Author name: oisinkelly

A 23-year-old man and 17-year-old youth arrested following damage to cars in Derry on Tuesday have been released on bail pending further enquiries. The two cars which were damaged belong to Sinn Fein councillors Collie Kelly and Sandra Duffy, with the party linking the incidents to a number of other attacks on the homes and […]

Junior Minister Joe Mc Hugh has said continued support for cross border projects and initiatives is crucial for the economic development of Donegal and surrounding counties. Mr Mc Hugh made his comments this morning at the 7th Annual Laurentic Conference and Commemoration, which is underway at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Today, the event is exploring

A Donegal Deputy has said a suggestion by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan that some people are “allergic to work” is insulting and offensive to those seeking jobs in the county. Speaking at a Kilkenny Chamber of Commerce lunch on Wednesday, Mr Noonan said that “we all know there will be people who will never

There were more than 5,500 people waiting more than a year for an outpatient appointment at Letterkenny General Hospital in the last year. The statistics released by the HSE show there has been a 329% increase in waiting list figures over the past year. And in just two months, the figures have increased by more

British Prime Minister David Cameron looks set for re-election, with his Conservative Party on the brink of a majority in the House of Commons. It’s been a devastating night for Labour under Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’ s Liberal Democrats – with both looking likely to resign. The SNP meanwhile has won

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in Derry on suspicion of supplying drugs. He was detained in the city centre yesterday by members of the Foyle City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team following a report from a member of the public. The boy has since been released and is to be reported to the Public Prosecution

A man is suspected of sexually assaulting at least two women after arranging to meet them on a dating website. It’s understood that the man posted a fake profile of himself that showed him to be around 20 years younger than he is. The latest incident involving the middle-aged suspected sex offender happened at an

There has been another stand-off between residents and Irish Water contractors in West Donegal today. Earlier this morning there was a stand-off in Burtonport, while there is a stand-off in Cotteen, Gweedore this afternoon. It’s understood there has been up to 20 people involved. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, says they’ve reached an agreement

A consultation process has been opened on how best to organise education in Gaeltacht Areas, with a new discussion document published this week. Junior Gaeltacht Minister Joe Mc Hugh says the proposals are intended to strengthen Irish-medium education in the Gaeltacht as part of the 20-Year Strategy for Irish. He says children raised through Irish

The Steering Committee of the Donegal Marathon have just announced that they will be adopting a bi-lingual approach to this year’s event, and into the future. Committee Chairman Dessie Larkin says this reflects the large Gaeltacht areas of the county, from where many of the participants will come. A new bi-lingual logo has been adopted,

A Donegal TD says initiatives to provide free GP care to people over 70 and under six may lead to a reduction in the overall quality of care if there are not enough doctors in the county to cope with the extra demand. Deputy Thomas Pringle says there’s been a steady decline in the number

Thousands of Donegal teachers are taking part in a lunchtime protest today in opposition to proposals for Junior Cycle Reform. Teachers maintain the changes will will undermine standards, equity and fairness. The protesta are being organised by second-level teacher unions the ASTI and the TUI. Neill Curran is the Donegal representative for the ASTI –

Donegal could be set to become a national centre of renewable energy after a US company confirmed this week it is establishing an Irish base at the Co-Lab at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. ORPC, the Ocean Renewable Power Company will work with the college and Donegal County Council, with the council’s CEO Seamus Neely saying

A Northwest MEP has slammed the Governments inaction on the Gweedore Sewerage scheme. The €13m Gweedore Sewerage Scheme was approved by the then Environment Minister, Phil Hogan, in November 2013. But although the scheme has been approved and millions of euro have been spent so far, not one pipe has been laid yet. MEP Matt

A Donegal Deputy has said that threats that water charges could be deducted from a person’s salary or their benefit payments is scaremongering. The cabinet will meet this evening to discuss plans to remove the threat of jail from people who refuse to pay water charges. The proposals from the Departments of Justice and Environment

Another Sinn Fein politician has received a death threat this afternoon. The parties Westminster candidate for East Derry Caoimhe Archibald has received a death threat from a group styling itself the Real UFF. The threat came in the post on a sympathy card to her home. The latest threat comes following attacks on cars belinging

The HSE has agreed to subsidise flight costs for children in the county with life limiting conditions in order to travel to Dublin for treatment. It follows intensive discussions between HSE personnel and the group ‘Our Children’s Voice’ to allow sick children to fly from Donegal Airport to avail of treatment at hospitals in the

The North’s Deputy First Minister says attacks on Sinn Fein representatives are futile, and will not deflect the party from its work, or from its support of the peace process. Martin Mc Guinness was speaking in Derry this morning following the latest incidents, which involved attacks on cars belinging to Cllrs Colly Kelly and Sandra

Irish Water contractors have removed water meters from outside two houses in West Donegal. It happened near Annagry, where a stand off developed early this morning. The meters were placed outside houses which belong to a private group water scheme which is not under Irish Water’s control. Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig, who lives

Two men have been arrested in Derry in connection with the latest in a series of attacks on the homes and properties of Sinn Fein representatives in the city. It follows attacks on cars belonging to two of the party’s councillors. Shortly before 1.50am, police received reports that a car parked in the Kildrum Gardens

The number of patients on trolleys in Irish hospitals is still increasing. Figures compiled by the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation for last month are up 26 per-cent on last year and 73 per-cent since April 2006. Letterkenny General Hospital saw a fall last month, with a total of 299 people on trollies across the

A Donegal Councillor is calling for the fast tracking of proposed sea defences for Creeslough. Councillor John Sheamais Ó Fearraigh made the comments following recent discussions with An Bord Pleanála about the reinstatement of the area’s coastal defences which were destroyed last year. That caused the flooding of some 64 acres of nearby farmland in

Work is beginning today on the next phase of the new pedestrian and cycle bridge in Strabane, with the project now at assembly stage. The mast components for the bridge will arrive on site today. The council says welding work on the mast is expected to continue until the beginning of next month, with the

The Finance Minister says he has no objection to reducing the bankruptcy period – but not as part of planned solutions to mortgage arrears. The coalition’s to make changes to the insolvency arrangements in the coming weeks with new legislation from the Department of Justice. Labour backbencher Willie Penrose has proposed reducing the bankruptcy period