A new group has been created to campaign against cuts at Letterkenny General Hospital with plans already being made for a public protest in Letterkenny in August.

The group comprises the three main health unions as well as DACC, Co-operating for care north west, voice of the older people Donegal and the Irish Kidney Association.

The group is opposed to  the cuts at Letterkenny General hospital to address an 8 million euro overspend – there are fears over further cuts to services and job losses.

Rithcie Curuthers of the IMPACT union wants the public to support a rally to be held on August 7th:

A mother of two young children was left in ‘an extremely emotional state’ after an alleged assault by her partner Derry Magistrate’s Court was told.

Diarmaid Nicell (23) of High Street in Derry was charged with damaging property belonging to the woman, assaulting her, threatening to damage property and possessing cannabis on July 29.

The court was told that police were called by the injured party who told them that Nicell had grabbed her by the chin and had been verbally abusive to her in front of a 6-year-old child and a four-month old baby.

A police woman told the court that child and the woman were both in a very distressed state. She added that the injured party told them Nicell had broken a window, damaged a dongle and a sim card before leaving the house.

He then returned and apologised but when he was asked to leave he became abusive again and threatened to break the windows in the house.

The District Judge Mr. Barney McElholm said that it was ‘an extremely distressing incident for the injured party’.

He granted Nicell bail on condition he dd not try and contact the injured party. He warned Nicell if the injured party contacted him he was not to talk to her. Nicell will appear again on August 26.

Northwest MEP Jim Higgins says he cannot understand why gardai are not using powers available to them to get so called boy racers off the country’s roads.

Mr Higgin’s says recent  changes in the law mean that a number of modification associated with the cars driven by boy racers, not least noisy exhausts are illegal.

He is urging the gardai to take action and has also praised the recent comments from Fr John Welsh, the parish priest of Buncrana on the issue of road safety:

Derry’s lead at the top of the Airtricity First Division has been cut to 10 points following a draw with Finn Harps

Mark Farren put City ahead after three minutes with a close-range finish.

Harps were  stronger in the second half and their pressure paid off when Packie Mailey headed in on 68 minutes.

Mark Farren got his second and restored Derry’s lead whenpounced to score for the Candystripes after good work Pat McEleney.

Harps went on the attack after the break with chances for Tony Shields and Tommy Bonnar  before Mailey netted an  equaliser from a Jonathan Minnock  corner.

Packie Mailey gave this reaction to Diarmuid Doherty after the match:

Just two Dail or Seanad members attended a meeting with trade unions and health groups this afternoon to discuss what impact an 8 million euro overspend at the hospital will have on services and staff.

Despite all of the county’s Dail and Seanad representatives being invited only Deputy Dinny McGinley and Senator Pearce Doherty attended the meeting.

The rest either couldn’t or chose not to attend.

Hospital management has already unveiled some cost cutting measures to address the budget over run with more expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

SIPTU’s Martin O’Rourke says the aim now is to get the message to government that savage cuts will not be accepted:

The Irish Post Masters union has joined calls for An Post to reverse its decision to terminate the contract of Bernie Moore as postmistress of Carrigan’s post office.

Ms Moore was sacked from her position with An Post claiming this was for not following security procedures during an armed robbery in February of last year.

There has been strong reaction in the local community to the decision.

The IPU says that Security Audits of her office have shown some minor deficiencies.

But spokesperson John Kane says that while these are to be regretted and may even warrant some reprimand, they cannot be used to justify retrospectively an earlier decision to terminate her contract:

The western trusts has apologised to families of patients on the same hospital ward as two paedophiles blaming a “lack of communication”

James and Owen-Roe McDermott abused children in Donagh in Co Fermanagh for 30 years but were declared unfit for trial.

They are being treated on a psychiatric ward alongside young vulnerable adults at Lakeview Hospital in Derry.

Foyle MP Mark Durkan attended a meeting today between the trust and familes -  he has welcomed the trust’s response but says lakeview is not suitable for treating the brothers:

Donegal gardai have launched their biggest road safety blitz of the year this weekend and they’re urging motorists to make safety their priority this Bank Holiday Weekend.

The campaign will continue today right through until Tuesday.

Inspector Pat O Donnell says in the wake of the recent tragedy in Inishowen, there is a heightened necessity to make sure all road users are safe.

The long awaited new school premises for Coláiste Ailigh in Letterkenny has been included in the third bundle of Public Private Partnership schools.

The new building, close to the Donegal Hospice in Carnamuggagh, will cater for 350 mixed pupils. At present, the school is based in rented accomodation on High Road.

Announcing the development, Tanaiste Mary Coughlan said a oit of preparatory work has been done by the school and the Donegal VEC, and she’s hoping construction can get underway by 2012.

One of Northern Ireland’s most expensive developments planned for Omagh will harm town centre traders, its been claimed.

The warning came from the independent retail lobby group Northern Ireland Independent Retail and Trade Association, as it emerged that a £350 million scheme including a hotel, out-of-town shopping centre, and health and leisure facilities has been granted outline planning permission.

The scheme is planned for a Derry Road site near a former military base and could created up to 1,000 jobs its promoters claim.

However, Glyn Roberts, NIIRTA chief executive, said it could actually cost jobs over five years.