There is speculation today that Fianna Fail will call on soccer legend Packie Bonner to contest the Donegal Southwest bye-election which is expected to be held early next year.

Mr Bonner is on the recored stating that Fianna Fail last year asked him to contest the European elections on their behalf and in a soon to be published book, leaves the door open for a run in politics.

According to the Irish Independent Fianna Fail sources believe Packie Bonner, as a candidate for Donegal South-West, would “romp home”.

Although Bonner has so far declined to comment on the speculation, a spokesperson for the FAI — where he is technical director — maintained he had not been approached and would not be running.

In a book to be published next week, Bonner talks of being asked by the party to run in the European elections last year — and leaves the door open to stepping onto the political field.

It is speculated that FIanna Fail has all but given up any hope of winning the by-elections in Waterford and Dublin South and believe that securing a high profile candidate in Donegal South West could see them edge it.

The Donegal South-West by-election is expected to held in the first quarter of next year, that fact forms part of the Government’s defence of a Sinn Fein legal challenge against the failure to hold the vote.

A former champion boxer was left in a vegetative state after he was involved in a horrific road crash.

Gareth Holmes, 20, was the backseat passenger in a classic car which hit a tree on March 13^th, 2008.

The car, a 1980 Escort RS 2000 was being driven by painter Kevin McLaughlin.

Gardai and medical personnel who arrived at the scene at Cleagh, Clonmany, Co Donegal revealed how there had been as strong smell of alcohol from McLaughlin.

McLaughlin, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious harm, driving without insurance and refusing to give a specimen, said he remembered nothing about the crash when quizzed by Gardai.

Ms Eileen Harkin, a foster sister of the victim, said Gareth, from Magheramore, Clonmany, was 100% innocent of any involvement which had left his in such a state.

“He was not out drinking that night. He had been coaching (boxing).

“The Gareth we knew died that died. He cannot walk or talk or bath himself. He has been left without his dignity,” she said.

There were angry reactions from the Holmes and Harkin families when Defence Barrister Joseph McGettigan suggested Mr Holmes had been happy if McLaughlin had simply been banned from driving for three years.

Judge John O’Hagan said it was not easy to send a man to prison who had worked hard all his life and had never been in trouble.

“Despite televisions and books and whatever, prison is not a not place,” he said.

However he said he must take into account the fact that McLaughlin was 39 at the time of the accident, admitting to drinking and driving and not having any insurance.

He sentenced McLaughlin to 3 years in prison and suspended the last year on the charge of dangerous driving causing serious harm, and imposed a ten year driving ban on the main charge.

He also sentenced the accused to six months in prison, to run concurrently, for having no insurance and banned him from driving for 12 months, a total ban of 11 years.

HSE West is today warning about the dangers posed by bonfires and fireworks.

Parents and children are asked to be extra vigilant over the next three days as the Halloween festivities reach their peak.

Parents are also advised to ensure that their children are accompanied by an appropriate adult whilst visiting houses to seek Halloween treats

Dr Anthony Breslin says safety should be uppermost in people’s minds at Halloween and has this advice:  

A number of Donegal groups are amongst a contingent of over 1000 people taking part in a unique ‘citizens forum’ in Dublin today.

The Forum at the RDS is debating alternative policies to tackle the recession, and reshape Ireland’s economy.

The organisers say they hope the forum will create a movement for change that politicians cannot ignore.

Annette Patton from the Donegal Community Workers Co-op is attending the forum  – she believes it is time people took back the right to run the country how they see fit:

A jury has failed to find a verdict against a man accused of the manslaughter of a young Garda.

The jury could not agree if Jamie McGrenaghan was guilty of the manslaughter of Garda Robbie McCallion in Letterkenny, Co Donegal on March 26^th, 2009.

McGrenaghan, 19, was driving a car which knocked down Garda McCallion at Tara Court in Letterkenny leaving him with serious head injuries.

He had been along with another man and had stolen a car only to be trapped in a cul-de-sac by Gardai.

Garda McCallion, 29, from Co Mayo, was thrown up to 15ft into the air when McCallion hit him with his car and threw him into a garden while trying to escape.

