Author name: oisinkelly

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has announced that he is retire later this month, after thirty-one years as an elected representative. In a statement last night, Mr Ramsey said he’s been honoured to serve the community for over three decades, and while it’s a difficult decision to step down, he must put his health first. The […]

A Donegal County Council delegation will meet with senior National Roads Authority figures in Dublin today to discuss funding for the county’s roads network. Last year there was an initial allocation of 18.6 million euro from the NRA to carry out national road improvement and maintenance works in Donegal. A number of projects in the

A judge at Derry Magistrate’s Court has described so called legal highs as ‘illegal drugs not yet classified.’ District Judge Barney McElholm was speaking during a case involving a 17-year-old who was charged with falsely imprisoning a social worker, threatening to kill her and possessing an offensive weapon among other charges on Tuesday last, December

Met Eireann has upgraded its weather warning for parts of the country today to the highest level – red. Connacht, Donegal, Kerry and Clare will be hit by up to 70 millimetres of rain overnight and into tomorrow. Even greater amounts are expected on higher ground. Drivers are being warned to take extra care on

A man has been found guilty of murdering his pregnant ex-girlfriend in Derry in July 2008. Stephen Cahoon of Harvey Street in Derry admitted killing Jean Quigley at her home, but claimed she provoked him by telling him the baby wasn t his. Cahoon admitted pushing his ex-girlfriend and putting his hand on her throat

A 42-year-old Derry man has pleaded guilty at Belfast Crown Court to a number of terrorist charges. The trial of Christopher Paul O’Kane had been due to start today, however, he was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to a number of charges relating to incidents in the city in the early 1990s. These included: assisting an

A 38-year-old man has appeared in court in Strabane charged with the attempted murder of a Catholic police officer in 2008. Gavin Coyle,from Culmore Park in Omagh, is a serving prisoner in Maghaberry Prison. Colye is accused of attempting to murder the off-duty PSNI officer and causing an explosion likely to endanger life. He is

It’s reported that no new patients are to be accepted at the psychiatric clinic for older people at Dungloe District Hospital. Existing patients will, its understood, still be seen. Cllr Michael Mac Giolla Easbuig says he’s been told the service has been temporarily curtailed as a resuilt of sick leave, but says there are very

Donegal had the highest proportionate level of assaults in the first six months of this year, according to figures analysed and published by the Irish Independent today. The statistics show there were 109 assaults per 100,000 people recorded in Donegal between January and June. The Milford sub district had the highest number of assaults at

Detectives from PSNI Serious Crime Branch investigating the bomb attack on the Waterfoot Hotel in Derry in October have arrested two men in the Omagh area. The men aged 34 and 41 were detained last evening, and have been taken to Musgrave Serious Crime Suite for questioning.

Tourism Ireland will consider a funding application to improve facilities at Malin Head next week. The issue was back on the agenda in the Dail last evening when an update on progress was sought by Donegal Deputy Charlie McConalogue. Junior Minister Michael Ring said a funding application for the provision of new toilets and car

The Chamber of Commerce in Derry says it is not surprised at a statistical analysis which shows most of Invest NI’s focus is on Belfast and its suburbs, compared to Derry. The analysis from ‘The Detail’ shows that 81% of Invest NI’s investment goes to the east of Northern Ireland compared to just 19% in

A total of 184 patients found themselves without beds at Letterkenny University Hospital last month, a sharp increase on November last year, when the figure was 47. According to the INMO, between January and November, the total figure was 2,708, up slightly on last years 11 month total of 2,696.  

The closure of rural garda stations hasn’t led to a marked increase in crime. That’s according to the garda commissioner who says that in some areas crime levels have actually decreased. Between 2012 and 2013 almost 140 stations were closed. The stations to close in Donegal included Brockagh, Glencolmcille, Malin, Annagry and Churchill. Commissioner O’Sullivan

Three weeks since he disappeared, there has been no confirmed sighting of missing Derry man John Concannon. Mr. Concannon, who suffers from dementia and has difficulty communicating, has been missing since November 10th. There have been a number of reported sightings of the 71 year-old but none have been confirmed. Mr Concannon is described as

A Donegal Councillor is meeting with the owners of the Abbey Village complex in Kilmacrennan to discuss the impact of recent flooding and long term strategies to avoid a repeat. Councillor Michael Mc Bride says on Sunday week last, the river Lennon had overflowed, with flood waters surronding many houses, as well as the block

Gardai in Buncrana are investigating an aggravated burglary at Mill Lane in the Tullyarvan area in the early hours of this morning. A mother and five children were in the house when it was entered by four masked men. One of the children was slightly injured, and the house sustained damage during the incident. It’s

Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says the government’s initiatives to help struggling homeowners have all been failures. He says the much anticipated mortgage to rent scheme was intended to help 3,500 families. However, he says, after three years, only 246 families have been able to avail of the scheme, just three of them in Donegal. In

Two Strabane men arrested yesterday as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged offences at the wake and funeral of Peggy O’Hara in Derry in July have been released without charge. The 53 year old man was freed pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service, the 34 year old has been released unconditionally. They

Garda killer Pearse McAuley will be sentenced today for stabbing his wife 13 times in front of their two young sons last Christmas Eve. The 50-year-old, a native of Strabane, has previously spent time in jail for his part in the 1996 killing of Garda Jerry McCabe in Limerick. Pauline Tully McAuley took to the

The first British airstrikes on Islamic State targets in Syria could take place before the end of the week if MPs in the UK give their backing in a vote today. Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn has warned the bombing raids would lead to civilian casualties – but has offered his party a free vote on

The Government has been criticised for a delay in ratifying the CRPD, the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. The convention gives a committment that people with disabilities can enjoy their rights on an equal basis with all other citizens. Ireland signed the CRPD 8 years ago but has yet to ratify

Donegal Deputy Thomas Pringle has called for a Sub-Regional Action Plan for jobs for Donegal. Yesterday, Jobs Minister Richard Bruton was in Sligo where he launched the government’s Regional Jobs Plan for the North West and North East, with the aim of creating 28,000 new jobs in the region. Deputy Pringle says he welcomes some

Latest figures from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation show 21 people who were admitted to Letterkenny University Hospital, were without a bed this morning. Two of the patients are in the Emergency Department while 19 are on the wards. 2 people are without a bed at Sligo University Hospital.

There were 21 patients without beds at Letterkenny University Hospital this morning, two of them in A&E and 19 on the wards. The figures have been collated by the INMO, which is to begin a series of rolling Emergency Department strikes later this month to highlight what it says is a problem of overcrowding caused

A campaign has been launched in Strabane to improve traffic safety in the vicinity of St Mary’s Junior Primary School. West Tyrone MLA Michaela Boyle says that a tragedy was narrowly averted outside the school on Wednesday morning last when a mother and her two children were narowly missed by a motorist as they walked

A group of business people in Inishowen are calling for more investment in the peninsula, with a particular focus on the need to develop facilities at Malin Head. A meeting took place at Ballyliffen Golf Club last night, at which it was decided to communicate with all General Election candidates in Donegal. Jim Mullin was