Author name: oisinkelly

The Justice Minister says criticism of a ‘flawed Garda culture’ is an untrue, ‘shapeless’ and ‘disempowering’ criticism.  Frances Fitzgerald says she has not found the force ‘demonstrating a corner cutting culture’ – in spite of the assumptions in the public arena. She says that she accepts that arrogance can happen – but says that elevating

A new HIQA report has shown serious breaches at St Patrick’s Community Hospital in County Leitrim.  Inspectors found that in some cases residents were only offered a bath or shower once a month. In most cases residents were offered a shower just once a fortnight. Sean Defoe reports Of the 18 standard that HIQA test

The Environment Minister has again come under fire for pulling out of a debate on the Irish Water saga. Alan Kelly had been scheduled to attend MacGill Summer School in Glenties tonight, but withdrew because of a diary clash. A Right 2 Water protest was planned to coincide with tonight’s debate – that will now

The HSE’s Public Health Specialist in Donegal is warning that if more children aren’t immunised in Donegal, there is a risk of serious diseases spreading. The HSE says in order to protect all children from certain serious infections, over 95% of babies must be vaccinated, but at present, current uptake rates for the 13 month

Police investigating a fatal road traffic collision on the Moneymore to Cookstown Dual Carriageway on Friday last continue to appeal for witnesseses. Victor Wylie, who was in his sixties, died when the tractor he was driving was involved in a collision with a blue coloured Honda 4×4 on the Moneymore bound carriageway at around 9.30am.

A Donegal mountaineer says a deadly avalanche on a nearby mountain won’t put him off attempting to climb K2. Jason Black, from Letterkenny, is preparing for the expedition on what’s believed to be the world’s most dangerous mountain. An avalanche struck on another peak beside his current position yesterday, hitting a crew who had shared

A DUP MLA has claimed that police have admitted to him that they got it wrong over their handling of the funeral of Peggy O’Hara. Up to 100 men and women in paramilitary uniforms formed a guard of honour as the cortège of the 86-year-old mother of hunger striker Patsy O’Hara made its way through

Three areas of Donegal will share over €920,000 in funding following publication of the latest round of the Fishery Harbours Capital Investment Programme. The bulk of the Donegal allocation will go to Killybegs, with money also set aside for Burtonport and Port Arthur. It’s part of a national programme worth €5 million, with Deputy Dinny

The HSE has expressed concern following what’s been described as a “significant” drop in the number of babies being vaccinated in Donegal. Parents are being urged to ensure they avail of all vaccinations, with the HSE pointing out it takes five GP visits to ensure a child is fully protected against serious diseases. While most

The Tanaiste says she cannot see the purpose of planned protest by an anti-water charges group in Glenties on Friday evening. Right2Water is planning to hold a protest to coincide with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s visit to the MacGill Summer School on Friday. The organisers of the MacGill Summer School has expressed concerns about the

The Fianna Fail leader says he believes the party can win two seats in Co Donegal in the next General Election. Donegal will become a five seater constituency in the next election. Deputy Charlie McConalogue will aim to retain his seat, while no other candidates have been confirmed. There has been speculation that former Minister

A 23 year old man has been arrested for possession of an offensive weapon in Derry. The arrest follows reports of a man with a knife in the Strand Road and Laurence Hill areas of the city this afternoon.

A Derry man has been returned for trial to the local Crown Court charged with two counts of rape that were said to have occurred in 1988. 56 year oldf William Simpson of Pennethorne Court in Derry appeared at a preliminary enquiry at Derry Magistrate’s Court today. He was charged with the rape of a

The Bishop of Raphoe Dr Philip Boyce has announced a number of clerical changes for the Raphoe diocese. In a straight swap, Fr Philip Kemmy will leave Convoy / Drumkeen to become curate in the Cathedral parish of Conwal and Leck, with Fr Stephen Gorman moving in the opposite direction. Fr Liam Boyle will leave

A Co Donegal man is among three men who have been found guilty of conspiring to murder Johnny ‘Mad Dog’ Adair. He was also convicted of plotting to kill Ulster Defence Association leading figure Sam ‘Skelly’ McCrory, one of Adair’s closest allies. Duffy’s cousin Martin Hughes and Paul Sands were also convicted over the same

A Donegal County Councillor is accusing the government of pulling a cynical con with the announcement that Councils may reallocate monies for regional and local roads to Local Improvement Schemes and Community Involvement Schemes. Last week, Minister for State at the Department of Transport, Micheal Ring announced an additional 1.5 million euro will go to

  A 28-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of two priests in their homes in Omagh. He was detained in the Sion Mills area on Monday morning and is being held on suspicion of robbery and possession of a firearm. The man is in police custody being questioned about robberies

The unstable political landscape in Ireland will be discussed at the annual MacGill Summer School in Co Donegal this week. It is the 35th year of the event, which sees discussions and debates taking place until this Friday in the village of Glenties. Government and Opposition politicians will take part in discussions with economists and

Former Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell has lashed out at the Fennelly Inquiry into the resignation of the former Garda Commissioner. Speaking at MacGill Summer School, Mr McDowell said the Commission of Investigation was ‘no substitute’ for a parliamentary inquiry – and said it forces deputies to wait for answers. A draft Fennelly report

The funeral has taken place of Letterkenny teenager Tory Johnstone, who died suddenly last week. Mourners gathered to pay their final respects to the 17-year-old during her funeral mass at St Eunan’s Cathedral yesterday afternoon. She was buried afterwards in nearby Conwal Cemetery. The 17-year-old had been in Letterkenny’s Voodoo nightclub last Tuesday night. Local

  An investigation is underway into the wearing of paramilitary uniforms & shots being fired in Derry over recent days. The incidents are believed to be connected to the wake and funeral of Peggy O’Hara, the mother of INLA hunger striker Patsy O’Hara, in Derry. Police carried out searches in Derry this morning in connection

    An agreement between MBC Builders (Gildea), Ballybofey and Inishowen groups opposed to water meters has been reached following a meeting held in An Grianan Hotel, Burt, Co Donegal on Thursday 16th July. The meeting came about as a result of John Gildea, MBC Builders, recently contacting James Quigley, a local anti water charge

A 25 year old man has been arrested in connection with a cash-in-transit van robbery in Coleraine yesterday. Two men, one of whom was armed with a gun, the other with a crowbar, threatened the van driver in the Riverside Retail Park at around 1.45pm, making off with a cashbox. Officers investigating the armed robbery