Two men jailed for an attack in Letterkenny which left Derryman Mark Mc Shane permanently brain damaged are appealing their sentences in Dublin today.

Today’s Derry News is reporting that Alan Lackey and Aidan Mc Hugh, both of whom have served one year of the two year sentences they received will appeal their sentences today.

Members of Mr Mc Shane’s family are travelling to Dublin this morning to address the panel of judges who will consider the appeal. They believe the original sentences were too lenient.

The 28 year old woman killed in a single vehicle collision in Kilmacrennan early yesterday morning has been named as Elaine Brady from Rosemount in Kilmacrennan.

She was a passenger in a black BMW car that crashed shortly before 4 o’clock yesterday morning. Ther male driver of the car is being treated in Letterkenny General Hospital for what are thought to be non life threatening injuries

Local gardai are appealing for witnesses.

Five men have been arrested in Donegal as part of what gardai say is an ongoing operation to counter the activities of dissident republicans.

Four were arrested in the Letterkenny area shortly after midnight, they are being held at garda stations in Letterkenny and Milford.

A fifth person was arrested in Buncrana this morning, he’s being detained in Buncrana.

Gardai say the men are aged between 40 and 60.

Some Donegal County Councillors have been accused of putting politics ahead of the development of Donegal.

Deputy Niall Blaney has launched a scathing attack on a number of Councillors particularly Noel McBride, Ian McGarvey and Mick Quinn.

He says it is odd that they have been critical of the condition of the approach road on the Fanad side of the Harry Blaney Bridge yet didn’t push for its inclusion on a council list of priority roads for funding.

Councillor Blaney says it smacks of anti government political point scoring.

However, Cllr. Noel McBride has described the comments as ‘untrue’ and ‘unhelpful’.

Responding to Deputy Blaney’s claims, Cllr. McBride said the council made an application for funding on 12th December, 2008, and the Department of Transport has not yet replied.

A woman in her late twenties has died in a road traffic collision in Donegal.

The crash happened in the village of Kilmacrennan.

The dead woman, thought to be from the local area, was a passenger in a black BMW that crashed shortly before 4 o’clock this morning. No other vehicle was involved.

The male driver of the car is being treated in Letterkenny General Hospital for what are thought to be non life threatening injuries

Local gardai are appealing for witnesses.

A US based Irish priest has launched a legal attempt to remain on bail while he fights extradition over an alleged rape in Donegal

82 year-old Fr Francis Markey  now living in the US state of Indiana, has been accused of allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy ib two occasion, once at Lough Derg and once in Galway in 1968.

Fr Markey has been battling attempts by the DPP to bring him back to Ireland to face charges for the past 18 months.

In written briefs filed in court this week, lawyers for the priest argue he should remain free on bail while he files more motions fighting the extradition.

The assistant US attorney for northern Indiana, Kenneth Hays, pointed to case and statutory law which, he says, requires Fr Markey to be jailed once the court certifies extradition.

Judge Christopher Nuechterlein has accepted that evidence of a crime  may be “weak” but said it was up to the Irish courts to argue it and that the retired priest must face the charges.

Fr Markey was arrested in November at his Indiana home in connection with the alleged rape. The priest, formerly based in Monaghan, is accused of raping the child twice in 1968.

The 57-year-old man complained to gardai in June 2006 after reading the Ferns report.

The HSE will introduce a new initiative in Donegal intended to help people get fit through gardening.

‘Green Gyms’ will be established in Downings, Moville, Castlefin, Ballybofey, Falcarragh and Donegal Town next month, with people being helped to grow and maintain crops.

This, the HSE says, will promote healthy living in two ways ; by providing exercise through gardening, and also by urging people to eat the vegetables they produce.

The HSE says as well as the physical health benefits, the initiative will also benefit peoples’ mental health

There are questions being raised this evening about the future of Donegal South West TD Mary Coughlan as Tanaiste, with at least one member of the Fianna Fail National Executive believed to be pressing for her removal in a cabinet reshuffle following the resignation of Willie O’Dea as Defence Minister.

Today, the Taoiseach told reporters it was a controversey the government could have done without, and saying for now, he has taken on the defence portfolio.

While it’s widely believed that Brian Cowen will keep faith with Mary Coughlan as Tanaiste, he refused to rule out a reshuffle when questioned inn County Meath today.

The government has been accused of playing politics and misstating the facts in relation to 30 million euro Greencastle Harbour Project of which it has pulled out of.

Responding to Senator Cecilia Keaveney Minister Tony Killeen indicated that the reason the government has pulled out of the project with just 8 million euro spent is because the county council owes them money.

He says figure due from the council, through the match funding agreement in place, is 900 thousand euro.

But at a recent Council meeting the county manager said an agreement had been reached to pay that money back and that the debt was not a factor in the government decision.

Greencaslte Councillor Martin Farren says the Minister claims are wrong and has turned on Senator Keaveney from not challenging him on his assertion:

An Bord Pleanala has given the go ahead for a major development on the shore front in Buncrana which will see a land mark hotel demolished.

Buncrana Town Council had granted conditional permission for the project but that was appealed to An Bord Pleanala.

The board gave permission for the development of over 70 units of accommodation despite a recommendation from its own inspector that it shouldn’t.

The plans include the destruction of the old Swilly Hotel on the Shore Front site, it had been previously recorded as a building of special character by Duchas.

In its place the plans propose over 70 residential units, three houses, a creche, 97 car parking places and all associated works.

In confirming its decision the planning board rejected its own inspectors report which mainly took issue with the developments ecological impact and effluent disposal.

However the board says it is satisfied the five story development would not put any extra loading on the public sewerage system than the hotel it replaces.

The board also rejected other concerns raised by objectors which including the old hotel’s local historical links, the size of the new development and claims its design would be out of keeping with the town.