A search that was lauched by the Malin Head Coastguard earlier today after they recieved a call from a boat that has got into trouble off Arranmore Island has turned out to be a hoax.

A call was recieved this morning claiming that a vessel had gotten into trouble just off Arranmore Island.

The helicopter and the Bunbeg search boat where sent out.

Search Mission Controller with Malin Head Coastguard, Derek Flanagan, said Gardai are now investigating the origin of the hoax call.

A public meeting is taking place in Carrigans this evening in support of local postmistress Bernie Moore, who is having her contract terminated by An Post. The termination of the contrsct is being linked to an armed raid at the premises in February of last year.

Over 700 residents have already signed a petition, after Ms Moore attended a hearing to appeal the contract withdrawl in March.

Also present at that hearing, at Ms Moore’s request, was Councillor Frank Mc Brearty.

Speaking on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Cllr Mc Brearty said he believes she is being scapegoated, and An Post is using her ordeal to close down the post office as a money saving exercise……..

The Community Workers Co-operative in Letterkenny says it’s deeply concerned that projects funded under the Community Development Programme are set to have their management structures radically changed.

According to a spokesperson, representitives of projects are being asked to attend a seminar next week to advise them how to wind down their companies and transfer assets and liabilities to local partnership companies.

There are currently 9 funded projects in Donegal.

CWC Spokesperson Annette Patton says the new model may not work in the county……

Photo: Donegal Democrat

Ulster Senior Championship.
Donegal 2-10 v 1-15 Down

Benny Coulter’s extra-time goal gave Down a 1-15 to 2-10 victory over Donegal in a tense encounter at Ballybofey on Sunday. Coulter pounced with the killer goal six minutes into the second period of added time, giving the forward the Man of the Match award and a game ending tally of 1-4. Donegal started well with two goals in the first half from Dermott Molloy and Conall Dunne to lead at half time by two points. Martin Clarke with seconds left in normal time put Down ahead for the first time in the game but a score from Donegal’s Rory Kavanagh with the last kick of the second half forced extra time. It was Coulters goal four minutes from the end which sent Down into the provincial semi final against Tyrone and Donegal into the first round of the qualifiers for the third year in a row. On the plus side for the county, Dermott Molloy scored 1-3 while his U21 collegues Mark Mc Hugh and Paddy Mc Grath also played.

Donegal Manager John Joe Doherty spoke with Charlie Collins after the game.
 

Photo : Donegal Democrat

Concern is mounting for the safety of a group of Irish activists travelling on a convoy of six ships carrying aid to Gaza, which was attacked by Israeli commandos.

Its reported that around 16 people have died after the group stormed the vessels during the night to prevent the activists breaching a long-standing blockade of Gaza.

The group, led by a Turkish vessel, is carrying 10 thousand tonnes of cargo.

A number of members of the Ireland Palestine Solidarity Campaign are on board one of the ships, including Donegal man Fiachra O’Luain, who unsuccessfully contested last year’s European elections as an independent candidate.

Owner of MK Port Services, Mike Kiely, helped load the MV Rachel Corrie a fortnight ago, and he says there was no weapons on board the ship.

The motorist who died  yesterday when his car went over a 60 ft cliff at Mullaghmore in Co. Sligo has been named as 32-year-old building worker Cathal Mc Namee from Strathroy in Omagh.

A motorist died at sea yesterday when his car crashed over a 60 ft cliff at Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo.

The alarm was raised by day-trippers who spotted the Northern registered car. Among the first at the scene were members of Leitrim Sub Aqua Club from Manorhamilton, who had been at sea on an exercise when they received an alarm at around quarter past four.

Diving officer Francis Jenkins said there was only one man in the car which had a wrecked bicycle lying alongside. There were some suggestions the motorist may have swerved to avoid the bike, but it’s though more likely that the bike was attached to the roof of the car.

Mr Jenkins also said it was likely the car was several hours at the bottom of the cliff before the alert was raised.

Gardai and firemen from Bundoran and Sligo attended the scene as did the RNLI lifeboat from Bundoran and the Irish Coast Guard search and rescue helicopter from Strandhill.

League of Ireland Results.
Derry City 2 v 0 Waterford Utd
Finn Harps 0 v 0 Monaghan Utd

Derry City have moved seven points clear at the top of Division One following victory on Friday at home to second placed Waterford United. Mark Farren scored the opening goal on 18mins and that was quickly followed by Mark Mc Chrystal’s effort two minutes later. After that Derry dominated the game and took the full points to move onto 33, with Waterford on 26.

Finn Harps extended their unbeaten run to three games, and kept their third consecutive clean sheet into the bargin. This result sees Monaghan move into joint third in the First Division table and are now level with Limerick on twenty-three points while Harps are just five points further back.
Harps Stephen Mc Laughlin gave his reaction to Dairmaid Doherty.
 

A device has exploded outside Strand Road police station in Derry.

The small explosion happened just after midnight on Saturday.

Army bomb experts are examining a car in nearby Queen Street which was reported to have been on fire shortly after the explosion was heard.

A nearby home for elderly residents had to be evacuated

A memorial to the late Garda Robbie Mc Callion will be unveiled this Saturday afternoon in the Bernard Mc Glinchey Town Park in Letterkenny.

Garda Mc Callion died following an incident while he was on duty in Tara Court in February of last year.

Garda McCallion Mother, Father and Brother are in Donegal for the unveiling.

The plaque will be unveiled in the Garden of Rememberence by Mayor Cllr Jim Lynch.

As the planned improvements of the A5 between Strabane and Aughnacloy draw nearer, councillors in Donegal are turning their attentions to having connecting roads on this side of the border improved as well.

Coincidentally, two Sinn Fein representatives are moving similar motions at Donegal County Council’s meeting next Monday.

Cllr Mick Quinn is calling for progress on the planned new N14 Letterkenny Lifford road, and Cllr Cora Harvey calling for works on the N15 Stranorlar to Lifford road.

Cllr Harvey says there’s no question of one road being pitted against the other..