A 41-year-old Derry was today  told that it was ‘almost inevitable’ that he was gong to prison after he admitted eight charges of making indecent images of children at Derry Crown Court.

Adrian Mark Goligher of Stevenson Park, Tullyally was charged with making the images which the court heard were in the form of films on dates between September 24 2007 and November 19 2007.

He was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register and released on continuing bail on condition he had no unsupervised contact with children under 18.

Niall Blaney, TD

Fianna Fail TD Niall Blaney is seeking a meeting with Dr James Mc Daid to discuss the ongoing rift between them which has today seen Dr Mc Daid withdraw his support from the government. In a letter to Chief Whip Pat Carey, Dr Mc Daid blames what he terms the “farcical” outcome of the first meeting of the newly amalgamated Letterkenny Milford Dail Comhairle Ceanntair.

Dr Mc Daid and a number of his supporters walked out of that meeting after the first two positions to be voted on went to supporters of Deputy Blaney.

Dr Mc Daid said in the letter that this made it clear to him that he was “superfluous” to the party.

Deputy Blaney says the walkout took place when only two of thirteen positions had been filled, and he has already attempted to ring Dr Mc Daid to seek a resolution: 

A date for the trial of a 37 year old Derry man accused of murdering a pregnant mother of four has been set for next year.

Stephen Cahoon of Harvey Street in Derry has pleaded NOT guilty to the murder of Jean Quigley.

His trial is due to start on July 12th next at the Central Criminal Court.

Cllr. McLochlainn

Inishowen Councillors have expressed their dissatisfaction with the news that the council plans to scrap proposals for an Inishowen local area plan in favour of a county wide development plan.

When the issue was raised by Councillor Padraig McLoughlainn he was told that because of funding constraints the money was not available.

The county manager did say however that the council as a whole will have an opportunity to decide if resources for the county development plan be diverted for a Inishowen development plan.

This has been rejected by Councillor McLoughlainn who said it was essential that seperate funding be made available for a dedicated Inishowen LAP  

Donegal County Council will adjourn its monthly meeting this afternoon for a discussion on the Stranorlar / Ballybofey by-pass.

Earlier this month An Bord Pleanala refused planning permission for the development on a number of grounds.

In refusing permission the board called for the scheme to be redesigned and a new EIS to be carried out highlighting road safety and environmental protection as its principal concerns.

Councillors will this afternoon discuss what action the local authority can play in getting the project back on line.

Deputy Dr James Mc Daid has withdrawn his support for the Government today.

It follows an acrimonious meeting of Fianna Fail members in Letterkenny last evening which saw the Deputy and a number of his supporters stage a walk-out.

The party had met to appoint officers for the old Letterkenny / Milford electoral area however when the first two position went to Deputy Niall Blaney supporters Dr McDaid got up and left.

He was followed by Councillors Tadg Cullburt, Victor Fisher and Ciaran Brogan and today he informed the party whip by letter that he had withdrawn his support for government.

In his letter Dr McDaid said that as a result of a farcical inaugural meeting of the Letterkenny/Milford C.C. last night, he felt compelled to inform the party  he has withdrawn his support from Fianna Fail.

He re-iterated his calls for a General Election claiming that it would be in the interest of Fianna Fail and by extension in the interest of the country.

Outlining how intends to vote on Dail motions he said that in a voting situation on the negative side one can abstain, be absent or against.

He said he has exercised two of those options in the past and now feels free to exercise the third, if and when he deems it necessary.

Dr James McDaid concluded by saying that it was made clear to him last night that he is superfluous to the requirements of Fianna Fail and that he will not stand over the party being decimated either locally or nationally.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach is refusing to answer any questions about Deputy McDaid’s decision: 

A Donegal priests has described the church as now an obstacle to faith.

Fr Edward Kilpatrick used his sermon yesterday, like most priests across the county, to respond to the publication of the Murphy Report into clerical child sexual abuse in the Dublin Archdiocese.

Fr Kilpatrick said it was a measure of the arrogance of the bishops in Ireland that only some had responded to the reports finding and when they did, it was in statements that were weak, spineless and mealymouthed.

A Donegal County Council has described his disgust with those responsible for attacks on homes in the Cavinhill area of Lifford.

At the weekend missiles were thrown at homes in Cavinhil, many occupied by the elderly, while a car was found burnt out in the area thought to be connected to those responsible for the attacks.

Councillor Gerry Crawford says those responsible are thugs and locals are beginning to lose faith with the gardai and how there dealing with the problem.:

Gardai are urging motorists to exercise extreme caution this morning as freezing conditions and black ice have left a number of roads in a dangerous condition.

A number of minor accidents have been reported already this morning with roads in the north of the county reported as particularly dangerous.

Cars have left the road in Barnes Gap, on the Burt Road and the Fahan Road. While a number of accidents have also been reported on the a stretches between Newtowncunningham and Bridgend and between Donegal Town and Mountcharles

Retail Ireland says every 150 cross-border shopping trips represent the loss of one job.

The organisation is warning that 1,700 jobs will be lost during the month of November and possibly December if action isn’t taken in next month’s Budget.

It says economies in the border counties of Cavan, Donegal, Louth and Monaghan are being devastated.

Retail Ireland Director is Torlach Denihan – he says people have to be encouraged to spend more money here: