Author name: oisinkelly

Michaella McCollum has been released on parole from a prison in Peru. The Co Tyrone woman was convicted in 2013 of trying to smuggle cocaine worth 1.8 million euro to Spain and received a 6 and a half year sentence. Ms McCollum’s solicitor confirmed her release and said it’s not clear when she’ll be eligible

Workers at Tesco Letterkennny are among the company’s 12 thousand workers nationwide to be ballot for industrial action. Their union Mandate says the company refused to accept a Labour Court recommendation on wage increases and is attempting to force significant pay cuts on staff. The Labour Court said all Tesco workers are entitled to a

Dungloe Community Hospital has been temporarily closed to admissions following the identification of an antibiotic resistant bacteria in a number of patients. The HSE is stressing that none of the residents in Dungloe Community Hospital currently have a clinical infection with CRE or are experiencing any symptoms. Control measures have been implemented as per national

  The Donegal Creameries plant near Killygordon has secured a significant milk contract from Tesco Ireland. The facility, which currently employs 120 people, was recently granted planning permission for a major expansion with the hope of creating more jobs in the future. The plant is owned by the Aurivo Co-operative society who already supply milk

  A 25 year old man has been arrested in Derry by detectives investigating violent dissident Republican activity. He has been taken to Belfast for questioning. There are no further details at present.

  Letterkenny Univeristy Hospital has received the second highest budget for this year within the Saolta Group. The hospital has been allocated a total 110.5 million euro for 2016 from a shared 4 billion euro between the country’s 43 acute hospitals. It’s the first advanced distribution of budgets through the eight new hospital groups. HSE West Forum Member

  While latest figures from the CSO showed a fall in burglaries in Donegal in the last three months of 2015, Gardai are warning home and business owners to remain vigilant. 83 burglaries were recorded over the three month period a fall of 10 on the same period the previous year. Donegal Crime Prevention Officer Paul Wallace says

  Met Eireann has issued a status yellow flood warning for Donegal with heavy rain predicted throughout today. The forecaster says up to 30mm of rain accumulations is possible, particularly on higher ground with the warning in place until midnight tonight. Motorists are urged to exercise extreme care as Gardai are advising the weather will

  Donegal County Council is being accused of neglecting the islands off the county’s coast. The charge comes from Councillor Micheal Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig as he welcomed news that a water supply is expected to be returned to Gola Island by next week. It emerged earlier this month that the water supply from the

A body has been recovered from the Quay in Donegal Town after a major search and rescue operation late last night. Gardai received initial reports of a woman entering the water shortly after 11.30 and the Killybegs Coastguard, Bundoran lifeboat and the Sligo rescue helicopter were tasked to the scene. A body of a woman

€2.2 Million Euro in Storm Damage Funding has been allocated to the Stranorlar Municpal District. The funding will be used to upgrade the roads network in the area which was severely damaged in floods over the last number of months. Local Councillor Gary Doherty says the money is very welcome but will not fix all

  Can’t Pay Won’t Pay Donegal are dismissing claims that water rates cannot be abolished. In recent days, Irish Water has been warned that it may not be legally able to scrap charges. Under European law there is no option to return to supply the service for free, according to legal advice received by the

    Bogus phone calls to Malin Head Coastguard have increased with eleven ‘nuisance calls’ received in the last week. The calls may only last a few seconds and are not deemed as dangerous as hoax calls but they are still a cause of concern for the coastguard as they could prevent them from attending

  The latest HIQA overview report on hygiene in hospitals for 2015 found Letterkenny University Hospital was one of just 7 of the 32 inspected which required a follow up inspection due to shortcomings. The authority announced in October that it carried out an unannounced inspection in June and discovered poor hygiene standards on the Medical 2 and

The road between the Kilross junction and Drumkeen has now re-opened following a collision involving a car and a van shortly before 7 o’clock this morning.  One man has been taken to Letterkenny University Hospital however his condition is not thought to be serious. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact Letterkenny Garda Station on

Emergency services are currently at the scene of a road traffic crash between the Kilross junction and Drumkeen. The collision involving a car and a van happened shortly before 7 o’clock this morning. The extent of injuries to the occupants of either vehicle is not yet known but motorists are advised to exercise extreme care

  There was a fall in the number of burglaries recorded in the Donegal in the last three months of last year compared to the same period in 2014. The number of assaults also fell but there was an increase in sexual offences, drug offences, cases of drink driving and cases of theft. In the

  The Letterkenny based mother of a young man who died after taking a so called legal high in Britain has hit out at news that legislation controlling Psychoactive Substances has been shelved indefinitely. Karen Vandersypen’s son Jimmy died suddenly after taking a synthetic cannabis product purchased in a ‘Headshop’ in Kent in October of 2013.

The Killybegs Community Council says it strongly objects to plans by the Department of Agriculture to dump potentially toxic material from the harbour out to sea. While the Council is welcoming the dredging work which will extend the quay creating additional birthing and a bigger operational area, it insists the material dredged must be properly

Donegal man John Boyle is the new vice-president of the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation. Mr Boyle originally from Mullaghduff has spent most of his teaching career in Dublin and is currently the the principal teacher in St. Colmcille’s JNS Knocklyon in Dublin. Rosena Jordan from Cavan is the new president of the association. John Boyle

A total of 12 houses have been allocated for social housing in the Convoy area by the Steer Housing Association. The houses were part of an unfinished estate but have since been made available to Donegal County Council for applicants on their waiting list with tenants now living in them. Further properties have been identified

  A 40 year old man is due to appear at Strabane Magistrates Court today on charges in relation to the seizure of £64,000 worth of cannabis in Belgium. The herbal cannabis was seized in Belgium as part of a joint operation between the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the UK’s National Crime Agency.

  Concern has been raised following a spate of anti-social behaviour in Strabane. A group of young people believed to be in their early teens have been reportedly threatening elderly residents and throwing missiles at cars on an ongoing basis. Incidents of vandalism have also happened in the area with railings damaged, posing a safety

  Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating violent dissident Republican activity have arrested two men in Derry. The suspects, aged 55 and 57, were arrested this morning and have been taken to Belfast for questioning.    

  Both Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will meet with Independent TDs today as coalition talks continue. The country has been without a Government for 33 days and politicians look no closer to forming an alliance. Discussions between Enda Kenny’s party broke up at around 9 o’clock last night – with Greens threatening to withdraw

  The HSE National Director for Acute Hospitals has suggested that admission rates to Letterkenny University Hospital are higher than other hospitals due to a difficulty to attract and retain senior clinicians. 40 percent of patients who visit the Emergency Department in Letterkenny are admitted to the hospital, 14% higher than the national rate. Liam