Author name: oisinkelly

A Derry man who was jailed for life for the murder of his pregnant ex-girlfriend has had his conviction quashed by the Court of Appeal in Dublin. 42 year old Stephen Cahoon, whose last address was Harvey Street, Derry, admitted strangling Jean Quigley on 26 July, 2008. However he denied it was murder. He was

A Donegal County Cllr has said that the latest unemployment figures from the Government are misleading and “nothing more than spin”. New figures from the Central Statistics Office yesterday showed the unemployment rate at 10.1 per cent last month – down from 10.3 per cent in January. Just over 355,000 people are claiming some form

Letterkenny Institute of Technology is one step closer to gaining University status. LYIT along with Galway-Mayo IT and Sligo IT yesterday submitted a formal Expression of Interest to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for re-designation as a Technological University. The three partners believe that the proposed Technological University will better serve the needs of the

A court has heard that Gardai had to tend to the injured at the scene of an alleged assault causing harm, while waiting for the emergency services to arrive. The incident happened at about six o’clock on Tuesday evening when a man and a woman were allegedly assaulted in Ballyshannon. Gardai were called to the

A court has heard a recording of a 999 call the girlfriend of a Derry murder victim made begging for help after a masked man shot her boyfriend. 60-year-old Kieran McLaughlin from Elaghmore Park in Derry, denies the murder of Barry McCrory in the city centre in October 2013. Mr McCrory was found face down

Thieves who steal mobile phones can expect no mercy in court according to a Donegal judge. Judge Kevin Kilrane gave the warning at Donegal Town district court this morning. At Donegal Town District Court today Gerard Crosby of Drumeeny Upper, Donegal Town was jailed for four months suspended for two years, for stealing two mobile

Gardai in Donegal say a gang has been carrying out burglaries across the county in recent weeks, and a number of houses and business have been targetted. Last week in the Glenties area, Crime Prevention Sergeant Paul Wallace says a stolen sports car was intercepted when it was noticed that the car had number plates

Proposals to scrap roaming charges on calls, text and mobile data look set to be watered down. Last year the European Parliament had voted in favour of ending roaming charges across the EU, by December of this year. But now, under new proposals, there would be a delay to scrapping the charges until 2018 at

It’s being claimed that Translink are planning to cut a number of services in Strabane and Omagh. It’s understood that a number of services connecting to rural areas in West Tyrone will be cut by Translink after meeting took place last week. The company have said that only services that are rarely used will be

Fianna Fails Health spokesperson says its a lot harder for Letterkenny General to attract consultants and junior doctors to work at the hospital. Billy Kelleher was speaking after he took in a tour of the Letterkenny General Hospital yesterday. Speaking to Highland Radio News after that tour he said it was obvious that staff are

Fianna Fails Health spokesperson has said staff at Letterkenny General Hospital are under extreme pressure. 29 people are waiting for a bed at the hospital today according to the latest INMO figures, and figures have been high on daily basis in recent weeks. Billy Kelleher visited a number of primary care centres in Co Donegal

Ireland looks set to become the first European country to introduce plain packaging on cigarettes later tonight. The law banning branded tobacco products is making its way through the Seanad this evening and will then be passed to the President to sign into law. Despite a threat of legal action from tobacco firms, the Children’s

A number of events and festivals in Co Donegal are to receive government funding to boost tourism activity. Fifteen events and festivals along the Wild Atlantic Way in the county will receive 42,500 euro. Event                                                                                                      County                        Grant   Donegal International Rally Donegal                                       8,000 Taste of Donegal Food Festival Donegal                                       5,000 World

Police in Derry are appealing for information following an incident of criminal damage that occurred in the Campion Court area sometime between 10.30pm on Thursday 26 February and 5.15am on Friday 27 February. At this time it is believed that suspected acid was poured over a car. Investigating officer, Constable Kearney is appealing to anyone

Co Donegal can expect more wintry showers this afternoon as a status orange weather alert remains in place. The Northwest woke to a blanket of snow and ice this morning after heavy snow in Counties Donegal, Derry and Tyrone. Councils had to use snow ploughs to keep some routes clear this morning, while dozens of

A shop in Letterkenny has been robbed at knifepoint in the early hours of this morning. The incident happened at Black’s Centra at the bottom of the town. A man, who was wearing a balaclava, entered the premises at 1.24 am this morning and produced what gardai described as “a large knife” and demanded cash

  A Derry councillor says he’s hopeful money will be made available soon for improvements to the train station on Derry’s Waterside. Cllr Martin Reilly says with passengers numbers increasing on the Derry to Belfast line and plans for a passing loop which would allow the introduction of an hourly service, it’s vital that the

Loyalist bandsmen are to take part in the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis for the first time. The Loyalist Londonderry Bands Forum is to make a presentation during a fringe event at the annual conference in Derry this weekend. The two-day Ard Fheis is being held in the Millennium Forum. It is only the second time

School Closures: St Mary’s National School, Stranorlar will be closed today Dooish National School will be closed today St Stafans National School, Doneyloop, Castlefin will be closed today St Eunans National School, Raphoe will be closed today ShessiaghoneillNationalSchool, Ballybofey Boyagh National School, Porthall, Lifford Welshtown National School, Welshtown, Ballybofey Donoughmore National School, Liscooley, Castlefin Gairm

A man has gone on trial accused of “executing’’ Barry McCroy with a shotgun as he lay in bed at a flat in Derry city centre. 60-year-old Kieran McLaughlin of Elaghmore Park, Galliagh, denies murdering Mr McCrory on October 10, 2013 at a block of flats in Shipquay Street where he was in bed with

A solicitor has told a judge in Derry today that anyone charged with drug offences in the city could be shot by paramilitaries. Mr. Paddy MacDermott made his remarks when applying for anonymity for a man charged with a series of drug offences. The solicitor said that while there was no specific threat against his

Up to 120 new jobs could be created in Killybegs after planning permission was granted for a new bio-marine ingredients facility. Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland Ltd (BII) has been notified by Donegal County Council of its intent to grant planning permission for its new €40 million facility. A spokesman for the company said the announcement would

Fianna Fail’s Health Spokesperson is to visit Donegal on a fact finding mission tomorrow to assess health services in the county. Billy Kelleher will meet with primary care teams, but the centrepiece of his visit will be a visit to Letterkenny General Hospital where he will be briefed by management and staff. Donegal North East

The Manager of Letterkenny General Hospital says he believes the agreement reached on Friday last regarding the way forward for breast cancer services is the right one. Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Sean Murphy says the appointment of another General Surgeon at the hospital will allow services continue and provide Consultant Breast Surgeon Michael

There was a 50% increase in the number of housing commencements in Donegal last year, compared to a national increase of 30%. However, the county recorded the state’s largest fall in planning applications last year, while the national trend was up. The number of applications in Donegal was down 15% in 2014, compared to a

The campaign group Cooperating for Cancer Care North West says it believes there will be no issues with capacity at the new radiotherapy unit which is being built at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, and is due to open next year. Concerns had been expressed in some quarters that Donegal patients would only be accomodated in