Author name: oisinkelly

The Health Minister’s warning against a focus on ambulance response times in the wake of a daming report into the service. The health watchdog – HIQA – produced the review, highlighting how ambulances are being held up outside hospitals for long periods due to overcrowding in A&E. This was identified as a factor in the

Ireland’s most famous amateur weatherman has said he is certain that many parts of Ireland will see plenty of snow over the festive season. Postman Michael Gallagher is famous for his forecasts through studying the behaviour of plants and animals. He says all the signs are that we are in for a white Christmas……

A retired Donegal garda sergeant, who was bitten on both arms while attempting to arrest a woman, has spoke of the six months he spent worrying if he had contracted Aids. Christy Galligan says he was bit on both forearms when he tried to arrest a woman near Larkins Lane in Letterkenny after he found

The Garda Commissioner says the force will never give up in the search for any missing person. Noirin O’Sullivan was speaking at the second annual missing persons day ceremony in Dublin. Among those who spoke at the ceremony was Anne Boyle from Burtonport, whose daughter Mary has been missing since 1977. The force deals with

The ESB is playing down fears about a batch of defective poles which have reportedly led to a ban on staff climbing them. The issue was raised this week by Donegal councillor Seamus O’Domhnaill, who says he believes the company purchased poles between 1996 and 2008 which are defective, and may be susceptible to rotting

Gardai in Letterkenny are appealing for information about a violent robbery in the town centre on Friday afternoon last. Details are only now coming to light about the incident in the car park behind AIB Babnk and the courthouse at 1.30 in the afternoon. A businessman was knocked unconscious and robbed, as Detective Chief Inspector

60 million euro is to be spent on improvements to national roads. The National Roads Authority identified roads in counties Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Louth, Meath, Mayo and Roscommon to benefit from the latest round of funding. The Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe announced the money, which will be spent over the next three years. The

The monitored security company PhoneWatch has opened an office in Letterkenny, with up to new 20 jobs expected as a result. The company says additional jobs will be created in the future as PhoneWatch grows its business in Donegal and the surrounding counties. Alen Tully, Sales Director of PhoneWatch says staff are currently being recruited,

There are calls for an investigation as to why 75% of first time offers of social housing in the Stranorlar Municipal District are being refused. Councillor Gerry Crawford has raised the issue in the council chamber, stating the rate of refusal is unacceptable high. He wants the council to ascertain the reason why……..

A Sinn Fein Councillor arrested yesterday in Dunglven as part of an ongoing PSNI operation has been released unconditionally. 59-year-old Cllr Sean Mc Glinchey, a former Mayor of Limavady, is one of seven people to be arrested over the past week. Of the other six men detained, five, including another Sinn Fein Cllr Tony Mc

The Department of the Environment is to intervene on the issue of defective blocks used in homes in Co Donegal. Defective breeze blocks, which contain Mica can cause web-like cracking on the plaster of the house and lead to structural failings. It’s estimated that up to 2,000 properties in Donegal may have been affected by

A Donegal County councillor is calling on the ESB to release information it has on defective electricity poles. It’s understood that the company purchased poles between 1996 and 2008 which are more likely to rot underground. Councillor Seamus O’Domhnaill says the ESB has issued safety warnings to staff not to climb poles until they are

A garda is due to stand trial twice next year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges of harassing two women. 38-year-old Garda Donal Maguire is charged with harassing one woman at a location in Dublin over a period in 2012. He is also charged with harassing a second woman at a location in Dublin

The government is to apply to the European Court of Human Rights to revisit a torture claim against the British authorities. In 1978, the Strasbourg court ruled that 14 men interned in Northern Ireland were subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment – but not torture. In the 1970s 14 men were interned in Northern Ireland

A doctor who treated a mother who died hours after giving birth says she would have brought her to hospital two weeks earlier had she been her patient. Dr Heather Langan was speaking at the inquest into the death of Sally Rowlette at Sligo courthouse. The 36 year old died after giving birth to her

Another Sinn Fein Councillor has been arrested in Dunglven as part of an ongoing PSNI operation. 59-year-old Cllr Sean Mc Glinchey, a former Mayor of Limavady, was detained in Dungiven this morning, and is being questioned in Antrim Police Station. He is the seventh person to be arrested in the investigation over the past five

800 second level teachers in Donegal are striking today in protest at proposed changes to the way the Junior Cert exam is structured. Sean Carr is a teacher at St Eunan’s College in Letterkenny and a member of the ASTI. Speaking on the picket line at the college this morning, he said teachers accept change

800 Donegal post-primary teachers are taking part in a strike today in protest at changes to the Junior Cert. Members of the TUI and the ASTI will be on picket lines outside schools across the county. The main sticking point in the dispute is the requirement for teachers to assess their own students exams. Teacher

  A report to be published later is expected to highlight delays in ambulances responding to ‘999’ calls. The Health Information and Quality Authority report will point to problems with crews being held up at hospital emergency departments. Among the cases expected to be addressed by the report is that of 70 year old Maura

A man from Letterkenny in County Donegal has been ordered to stay out of Derry City apart from court appearances as part of his bail conditions. Brendan Boyle (49) of 96, Meadowbank in Letterkenny appeared at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with three assaults, criminal damage, disorderly behaviour, possessing an offensive weapon namely a glass and

The money lending firm Provident Personal Credit has been fined €105,000 by the Central Bank for breaching regulations designed to protect customers. The offences were centred on the company’s Donegal operation. An investigation into the company’s Letterkenny’s office found that in the case of 117 loans issued between 2009 and 2012, the company effectively lent

Police in Strabane are appealing for information following a burglary at a house in the Dunnyboe Road area of Dunamanagh last night, during which a man in his 70s was assaulted. Detectivers are particularly interested in tracing the movements of a Seat Toledo car which they believe was used in the incident. It was later

As secondary teachers prepare to strike tomorrow, Donegal Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue says the dispute should be referred to the Labour Relations Commission. Plans to reform the Junior Cert are at the centre of the row, and Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan says she’s the only one who has moved position significantly – she says the

An inquest into the death of a woman who died after giving birth at Sligo Regional Hospital is due to get underway today. Sally Rowlette was 36-years-old when she gave birth to her fourth child in Feburary 2013. She passed away the following day. According to an autopsy report, she died from HELLP syndrome, a

The road between Ballybofey and Castlefinn has been closed this morning following a collision at Cloughfin. Diversions are in place via Clady. Gardai have indicated there was a collision involving non-fatal injuries, and the road has been closed for a technical examination. No further details have been disclosed by gardai. A 31 year old man has