Author name: oisinkelly

  Sinn Fein wants Donegal County Council to become the first council in Ireland to adopt Voluntary Ethical Legislation. The proposal was made at last night’s special meeting held to discuss the contents of the RTE investigates programme featuring Cllr John O’Donnell. Councillors would be asked to sign up to the legislation committing to resign […]

It’s been confirmed that farmers in Donegal are to receive over 6 million euro in AEOS payments, the second highest payment in the country. The scheme is designed to help protect wildlife habitats, endangered species and the broader rural environment in Donegal and underpin the production of quality food in an environmentally friendly manner. Nationally, more than €45

A special session of Donegal County Council is due to get underway to discuss last Monday’s RTE’s Investigates Programme. The programme alleged that Councillor John O’Donnell asked for payment in return for helping out a fictitious wind farm company set up in Donegal. As a result of the programme, a special meeting of Councillors is

The Finn Valley Wind Action Group say they are concerned at the possible impact that the development of the Carrickaduff Wind Farm could have on flooding in the Finn Valley area. Cork based company Planree Limited is proposing to build the Carrickaduff wind farm with up to 49 turbines but there has been considerable local

  Investigations are continuing this afternoon following the death of 80 year-old man in a house fire in Dungloe. The victim has been named locally as Connie Boyle, Pole Road, Meenmore, Dungloe. The fire at the single story house was first reported at 2.30am this morning. Emergency services arrived at the scene a short time

  Retailers in Donegal are preparing for their best Christmas in years as reports suggest towns like Letterkenny are set to benefit significantly from the current sterling rate. 2015 has been reported a steady year so far for trade and business in the county with the festive period expected to surpass that. Chief Executive with

  Cleaners working in Letterkenny University Hospital have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. Around 60 SIPTU members at the hospital voted to strike over a decision to outsource the cleaning of the facility’s Out Patients Department. SIPTU Organiser Declan Ferry says workers won’t accept the outsourcing of work:

  The average rent for all dwellings in the private rented sector in Donegal in Quarter 3 of 2015 is €458 – up 10 euro on the previous Quarter. The figures are compiled by the ESRI and are based on the actual rents being paid as distinct from the asking or advertised rent. The DATA

  A former Mayor of Donegal is urging the public to contact their local representatives demanding the resignation of Independent Councillor John O’Donnell. A survery from RnaG shows that only 40% of Donegal County Councillors believe that Cllr John O’Donnell should resign but Councillor John Campbell does not believe that represents public opinion. An RTE

A man has died following a house fire in Dungloe.  The fire was first reported at 2.30am this morning. Emergency services were called to the scene and performed CPR on arrival however, the man who is said to be in his 80s, was pronounced dead at the scene and his body has been taken to Letterkenny

Cleaners working in Letterkenny University Hospital have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action. SIPTU members at the Donegal hospital voted to strike over a decision to outsource the cleaning of the facility’s Out Patients Department. SIPTU Organiser, Declan Ferry, said: “Management has shown a complete disregard for its obligations under the Lansdowne Road Agreement

Families of victims of the Northern Ireland Troubles have taken out a full page newspaper advert to accuse the British Government of a ‘shameful failure’ to address the legacy of the conflict. The groups represent more than 150 bereaved families, including the families of Donegal men Eddie Fullerton and Henry Cunningham. The advert expresses dissatisfaction

The Government has announced that businesses who couldn’t get insurance and who have been affected by Storm Desmond are to get emergency payments of up to 5 thousand euro. The 5 million euro fund is to be administered by the Red Cross. The money – which can be for un-vouched expenses – will be made

A man involved in a single vehicle collision in Donegal has been transferred to Beaumont Hospital in Dublin for treatment with his condition described as critical. The N15 road between Ballybofey and Killygordon has now re-opened. It was closed early to facilitate a technical examination . Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the single vehicle

        The family of double informer Denis Donaldson have said they will be taking legal action against the Gardai in the European Court in Strasbourg. In a statement issued last night, the family claim An Garda Siochana failed to properly investigate his murder. Donaldson, 56, was shot dead by gunmen in a

