and Draperstown. 54 staff will be affected in total, with the bank saying they can transfer, redeploy or relocate to other roles within the bank, or apply for voluntary redundancy. The bank will have 28 branches in Northern Ireland after

Latest INMO trolly watch figures show there was a sharp fall in the numbers awaiting admission to Letterkenny University Hospital in June. There were 26 awaiting admission over the course of last month, compared to 105 in June 2015. However, the INMO is highlighting a major increase nationally over the second week of July, which

There’s been an off licence robbery in Derry. Police say last night at around 10 o’clock, a man armed with an iron bar entered the premises at Sackville Street and demanded money from staff. A small sum of cash was handed over and the man then fled the scene on foot. There were no reports

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says the commitments to those in mortgage arrears in the Housing Action Plan published yesterday represent a major U-turn from the Programme for Government commitments. In particular, Sinn Féin’s Finance Spokesperson pointed to the dropping of a dedicated new court for arrears cases and a commitment to amend the Code of Conduct

  Police and Army Technical Officers are currently at the scene of a security alert in the Spout Road area of Strabane, and eight homes have been evacuated in the vicinity of the Drumrallagh estate. This follows the discovery of a suspicious object during a search of open land by officers from the PSNI’s Serious

People who live on private estates, but rent from their local council – may soon be able to buy their property as a discounted rate. Later today Fianna Fail will bring a bill before the Dail which they say corrects an anomaly for local authority tenants. It’s an issue that’s been raised on a number

The Minister for Health has agreed to extend automatic medical cards to all disabled children where families are in receipt of domiciliary care allowance. Simon Harris announced the law change in a late sitting of the Dáil last night. The Government originally planned to award the cards to around 10-thousand children after the budget, but

A Donegal County Councillor has called on the local authority to strengthen the Casual Trading Bye-laws on beaches. Councillor Noel Jordan used the example of Rossnowlagh – he says it can be chaotic on the beach in the summer with unlicenses traders operating. He is calling for a clear set of by-laws on the issue

A Councillor is calling for rumble strips to be put in place on roads leading into Carrigans in an effort to reduce the number of accidents. Councillor Paul Canning says there is an accident on average once a fortnight on the access road to Carrigans with signs unlikely to slow traffic. He says the criteria

People Before Profit will begin the process of forming a Donegal branch at a meeting in Letterkenny’s Orchard Inn this evening. It’s the first of a number of meetings taking place around the county. Among the speakers will be Eamon Mc Cann, the recently elected Foyle MLA. Also speaking will be Charlie Mc Dyer, who

The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission’s Annual Report for 2015 says it’s hoped lessons will be learned from the inquiry into the death of Sergeant Michael Galvin, who took his own life in may of last year while he was being investigated. GSOC’s report notes that in June 12th last year, an inquiry chaired by Supreme

  People who were the victims of illegal adoptions in Ireland are to picket the inquiry into mother and baby homes taking place in Dublin later today, calling for the scope of the probe to be widened. Only 14 institutions and four county homes across the country fall within the commission’s terms of reference. In

Excluding Dublin, the Donegal Garda Division had the third highest number of complaints to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission last year. GSOC’s annual report, which has just been published, shows 176 complaints were made in Donegal in 2015. There were 220 in Carlow Kilkenny and 184 in Galway. Meanwhile, of the 52 matters referred to

  A Donegal TD says it was extremely short sighted of the government and the Department of Education not to set aside more money for the Summer Works Scheme this year, and money should be provided immediately. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has this week questioned the Education Minister about the fact that a number

Funeral arrangements have been confirmed for two year old Ronan McGavigan who died in a road traffic collision on the Lone Moor Road in Derry on Sunday. The funeral will be held tomorrow at St Columba’s Long Tower Church, with the funeral procession leaving from the family home. Ronan died following a road traffic collision

The Student Union President at the LYIT is warning that the loan scheme option in Cassells report will keep the poorest people poor. The report has suggested three possible solutions to tackle the third level education funding crisis in Ireland. LYIT SU President Dylan McGowan says the scheme will mean an increase in tuition fees

Enda Kenny says the EU needs to be ready for the possibility of a United Ireland. Speaking at the MacGill Summer in Genties, the Taoiseach said a so-called ‘border poll’ must be allowed for as part of the UK’s talks on leaving the European Union. The comments are Enda Kenny’s clearest remarks on Irish Unity

  Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty will tonight address a gathering of Sinn Féin activists and party members. It’s part of a series of formal meetings taking place across the island as the party sets out its vision for its future. Speaking ahead of tonight’s meeting which will be held at 7.30pm in the Station House

  Taoiseach Enda Kenny has delivered his speech at this years MacGill Summer School. Addressing attendees, the Taoiseach said that 2016 would be remembered as a time of great change – both in the politics of this country and in the wider political environment, when the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the

  This week’s meeting of Donegal County Council has been told that a physical border between Donegal, Derry and Tyrone would be a disaster. The UKs brexit vote was high on the agenda of the meeting with a number of councillor bringing motions on the issue. One of them, councillor Jack Murray, says the Irish

    A motion calling for an independent inquiry into the Mary Boyle case has been passed at today’s sitting of Donegal County Council.  Cllr Frank McBrearty is “calling on the Government to establish a full and independent inquiry into the allegations aired on the Youtube documentary about the disappearance of Mary Boyle.” Meanwhile the politician believed

Irish Water officials today briefed members of Donegal County Council on plans to improve over 45 kilometres of mains in 15 priority areas spread over 7 schemes. The overall cost will be almost €14 million, with the work taking at least two years to complete. Irish Water say this is one of the biggest investments

The politician at the centre of allegations that he used political influence to prevent a continuing garda questioning of the main suspect for the disappearance of Mary Boyle today denied any involvement. Sean McEniff, Ireland’s longest-serving politician, said in a statement through his solicitors that he “emphatically and unconditionally denies that he was the politician

The toddler who died after he was hit by a car on Derry’s Lone Moor Road yesterday was two year old Ronan Mc Gavigan. The incident, which happened on the Lone Moor road at 1.15 yesterday afternoon, involved a silver coloured Citroen Picasso car. Police are continuing to appeal to witnesses to come forward. Councillor

A Kilmacrennan based councillor says no more social houses should be built in the village until a playground is constructed. Cllr John O’Donnell says such an amenity is necessary, and he wants the council to donate land and construct a playground before any more houses are constructed. The council says it’s only land bank in

  The organiser of the ‘March for Mary Boyle’ at the weekend hasn’t ruled out a similar demonstration on a national level. The vigil, which took place on Saturday, saw over 1000 people take to the streets of Ballyshannon donning purple and white ribbons, symbolising the colours Mary was wearing when last seen alive. Event

A local Councillor says the community of Derry has been left stunned following the death of a two year old boy who was hit by a car. The incident, which happened on the Lone Moor road at 1.15 yesterday afternoon, involved a silver coloured Citroen Picasso car. Police are continuing to appeal to witnesses to

A Derry Councillor has called for a discussion on security measures at the City Cemetery following the latest spate of vandalism there over the weekend. Numerous graves were vandalised by youths believed to be between 13 and 16 years of age. The incident occurred on Friday night at around 9pm and police are continuing to