Author name: oisinkelly

  Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty says he will not be putting his name to the Banking Inquiry’s final report. It means two of the inquiry’s 11 members are now refusing to sign the document. Inquiry members are today meeting for a third successive day, with only the executive summary and recommendations left to agree on.

      The security operation in the Waterside area of Derry has now ended. Searches have been conducted in the area and nothing untoward has been found. All roads have reopened to traffic and the railway station has been reopened. The security operation commenced following claims that explosive devices had been left in the

Met Eireann has lifted five weather warnings as Storm Desmond moves eastwards across the Irish Sea however many parts of Donegal remain severely flooded and some homes are still without power, 11 in the Milford area. The storm wreaked havoc dumping in the region of 100 millimetres of rain along the north west, west and

Saturday 5.30   Gardai in Donegal are urging people not to travel tonight unless absolutely necessary. There is very serious flooding already in Ballybofey, Stranorlar and around the Finn Valley, with serious concerns as the River Finn rises this evening. Earlier this afternoon Meanwhile in the past hour, the Back of Errigal and Back of

 There are two security alerts underway in the Waterside area of Derry. Police say they are attending alerts in the Quarry Steps area of Spencer Road and the railway station following the report of objects having been left both areas.   Area Commander, Chief Inspector Tony Callaghan said, “The railway station has been evacuated and

Update 12 30 –   Road closed between Nairn and Portnoo as a result of a fallen tree and rocks on the road. It ill remain closed until at least 3 o’clock. Liscooley and Castlefin Bridges are impassable. Glen Road at Pobail Scoil Gaoth Dobhair is impassable. Coshclady Road flooded at Bunbeg. Gardai in Ballybofey

    It’s emerged that hundreds of people who’ve been offered local authority housing are turning down the homes. According to figures collated in today’s Irish Independent, almost a third of offers nationwide were rejected. In some counties like Cork and Waterford almost half of accommodation offered to people on housing lists was turned down.

Age Action has criticised the decision by the Health Service Executive to shut down mental health services for older people in Donegal. Highland Radio has seen the letter issued by the HSE to its local offices in September which states that “all referrals received by the Mental Health Service for Older People will be returned

The National Co-ordination Group for Severe Weather Emergencies has advised the public to avoid non essential travel after Met Eireann upgraded its weather warning to the highest level. A Red alert is in efffect as ‘Storm Desmond’ crosses the northwest bringing high winds and over three inches of rain fall. The storms impact is already

A meeting between a delegation from Donegal County Council and the NRA, or as it is now known Transport Infrastructure Ireland, has been described as positive. The delegation pushed for progress on a number of routes including the A5 Dublin to Derry as well as upgrades to the N14 Lifford to Letterkenny road and the

It has emerged that mental health services for older people have been closed across Donegal since early September. Yesterday it was reported that no new patients were to be accepted at the psychiatric clinic for older people at Dungloe District Hospital – but now it is emerged that the whole county is effected. The information

There are calls for an immediate safety review of the Clooney Road dual carriageway from the Caw Roundabout to the Maydown Roundabout. Derry and Strabane Coumncillor Cllr Paul Fleming says there has been a number of accidents along this stretch of road over the past few weeks. He says he’s been contacted by motorists and

A Joint Policing Committee is to be re-established in Donegal. A special meeting of council will take place on Wednesday week next December 17th to appoint a Chair and Vice Chair, ahead of a steering group meeting the following Tuesday. The first full meeting of the new JPC will take place on the 22nd of

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