He later died at Dublin’s Beaumont Hospital on April 6^th.

However a twelve member jury at Letterkenny Circuit Court yesterday could not fully agree if McGrenaghan was guilty of the manslaughter of Garda McCallion.

The jury retired at 2.14pm and returned with a verdict just before 4pm.

The seven man and five woman jury did however find the accused guilty of wreckless endangerment of Garda McCallion’s colleagues Joanne Doherty and Shane Lavelle after he drove towards them in his red Peugeot car.

However it asked for more time to consider the more serious charge of manslaughter after informing Judge John O’Hagan that they could not reach a decision.

Shortly after 4.30pm, the jury again returned to say it simply could not agree on a decision of manslaughter.

The jury was sent home and Barrister for the State, Alex Owens, SC, said he will tell the judge on Monday next if they want to proceed with a retrial or not.

McGrenaghan of Gortnatra, Kerrykeel, will be sentenced next month after being found guilty to the wreckless endangerment charge.

McGrenaghan, wearing a black suit and white shirt, has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

Earlier in the day prosecution barrister Owens said McGrenaghan had a case to answer on the manslaughter charge.

“He reversed back, screeched his wheels and drove at high speed in the direction of the Gardai.

“He drove this car like a missile and propelled it towards the Gardai. The case of manslaughter is very much a real one which he must answer,” he said.

However defence barrister, Denis Vaughan Buckley, SC, said he could not see how the jury could find his client guilty of manslaughter.

He said the State were “going for overkill” in seeking a charge of manslaughter against McGrenaghan.

“The bottom line was that he spotted a gap between the cars and a wall and tried to escape through it. It all happened in a split second,” he said.

Before sending out the jury, Judge John O’Hagan said jurors should remove it from their minds that Robbie McCallion was a member of An Garda Siochana and to make their decision in a “cold and calculated manner”.

The trial has last three days and was attended by the late Garda McCallion’s family including his father and mother, Bob and Nancy, sisters Deirdre and Noreen and brother John.

A number of leading Gardai including Donegal Divisional Commander, Chief Supt. Terry McGinn and Inspector Vincent O’Brien were also there.

A row erupted on The Shaun Doherty Show today between Councillor Frank McBrearty and Donegal News journalist Charlie Joe McGinley.

In todays edition of the Donegal News CJ McGinley reports that Cllr Frank Mc Brearty swore at the County Manager and some Cllrs in the County House last Tuesday.

While the Labour Councillor admitted using the f-word after the meeting, and said he wouldn’t apologise for being passionate on behalf of his constituents,  he denied swearing in the chamber while the meeting was in session.

This clip begins with Shaun reading an excerpt from the story:

The first step in developing a much discussed data centre on the Donegal and Derry border has been taken with the lodgement of a planning application by an agent based in Dublin.

Senator Cecilia Keavney has welcomed the application, and while hopeful that it will develop into a
successful project that will yield jobs, she’s cautioning against taking anything for granted.

She says a combination of factors including Project Kelvin and low corporation tax is being used to market the region, and that seems to be paying dividends………

A Higher Education Authority report published this week has found that at Letterkenny Institute of Technology, student completion rates are higher than the national average for Institutes of Technology in all categories.

This contrasts with the annual Sunday Times assessment, which has consistently found Letterkenny’s completion rates to be the lowest in the country.

College president Paul Hannigan says this reinforces his long held view that an independent and uniform measurement tool is needed……..

People are being urged to offer their views on wind energy and wind farms at a soapbox event at the Donegal County Library next month.

The “Wind Farms – The Future or a Blot on the Landscape” debate is being arranged under the auspices of the EU Direct Centre for the North West, and today is the closing date for entries. the event happens on Tuesday week next.

Ciara Cunnane is manager of the EU Direct Centre – She says it’s a good time for such a discussion……

HSE West today warned about the dangers posed by Halloween bonfires and fireworks.

Parents and children are asked to be extra vigilant over the next three days.

Parents are also being urged to ensure that their children are accompanied by an appropriate adult whilst visiting houses to seek Halloween treats

Dr Anthony Breslin has this safety message………………….