Author name: oisinkelly

Donegal is losing out on potential job creation because of government inactivity in broadband provision. That’s according to Donegal South West Deputy Thomas Pringle, who says this week’s National Broadband Plan offers no timeframe for the provision of broadband into rural areas which are not being serviced by the private sector. He says the government […]

There are renewed calls for the permanent dismantling of Castlederg Police Station following confirmation that the practice of opening the station for five hours every week is to be discontinued. Local Cllr Ruairi McHugh says this announcement reaffirms Sinn Fein’s position that what he termed “this militarized barracks” does nothing to achieve civic, accountable and

One of the four elderly siblings robbed in Clady last evening says they won’t be frightened out of their home. Ethna Sproule was in their rural home on Tullymoan Road just before 6 o’clock yesterday evening along with her sister Kathleen and brothers Sam and James when four masked men entered the farmyard. One of

A 19-year-old man has been arrested in the Shantallow area of Derry in relation to serious crime in the city. He was detained this morning and taken the serious crime suite at Antrim police station. Police also carried out searches in the Shantallow and Strathfoyle area.  

Noirin O’Sullivan has been appointed as the Garda Commissioner on a permanent basis. She’s been confirmed as a permanent appointment after this morning’s cabinet meeting. The Department of Justice said Ms O’Sullivan was the sole candidate recommended by a “high-level interview panel” which conducted two rounds of interviews. The incoming chair of the new independent

A Donegal County Cllr has expressed his opposition to a conference to be held in Cork this Friday. The conference, which all Cllrs are invited to, is entitled ‘The effects of Budget 2015.’ Cllrs can claim almost €750 made up of a €65 conference fee, subsistence of €122.70 and a mileage allowance of €555.26. Independent

There’s been a dramatic fall in the average wage for Irish workers – in just three months. New figures published by the C-S-O show wages fell by 1.9 per cent in the three months between July and September. The average weekly wage is now 671 euro and 70 cent – or the equivalent of just

Four people in their 70s, 80s and 90s, have been robbed at a farm in Clady. Just before 6 o clock yesterday evening, four masked men forced a man his 70s to the ground in the farmyard on Tullymoan Road. The victim suffered a minor injury. They then entered the farm armed with a grape

At the current rate of investment it would take Donegal County Council 200 years to clear its social housing waiting list. That’s according to Cllr Ian McGarvey who is calling on the council to implement a new House Building Policy to tackle the issue. He says just ten units of social housing will be built

Donegal Council Councillors have passed a special section 140 motion directing council management not to pass on council house tenant information to Irish Water. However councillors were told that the motion may be void if council management are requested to hand over the information by law. Councillor Jack Murray says that even if the motion

Martin McGuinness has said it was “absolutely appalling” to hear Gregory Campbell’s remarks about the Irish language at the DUP conference. Gregory Campbell told DUP members at the weekend the party would treat Sinn Féin’s “entire wish list” as no more than toilet paper. He also made reference to the ‘curry my yoghurt’ row from

The Government has unveiled the next phase of the national Broadband plan today. A map has been published showing where high-speed internet connections will be introduced by the provate sector by the end of 2016, and also the areas that will need State intervention to reach the same standard. 500 million Euro is being invested

Derry Magistrate’s Court heard today how a young woman was found with serious internal injuries and was rushed to hospital in a ‘critical condition’ after an alleged rape at an address in the city. Appearing before the court was 20 year old Aaron Hyland  of Cranbrook Court in Belfast who is charged with rape on

Donegal County Council is to write to the minister for the environment, community and local government calling for a team of experts to visit Donegal to access the problem of crumbling breeze blocks. It’s estimated that over 2000 homes in north Donegal could be affected by the defective blocks. They cause cracking in external and

Donegal County council is to lobby the government to reverse a decision which has cut funding to the Whiteoaks Rehabilitation centre. A change of government policy means that funding given to the centre through the council to assist with homelessness has been withdrawn. The motion was brought forward by councillor Gerry McMonagle who believes the

Over 2,500 patients have been waiting a year or more to see a specilist at Letterkenny General Hospital. The figures released by the Irish Indepdendent today show that 18.6% of patients who attend Letterkenny General have been waiting a year or more. Overall 46,624 patients have been waiting a year or more across the country,

East Derry MLA Gregory Campbell has said he has received a ‘serious death threat’ following comments he made about the Irish language. It’s understood Mr Campbell is currently dealing with police after receiving a threat on his life. The death threats against Gregory Campbell comes after the DUP MP reiterated comments about the Irish language

More than 50 firefighters are battling a blaze at an industrial recycling plant in Omagh, County Tyrone. The fire at the plant on Barony Road, Mountfield, broke out at about 4:15am this morning. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has asked members of the public to avoid the area and keep roads clear for

The funerals of two Donegal men who died in a farming accident in Killygordon on Friday evening are taking place today and tomorrow. Neighbours Kevin Woods and Seamus Hegarty were killed after a tractor tyre they were changing exploded. Both men were 52 and from the Raphoe area. It brings the total to 28 farming

The volunteer crew of Bundoran RNLI lifeboat were launched over the weekend after reports of a surfer in difficulty at main Beach, Bundoran. The crew were paged at 4pm on Saturday evening by Malin Head Coast Guard. However, as they were approaching the scene, they were told the surfer had made his way safely to

  Maps showing where broadband is and isn’t available are to be published tomorrow. People who have no decent connection will soon know when services are likely to improve in their area. They’ll detail the locations across the country that will have access to high speed, high-quality internet connection by the end of 2016. More

  Police in Derry are continuing their investigations following reports that shots were fired  at the front door of a house in the Circular road area of the city last night. The incident is said to have taken place at approx 10 o’clock last night. There are no reports of any injuries.  

A Health and Safety Authority investigation is due to get under way today following the death of two men in a farm accident in Killygordan. Neighbours Kevin Woods and Seamus Hegarty were killed after a tractor tyre they were changing exploded – both men are 52 and from the Raphoe area. According to Gardai, the

  A 24 hour protest by Can’t Pay Won’t Pay outside Junior Minister Joe McHugh’s office has ended. The protest in Letterkenny, against water charges, began at midday yesterday and finished at midday today. The group continued with their 24 hour protest, despite a meeting proposed by Deputy McHugh to discuss their concerns. Independent Cllr