A man is critically ill in a Dublin hospital following an explosion at a house in the Cloonbara area of Falcarragh.

Emergency services received a call around 10pm last night. Two units of the fire brigade attended.

The house has been extensively damaged.

Gardai are to carry out a forensic examination of the house this morning, but are stressing there’s nothing suspicious about the blast, and they believe it was an accident.

The man was initially taken to Letterkenny General Hospital but has since been transferred to a Dublin Hospital.

Health unions and management at Letterkenny General Hospital begin local discussions on cost cutting today after talks under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission adjourned at the weekend until the end of the month.

In a joint statement issued after the HSE West talks ended in Galway, all sides agreed to explore all options to reduce expenditure, including non-pay savings; reduced hours, career breaks and unpaid leave, more flexibility in staff reallocation and cutting back on ther employment of agency staff.

Impact’s Donegal Secretary Richy Carrothers says every effort is being made to minimise the impact on services and employment, and he’s confident the talks can make real progress……….

Summer can’t last forever ….but soon summer TIME might, if the government follows the lead of the British Parliament, which is considering plans to permanently move clocks forward by an hour

If the UK proposal is adopted this Autumn, it could mean Strabane and Lifford spend have the year in different time zones.

Senator Fergal Quinn, claims his campaign for a permanent switch to European time would save on energy usage in the evening

He accepts difficulties could arise because of the extra hour of darkness in the morning, but sasys that can be overcome…….

The funeral is taking place today of 51 year old teacher Marie O’Donnell of Knockbrack, Portsalon who died in a two car collision just outside Milford on the Kilmacrennan Road last week.

Gardai are still investigating the crash, which left three people, including her husband ill in hospital.

The two vehicle collision between Mrs O’Donnell’s Nissan Micra and a blue Honda Civic happened at quarter past two last Wednesday morning.

She’ll be buried this morning after 11 o’clock requiem mass in Massmount.

A second man has been charged in connection with a bomb attack on Strand Road police station in Derry at the beginning of August..

The 53-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences including possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life and possession of a prohibited weapon.

He is due to appear at Derry Magistrates Court tomorrow. On Friday, 42 year old Philip O’Donnell from Baldrick Crescent in the city was charged with 12 offences, including hijacking a taxi and causing a explosion.

A 42-year-old man appeared in court on Friday charged with bombing the police station on 3 August.

The 53-year-old has also been charged with possession of firearms and ammunition in suspicious circumstances, and two counts of possession of imitation firearms with intent to cause fear.

The August Apprentice Boys demonstration is taking place in Derry, with 15,000 people expected in the city.

There is a large-scale security operation in place, with part of Spencer Road closed off because of an alert. Petrol bombs were thrown at police at the scene in the early hours of this morning.

Feeder parades have been taking place across the North with some protests at flashpoint areas such as Ardoyne in Belfast, but no trouble has been reported

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Martin, and the Stormont Executive’s Justice Minister David Ford are both appealing for a peaceful day.

The cancellation yesterday of a dissident protest following the resolution of a dispute at Maghaberry has been hailed as a major breakthrough, and David Ford believes that was significant ………

The Mayor of Buncrana is to convene a meeting of local political representititves and development agencies in a bid to have the Keith Prowse premises in Buncrana taken over as a going concern.

Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn had seperate discussions with the company and IDA Ireland today, and says they are now meeting to discuss options for the plant.

he says as well as a well trained and skilled workforce, the plant is equipped with modern, state of the art call centre facilities, and could be very easily adapted for use by another company.

Cllr Mac Lochlainn says if the will is there, he believes the facility could reopen very quickly……

Meanwhile, Senator Cecilia Keavney has renewed her call for a major conference in Donegal aimed at identifying and fostering employment and business opportunities within the county.

She says a model similar to that used at last years’ national conference in Farmleigh could be used, with Donegal people who have been successful elsewhere invited back to see how their expertise and experience can be harnessed.

She says there is a lot of potential in Donegal, but help is needed to get it tapped……..

A man has appeared at Derry Magistrates Court today on charges connected to the car bomb left outside Strand Road policer station in Derry in the early hours of Tuesday August 3rd.

42 year old Philip O’Donnell of Baldrick Crescent in Derry faced a total of 12 charges, including ausing an explosion, possession of explosives, hijacking and false imprisonment. He was also charged with being a member of dissident group Oglaigh na hEireann.

Magistrate Barney Mc Elholm refused bail, and O’Donnell was remanded in custody to appear in court again on Thursday September the 2nd.

Reporter Eamonn Mc Dermott was in court…….

A protest that was to be held by dissident republicans in Derry City Centre tomorrow has been cancelled after the resolution of a row between republican inmates and prison authorities at Maghaberry.

The dispute was resolved last evening, and that has led to the cancellation of the protest, which would have coincided with the main August Apprentice Boys demonstration in the city.

SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey is welcoming the resolution…..

A 42-year-old man is due to appear at Derry Magistrates Court this morning charged with placing a bomb outside Strand Road Police Station in the early hours of Tuesday August 3rd.

The man is facing a total of 12 charges, including causing an explosion, possession of explosives, hijacking and false imprisonment. He is also charged with being a member of dissident group Oglaigh na hEireann, which has admitted the attack.

Meanwhile, A 54-year-old man who was arrested on Monday and has had his period of detention extended is still being questioned about the attack.

The bomb, consisting of 200 pounds of home made explosives was stuffed into a hijaxcked taxi and lwft outside the police station.

Police say they were still clearing the area when the device went off. There were no injuries, but while damage to the police station was limited to the exterior wall, a number of local businesses were badly damaged and a clean up operation is continuing.