Author name: oisinkelly

A man has appeared in court in Derry charged with the theft of two testers from Boots valued at one pence each. Keith Shannon (44) with an address at Lower Main Street in Letterkenny or alternatively at 60, Coast Road in Larne was charged with stealing the items on November 22 and on November 26.

A major clampdown on driving under the influence of drugs comes into force today, along with blood tests for unconscious drivers involved in crashes. Speaking at the launch of the Christmas and New Year Safety Campaign today, Transport Minister Pascal Donahoe confirmed that US-style co-ordination tests for those suspected of being under the influence are

The new IBEC North West President says Donegal County Council’s should do everything in its power to prioritise local economic development. Ian Ireland was elected for a two-year term at IBEC’s North West AGM this week. IBEC says that Commercial rates hit SMEs hardest as they generally represent the third biggest outlay for small businesses,

Part of Altnagelvin hospital in Derry was evacuated today after smoke was discovered in one of the wards. Up to 21 patients were moved from ward 5 to another area of the hospital. No one was injured. The alarm was raised when smoke was reported coming from a ‘bed pan washer’ The Western Health Trust

Detectives investigating paramilitary activity have arrested four men in County Derry. A man aged 31, two men in their fifties and a 62-year-old were arrested at houses in the Dungiven area. Police also carried out a series of searches. They said they were investigating paramilitary activity, including shootings and threats, predominantly over the past four

Blood samples can be taken from all drivers involved in road crashes from today – including those who cannot give consent. The measure is part of tighter road safety regulations, which come into effect today ahead of Christmas. Minister for Transport Pascal Donohoe will announce the closure of a loophole, which allowed drunken drivers to

Donegal County Council has said it has begun installing Carbon Monoxide alarms and radon gas monitors in its rented housing stock as part of a programme to upgrade insulation in all council houses. This will be done over the next few years as all houses are being brought to current standards. Cllr Gerry Crawford, who

Approximately 50kg of cocaine has been found in a delivery of furniture in County Tyrone. Police say detectives from the PSNI’s Organised Crime Branch attended a commercial premises on Tuesday after information was passed to them. Suitcases full of bags of white powder were found inside a recently delivered container of furniture. They have tested

Two men in their early 30s have been arrested on suspicion of drugs offences in Derry. The arrests came after police stopped a car at Madam’s Bank Road last evening. A 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing a Class B drug; cultivating cannabis; being involved in the supply of a Class B drug;

A 16-year-old youth on a knife charge was barred today from Co. Donegal. The teenager was given bail so long as he stays with a relative in another county. A stabbing incident in Letterkenny last night  was described at Glenties District Court today(Wed) when the youth was accused of producing a knife to intimidate another

Gardai have launched an investigation after a woman and her nephew were rescued after their flat caught fire. The incident happened yesterday evening at the Westside Apartments off Letterkenny’s Main Street. Martin Toye and his auntie were taken to safety once fire crews had extinguished the blaze. Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show, Martin said

There was good news for Donegal Airport today following the announcement that the Public Service Obligation is to continue on the Donegal Dublin route. Stobart Air has been successful in securing the tender to provide the air services on the the route until January 2017. Local Deputy Dinny McGinley has welcomed the news. He says

Up to 40 children had a lucky escape this morning after a school bus caught fire in Letterkenny. The incident happened shortly after 8:30am at the Mountaintop, straight across from the entrance to Foxhills. The fire brigade were quickly on the scene and the children were evacuated safely off the coach. The school bus was

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