A County Councillor has claimed that many people on council housing estates are having delays in their problems being resolved because they are being passed from one department to another.

Councillor Thomas Pringle is to raise the issue at the council’s next monthly meeting claiming there is confusion as to which section of the council is responsible for different services on council housing estates.

Councillor Pringle says he has been contacted by many people who cant get repairs or complaints dealt with because people in the council don’t know what department is responsible.

A 20-year-old Derry man has been sent for trial on a charge of endangering an aircraft with a lazer pen

Patrick White of 7 Old School Lane Derry appeared at a preliminary Enquiry today at Derry Magistrate’s Court charged with endangering an aircraft on April 29.

It was accepted that there was a case to answer and White did not wish to call witnesses or make any statement at this time.

He was returned for trial to appear at Derry Court on December 17.

People in Donegal seeking the Swine Flu vaccination rare being advised that the jab is only being offered now by appointment at HSE run clinics.

The HSE says that while they could accommodating walk-in visits in the past, that is no longer the case.

Meanwhile there’s been another death connected to swine flu.

The man – who died in the south of the country – had an underlying health condition.

It brings to 17 the number of people in Ireland who’ve died after getting the virus.

Overall the number of new cases here continues to fall, although increases in cases in children have been reported in the past few weeks.

The Bishop of Raphoe has said that he would welcome an audit or any intervention which would help ensure the safety of children.

Dr Bishop Boyce was speaking as It emerged that one of the priests identified as a serial abuser in the Murphy Report served for a period in the Diocese of Raphoe.

Patrick Maguire, a member of the Columban Fathers, has served prison sentences for child sex abuse in Ireland and the UK.

He had served in the Diocese of Raphoe in 1974 and 1975.

Speaking on the Shaun Doherty Show Dr Philip Boyce said any move to protect children would be welcome:

Finn Harps wish to confirm that James Gallagher will remain as the club’s First Team Manager for the 2010 season.  Gallagher will enter his first full season in charge of the club, having taken over the managerial reigns two months into the 2009 season.

“I am delighted to be given the opportunity to continue in the role of Manager,” said Gallagher.  “It’s a massive opportunity for me to continue to gain experience and to help bring success to the club.” Gallagher, at just 29 years of age, is the youngest Manager in the League of Ireland at present.  However the former goalkeeper is now looking forward to his first full season in charge.  “When you come in mid season like I did last year, you can’t really change too much.  However, I now have the opportunity to put my own squad together and get a full pre-season with them.”

Photo www.donegaldemocrat.ie

Gardaí in Ballyshannon have renewed their appeal for information about a fatal two car collision shortly before 5.30pm on Tuesday evening. The crash happened at Cavangarden, three miles outside Ballyshannon. James Kerrigan from Rossknowlagh lost his lifwe in the tragedy, his wife Mary was injured, as was the driver of the other car.

Anyone who witnessed the collision, or has any information about the circumstances is asked to contact gardai on 071 9858530,or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.

A solicitor and South Donegal Coroner Dr Diarmuid Hegarty have clashed during an inquest into a death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car last year.

43 year-old Grahame Manoe, who was home in Bridgetown, Laghey, from the Caribbean island of St Maarten to visit his mother in hospital, died when he was struck by a car driven by Diageo rep David Richards from Ardeevin, Rossnowlagh.

The accident happened close to Laghey, on the N15, on November 1st, 2008.

The inquest in Donegal town heard how Mr Richards searched the roadside with only the light from his mobile phone to assist him when he realised he struck a pedestrian who suddenly appeared in front of him.

The disagreement with the coroner happened when Mr Richards’ solicitor, Paudge Dorrian, said he had instructed the motorist not to give evidence. Dr Hegarty and solicitor Denis O’Mahony, for Mr Manoe’s family, expressed surprise and both said Mr Richards should be available to answer questions.

But Mr Dorrian said the coroner had no authority to force a witness to give evidence. The solicitor agreed, however, that a deposition given by Mr Richards could be read into the record.

Mr Richards said in the statement he had been driving at 60 mph when a figure suddenly appeared in front of him and his car struck him.

The jury returned a verdict in accordance with medical evidence that Mr Manoe died from multiple injuries as a result of involvement in a road traffic accident.

West Tyrone MP and MLA Pat Doherty is calling on the Planning Appeals Commission to rezone the Adria site in Strabane to allow for mix use development.

Up to now, the Beechmount Avenue site has been designated for “industrial use only”, which Mr Doherty says Sinn Fein had supported in the past, but he says that has now changed after Invest NI submitted an outline planning application for a Business Park in the Melmount Road area.

Pat Doherty says that will remove the need for the industrial zoning at the Adria site, particularly as businesses prefer to develop on the outskirts of towns rather than in town centres.

He says that will clear the way for major redevelopment in Strabane

Stephen Kenny is to remain on as manager of Derry City. Kenny’s position had been in doubt after the decision by the FAI to through the club out of the League.  Philip O’Doherty chair of the new steering group confirmed Kenny had accepted a new two year deal on revised terms which included a salary reduction. Kenny had been link in the past week with the vacant Dundalk post.

Rory Kavanagh will not be available for selection for Donegal until later on in the National Football League as he is going on a traveling holiday. He will depart shortly on a around-the-world trip and won’t be back in Ireland until April. He told the Irish News:  ’If I don’t do it now I might not get another chance as there could be other things going on in a person’s life. It is a break I need and I intend to come back refreshed’. Eamon and Neil Mc Gee are also not available to Manager John Joe Doherty. Neil is currently traveling in Australia while Eamon is heading to London and will not take part in the Dr. Kenna cup which starts in January.