The “Set the Truth Free” campaign in Derry has published an open letter today thanking all those who helped in the campaign which culminated in the publiocation last week of the Saville Inquiry report.

The statement says on 30th January 1972, a dark cloud descended upon Derry, and it stayed until last Tuesday June 15th 2010, the day it was lifted.

The statement, signed by the families of the dead and the wounded says it’s been a long journey from the beginning of the Bloody Sunday Justice Campaign to now, with particular tribute paid to the Bloody Sunday Trust, Cunamh, and most importantly, the people of Derry.

Appeals by four dissident republicans held liable for the 1998 Omagh bomb are to be heard in January.

Michael McKevitt, Liam Campbell, Seamus Daly and Colm Murphy were successfully sued by 12 victims’ relatives, who were awarded £1.6m compensation last June.

The judge also found the dissident republican organisation, the Real IRA, liable for the bomb in which 29 people and two unborn babies were killed.

The men were granted legal aid to pursue their appeals earlier this year.

Lawyers for some of the men have set out requests for transcripts from the original legal action as part of their case.

No-one has ever been convicted in a criminal court of causing the deaths of the Omagh victims.

The only man to face criminal charges over the Omagh killings, 38-year-old Sean Hoey from Jonesborough in south Armagh, was acquitted in 2007.

The families brought the multi-million pound civil action in an attempt to bring fresh information about the atrocity to light.

It was not a criminal case and no-one was jailed as a result.

None of the men sued has the capacity to pay out any kind of large-scale payment.

From the start, the families made clear the civil action was a vehicle for putting as much information as possible into the public domain about the bombing and the men whom they claim were involved.

A separate appeal by families to get a bigger payout will also be heard in January.

A new survey has shown that Donegal is proving one of the most popular destinations for people choosing a ‘staycation’ holiday this year.

74% of those who are choosing to holiday at home are doing so in just six counties including Donegal, however not a single reposindent said they were going to be holidaying in County Tyrone.

The survey of 1,400 hundred people was conducted by myhome.ie – spokesperson Angela Keegan says that while a lot of people are holidaying at home the majority would still prefer to travel abroad:

The continued demise of the construction industry in Donegal has been highlighted today by figures from the CSO which show a drastic year on year drop in planning permissions being granted.

However the rate of permission granted for the first quarter of 2010 show that far more permission were granted in Donegal compared to other border counties.

In the first quarter of 2010 there were 137 planning permissions granted in Donegal, this is a drop of 43% on the same period last year.

The number of people seeking to extend their property also fell, but not to the same extent – 85 permission were granted – down 24% on last year.

While significant, the drop in planning permissions in Donegal is by far not the worst of the border counties.

In Cavan there were just 16 permissions for new dwellings granted in the first quarter of 2010, this compares to 207 for the same period last year.

Councillor Thomas Pringle has described the decision to officially open the Killybegs Environmental Improvements Scheme before is completed as a disgrace and a cynical move.

Councillor Pringle is convinced the decision was taken to ensure the opening was performed under a Fianna Fail Mayor in Councilllor Brenden Byrne.

Councillor Byrne’s controversial stint as mayor ends next week, he will be replaced by Sinn Fein’s Cora Harvey.

Councillor Pringle says open the Killybegs scheme early was a cynical move:

Senator Cecilia Keaveney says Donegal business owners using the so called Mosquito device are abusing the human rights of the young.

The device emits a high pitched sound which can only be heard by young people and has been used in a number of town’s in Donegal to deter young people from congregating.

A report on the prohibition of the Mosquito device in public places is to come before the Council of Europe today.

Senator Cecilia Keaveney is President of Youth and Sport Committee of the Council of Europe.

She says the device effectively treats all youngsters as ‘offenders’ or ‘pests’ and as such its use is a serious abuse of human rights.

Water should be returning to most homes shortly affected by the latest outage enforced by Donegal County Council to head conserve low stocks.

Once again the lough Mourne Water Supply was switched off affecting a number of areas including Lifford, Raphoe and the Twin Towns.

Greencastle supply was also switched off affecting all of Greencastle and Shrove.

The outages are expected to continue for the foreseeable future and may be extended across the county. Council updates are available here

Pat Clarke of Met Eireann says there may be some increase in rainfall in the coming days:

The Minister for Health and Children is to appoint new specialist consultants to Letterkenny General Hospital

In the coming months it is hoped that an endocrinologist/ diabetologist consultant will be in place while a hematologist appointment is proving complicated but should be in place in the near future.

The hospital has been trying to appoint a haemotologists but has been unsuccessful which means an overseas locum will be appointed on a years contract.

Derry District Judge Mr. Barney McElholm has  threatened to order that every prisoner due to appear in court be brought there in person rather than use the video link system.

He was speaking after technical difficulties prevented Derry Magistrate’s Court linking up with Maghaberry Prison for weekly remand hearings.

The video link system is us enable prisoners in custody to appear without them having to be brought to the court.

Speaking after the link up broke down again Mr.McElholm said: “I am thinking of abandoning the video link system altogether in this jurisdiction and ordering that everyone due to appear be produced.

“The cost of doing that might force someone to sit up and take notice. “Unless I get guarantees that this will not happen again then I think I will abandon the video link altogether.”

The prisoners due to appear by video link were dealt with in their absence

Motorsport Ireland has said more safety procedures must be put in place at the Knocalla Stage of the Donegal Rally.

Also it was reported in todays Irish Independent that Motorsport Ireland are not planning any specific enquiry into the weekends tragic accident, but President Joe Cocoran has firmly denied this.

26-year-old Thomas Maguire from Longwood, Co Meath, was guiding driver Shane Buckley through the Knockalla stage of the rally on Saturday afternoon when their Citroen C2R2 left the road.

Buckley remains in a critical condition in Letterkenny General Hospital.

The president of the governing body, Joe Corcoran, says more speed restrictions may be needed at the Knockalla Stage.