The impact of border service on soldiers, gardai and other frontline services is being explored by a new group which will have its inaugural meeting tonight.

The Ex-Border Personnel Association was formed on foot of a research project  looking at the experiences of Irish soldiers who served during the Northern conflict.

Areas of concern that were identified included the impact on physical and mental health, disruption of family life, poor pay, conditions and difficulties adjusting to civilian life.

However, spokesperson Michael Mc Cormack is stressing this is not a means of seeking compensation.

Donegal have been dealt a major blow ahead of next Sunday’s Ulster SFC quarter-final against Down with the news that midfielder Brendan Boyle has been ruled out through injury.  The Ardara clubman has failed to recover from a long-term groin injury and Donegal manager John Joe Doherty admitted he would be a big loss.
“Brendan has been having the same both as he had last year. It is coming from a groin injury that has not healed up properly. He got a few run outs in the league, but he just never got a proper run at it.

Mark English from Letterkenny A.C. has won the 1000m at the inaugural European Youth Olympic Trials in Moscow today. The win guarantees him a place at the first-ever Summer Youth Olympic Games to be held in Singapore in August. The Donegal man clocked an impressive 2 minutes 24-point-53 seconds.

Mark’s coach Teresa Mc Daid spoke with Oisin Kelly on Sunday Sport.
 

Thousands  of people took part in a protest march in Lifford yesterday against the closure of the local Community Hospital.

Organisers of the protest said the huge turnout reflected the sense of anger and opposition to any plans there may be to close the hospital.

Our reporter Barry Whyte, was at yesterdays protest and you can hear his report by clicking the link below:

Figures published today show that Donegal had one of the biggest wage bills in the country for Councillors.

The Figures in the Irish Times show that Donegal County Councillors received a total of 910 thousand euro.

Of that the Mayor recieved 43,600 euro while the total amount of gratuities paid was 139,600 euro.

Payments recieved by the councillors include a basic salary which has PAYE and PRSI deducted.

More than 450 people will hear today if they’re facing blood tests as part of a Hepatitis C scare at a number of hospitals in the Northwest and West, including Letterkenny General.

A review of patients was undertaken when it was discovered a surgeon who worked at three facilities between 2004 and 2008 had contracted the disease.

The HSE sent letters out on Friday, asking patients to attend a precautionary screening.

HSE Public Health Specialist  Dr Breda Smith says the risk of any patients contracting hepatitis C is extremely low:

Ulster Senior Football Championship
Antrim 1-13 v 2-14 Tyrone

Tyrone did what they had to do in beating Antrim in the sizzling heat at Casement Park. The winners sowed the seeds for this success in the first half and eased up after the turnaround as Antrim battled bravely to get back into contention but never really looked like springing a shock. The Tyrone goals came in the opening half from Kevin Hughes and Owen Mulligan. The returning Stephen O Neill and Sean Cavangh scored three points each for the defending provincial champions. Tyrone will meet the winners of this Sunday’s game in Ballybofey between Donegal and Down.

Sister and Brother Chloe and Sam Magee from Raphoe won the Spanish International  Mixed Doubles title in Madrid on Sunday. The Donegal pair beat Germany’s Peter Kashbauer and Johnanna Gollizewski 21/11 -  21/9  in the final to win the title.

Tommy Mc Cafferty had a second successful defence of his ISKA World Middleweight Title on Saturday Evening in the German city of Ingostald. The judges  scored the fight a draw, however Tommy’s corner  had seen the fight as a clear win for the Donegal man. Win or draw the result was still enough for Tommy to hold on to one of his two world titles.  The Letterkenny fighter also holds the World Light Middleweight title along with  European and Commonwealth belts. His next move is to drop down to Super Welterweight and going for a third World title.

Tommy and his coach Paddy Toland spoke with Oisin Kelly on Sunday Sport.
 

The family of a woman who was found dead more than two years after she disappeared from a Bray nursing home is being pursued by the Department of Social Protection for €80,000 amid claims she received too much in pension payments.

78 year old Maura Reynolds, originally from Donegal, disappeared from the Tara Care Centre on Putland Road, Bray, Co Wicklow, on the night of Christmas Day 2005.

Despite extensive searches her remains were not discovered until February 19th, 2008, in dense undergrowth at Bray Head.

She had been suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and cancer.

It has now emerged that the Department of Social Welfare wrote to the Reynolds family last year claiming their late mother had failed to disclose her full means when applying for a non-contributory pension in 1993.

It sought to recoup more than €88,000 from her estate, saying she had not declared she had about €7,000 worth of CRH shares and an account in Ulster Bank in Co Tyrone.

Mrs Reynolds family are contesting the departments claims.