Sinn Fein in Donegal is challenging Fianna Fail politicians in the county to clarify where they stand on the matter of VRT.

Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn says a Facebook campaign launched nine days ago now has more than 5000 members, and the number is growing daily.

He says while there is widespread outrage at the recent draconian behaviour of customs officers enforcing this tax, those really responsible are the government, and by extension, Fianna Fáil politicians in Donegal.

Cllr Mac Lochlainn says the views of over 5000 Donegal people cannot be ignored.

Donegal County Council will launch a major cultural strategy in Lifford today.

Mayor Cllr. Brendan Byrne, will launch the document “Cultural Connections”, which maps out the priorities of thecouncil’s Cultural Services Division to 2014.

The document will be launched at council HQ later this morning.

The Irish Government has been accused of breaking European Law in applying Vehicle Registration Tax to cars imported from the north to the south.

Donegal Branch Chairman of the Irish Drivers Assocaiation, John Doherty, says people should be allowed to trade freely across the border.

He’s started up a petition, which he plans to hand to the Irish Government..

Derry Crown Court heard today that a sample of DNA belonging to the accused was found on a curtain pole an 83-year-old woman had used to fight off an intruder who had forced his way into her Derry home.

Before the court is 50-year-old Thomas Burke of Eglinton Terrace who is charged with robbing the woman at her home on May 20 last year.

A forensic scientist Mr. Lawrence Marshall told the court how he scientifically examined the curtain pole and found what he described as ‘a mix sample’ on the hook end of the pole.

He said the sample indicated the DNA of the woman who owned the house, Burke and another unidentified one.

Under cross examination by Mr.Brian McCartney QC the scientist accepted that there could be cross contamination or secondary contamination.

He was asked was it possible that the sample could be on the pole through other means other than direct contact and he said it was possible but that it required numerous interferences.

Earlier the jury of 8 women and 4 men heard how the woman had tried to fight off the intruder who stole money from her and how he had hit her in the face causing her hearing aid to fall out.
The case continues

Donegal Creameries PLC has published its 2009 financial report, noting satisfactory results and significant debt reduction in what was a challenging year.

The company says it made continued strategic progress, and that will continue into 2010.

The results show a turnover of €113.3m, with adjusted operating profit of €3 million.

The dividend per share has been maintained at 16%, with adjusted earnings per share of almost 49 cent exceeding market expectations, according to the report. Significantly, the document reports the company’s bank debt has been reduced by €6.23 million to €20.5m.

There was improved profitability in both the Dairy and Produce businesses, with a number of associate conpanies, particularly Monaghan Middlebrook Mushrooms, performing very well in 2009.

The company says it’s positioning itself to expand further, with a range of organic products planted on the Grianan Estate last year to be introduced to market in 2010.

Donegal Creameries have also acquired a majority shareholding in a Brazilian seed potato production company, giving access to the South American market for Donegal’s extensive portfolio of protected potato varieties.

The partner of a Dungiven man who was killed in an industrial accident five years ago says she is seeking a formal apology after his inquest took place without her knowledge.

48 year old Richard McSparron was crushed to death in a rock slide at a Donegal quarry in 2005, and at his inquest yesterday, Coroner Denis Mc Cauley found an “unsafe system of work” led to the 48-year-old’s death.

The hearing went ahead despite the fact that there were no members of the deceased’s family present. Gardai told the coroner the family had been informed by registered mail, and during a short adjournment, unsuccessful attempts were made to contact the family by phone.

Denise McKeague was Mr Mc Sparron’s partner, and is the mother of his daughter Amber, who is now 12.

She told Shaun Doherty today that she’s angry that she missed the hearing, and she wants a full apology…….

Three people have been returned for trial at Derry Crown Court charged in connection with the discovery of £3 million of heroin and ecstasy tablets in the city last year.

Eight kilograms of 70% pure heroin, with a potential street value of £2 million, was discovered in a lorry in July last year after the vehicle was stopped by police.

Also found were 210,000 herbal Ecstasy tablets, worth an estimated £1 million.

42-year-old Sean Doherty from Cornshell Fields, is charged with two counts of possession of a class A drug, namely heroin and ecstasy, and two counts of possession with intent to supply.

24-year-old Sarah Greene from Rathcoole, Dublin, is charged with two counts of being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

28-year-old Anthony Morgan from Rathcoole, Dublin, is also charged with being concerned in the supply of a class A drug.

The trio were returned for trial at Derry Crown Court on May 13.

Former Fine Gael Councillor Jimmy Harte has confirmed he’s considering an approach from the Labour Party, with the prospect of contesting the next general election under the Labour banner.

Cllr Harte, a member of Donegal County and Letterkenny Town Councils says he’s made no decisions, but he is seriously considering the offer.

He secured re-election to both councils as an independent last year, and is currently the Deputy Mayor of Letterkenny.

In the 2007 General Election, Cllr Jimmy Harte ran as an independent, polling 1313 first preferences, almost double the 703 secured by the Labour candidate Siobhan Mc Laughlin.

Cllr Harte had left Fine Gael some months before the election on foot of the decision to run only one candidate. From the party’s perspective, the tactic worked, with Deputy Joe Mc Hugh topping the poll and giving Fine Gael a Donegal North East seat for the first time in 10 years.

In last year’s local elections, Labour secured two seats, with Inishowen Cllr Martin Farren a former Fine Gael colleague of Cllr Harte. Whether or not they are about to become party colleagues again remains to be seen.

Three men arrested in connection with a shooting incident, which left a 24-year-old seriously injured, remain in custody this evening in Antrim Serious Crime Suite.

A man was shot in both knees outside his flat in Lisnafin Park on Monday night.

Two 23-year-old men where arrested in the Carlton Drive and Ballycolman areas the following evening. A man believed to be in his 40s was arrested later on that night in the town.

The three men have been in custody since Tuesday night, it’s understood the PSNI are going to apply for an extension, so the men can be held for further questioning.

An area of Lisnafin Park was cordoned off on Tuesday night and throughout the day on Wednesday near Riversdale Leisure Centre, while police examined an abandoned car.

It was reported to police that a suspicious looking vehicle lay empty in a street not too far away from where Monday nights shooting took place.

An alley in Lisnafin Park leading to The Old Trust area was also cordoned off as forensic teams searched the area.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old victim of Monday nights shooting remains in hospital, although is condition is said to have improved.

The trial of a man charged with falsely imprisoning, assaulting and stealing from an 83-year-old woman has heard the victim identified him to police.

Thomas Anthony Samuel Burke, 50, from Eglinton Terrace, is alleged to have committed the offences in the 83-year-old woman’s home last May.

One hundred and eighty pounds was stolen from the lady who is registered blind and wears two hearing aids.

She gave evidence on the second day of the trail at Derry Crown Court.

The court heard that despite her visual disability she was able to identify her assailant during a police identification procedure.

The elderly lady told jurors today that two days after the alleged incidents at her Northland Road home she went to Strand Road police station where she was shown a DVD of nine different people.

She said she was able to identify the the defendant as being the man who allegedly committed the offences against her in her home.

Yesterday the court heard the defendant used the woman’s son’s name to gain entry.

Jurors also heard that the woman’s arm had been bruised and that she had also been struck on the face with such force that one of her hearing aids fell out.

Mr Burke denies the charges. The trial continues.