There have been claims elective surgeries at Letterkenny University Hospital are to be scaled back in the months of January and February of next year. The reports have led to ‘serious concern around patient safety’ within the hospital and it’s believed the move is to avoid the high number of patients on trolleys in the

The Council has rejected call to stream a special meeting online as a matter of public interest. The Council will meet in special session on Friday afternoon to discuss last Monday’s RTE’s Investigates Programme, featuring Donegal County Councillor John O’Donnell. The meeting is set to focus on the matters broadcast during the programme and its

  Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating offences committed at the wake and funeral of Peggy O’Hara in Derry in July have arrested a 39 year old man in the Claudy area this morning. The suspect has been taken to the Serious Crime Suite at Musgrave Police Station for questioning.

  The Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation has denied it has timed strike action to coincide with a general election campaign. Talks between nurses and the HSE on overcrowding collapsed last night, meaning a strike is almost certain to go ahead next week. Emergency department nurses will begin two hour rolling work stoppages at 7

  An Ulster Unionist Councillor claims the North’s Culture Minister is planning to substantially increase funding to Irish Langage groups, while other community based initiatives are having their grants cut. Derry and Strabane Councillor Derek Hussey says that the minister’s pledge has come as budget discussions continue at the assembly, and ahead of assembley elections

  A serious road traffic collision has occurred overnight Cavan lower near Killgordon The single vehicle collision happened at approximately 10.30 last night. The male involved in the collision is said to be in a serious condition in Letterkenny University Hospital As a result the N15 road between Ballybofey and Killygordon is closed and a

  Community groups projects all across the Country have been told the New Government Minimum pay increases will have to be paid by them the Community group not the Government. It has been claimed this new Government strategy will mean a lot of Community projects will face closure. The news has sparked serious concern in

  Pramerica in Letterkenny has been given the green light to expand and relocate within the town. The company’s expansion plans have been upheld by An Bord Pleanala with the move set to create a further 350 jobs in Letterkenny. It is hoped the expansion will be completed and up and running by the end

  An inquest on the first road death of 2015 has been adjourned pending a criminal investigation. The inquiry was into the death of 34-year-old Sheena Stewart, a pedestrian from Gort Na Greine, Mountain Top, Letterkenny, who died in a traffic accident on January 1st in Ballyshannon. Sheena Stewart’s father Jim Stewart gave evidence of

  A 26 year old man who was arrested in Coleraine yesterday by detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the murder of Paul McCauley in 2006 has been released unconditionally. Paul McCauley was beaten and left in a vegetative state in the summer of 2006 after a barbeque in the Waterside area of the city.

  National Utility approach by Irish Water has allowed for temporary emergency water supply from neighbouring counties including County Fermanagh through co-operation with Northern Ireland Water. Irish Water and Donegal County Council continue to implement their major incident plan following the major flooding of the Bundoran Water Treatment Plant which still remains non-operational. Irish water

    The Denis Donaldson duplicate spy murder inquest was today adjourned for the 17th time, with his family once more boycotting the hearing in protest. A letter from Donaldson family solicitor Ciaran Shiels of Madden & Finucane said the family didn’t know what further “lines of inquiry” gardai were seeking. Mr Shiels’ letter, read

  Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn has challenged Taoiseach Enda Kenny on the urgency of flood relief works, saying that 17 TDs from all parties and all areas of the country calling for more to be done. Deputy Mac Lochlainn said the situation in parts of Donegal is very serious, and more government attention is needed:

    Concern has been expressed that the road between Donnyloop and Clady is close to collapse. Donegal Councillor Patrick Mc Gowan says the footpath, which had been unstable already, has now subsided, and the road is following suit. Council officials have been alerted, and the road will be examined this afternoon. In the meantime,

  Police in Derry  are investigating an attack on a woman in the Gobnascale area of the Waterside. The incident took place yesterday morning. A number of masked men are believed to have been involved in the incident and the woman received serious injuries during the attack. She was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital where she

Deputy Thomas Pringle says local councils need to be given money to deal with flood damage. In the Dail this morning, Deputy Pringle said no extra funding has been allocated to local authorities to deal with the immediate needs of towns across Donegal and elsewhere in the country. He sais some areas of the county