A man who tried to rob a bank in south Donegal was caught after a bank assistant recognised him by the teardrop tattoos on his face.

19 year-old Joseph Myers walked into the Bank of Ireland branch on Main Street in Ballyshannon in Co Donegal and demanded a cashier put money into a plastic bag for him.

Myers was wearing a ‘hoodie top’ and a type of mask but the official recognised him, refused to give him any cash and told him to get out of the bank.

Before he left the bank Myers pulled out a small hatchet and then threatened an elderly bank official before leaving and jumping into a getaway car without any cash.

Gardai were alerted and Myers was later arrested on the same day of the attempted robbery, July 22nd, 2009, in Boyle. Co Roscommon.

Letterkenny Circuit Court heard yesterday how Myers of Tuam Road, Galway, had a tragic past and had been located with sixteen different families before being adopted by his current parents.

His parents had also adopted his brother and another girl and both had gone to be up standing citizens – one was at college and the other was in the army.

Defence counsel Peter Nolan told Judge John O’Hagan that it is a mystery why Myers turned out to be the black sheep of the family.

Myers handed a hand-written letter of apology into the court.

Judge John O’Hagan said he appreciated Myers may now be trying to turn his life around now that he has become a father for the first time.

However he said he must take into account the fact that he had so many previous convictions as well as the seriousness of the case.

He sentenced Myers to two years imprisonment for attempted robbery and one year for using a weapon with both terms to run concurrently.

A 27-year-old Donegal man has been found not guilty of three counts of dangerous driving causing death.

The jury returned three unanimous verdicts shortly after 5pm today at Donegal Circuit Court.

Niall McGrath, Grahamstown, had pleaded not guilty of dangerous driving causing the deaths of Nora McGee (74) Magheraroarty and a couple from Omagh, Damien and Teresa Quigg, both aged 49.

The court heard that the collision took place shortly after 6pm on Sunday, September 11, 2005.

The accident took place on a wide straight stretch of the N15 at Ballinacarrick, Ballintra, about halfway between Donegal town and Ballyshannon.

Mr McGrath’s solicitor, John McNulty said afterwards: “My client is delighted that the suspicion which was cast over him for five years, that he was responsible for the deaths of three people, has been taken away. He is relieve to have that burden lifted.”

Donegal County Council has formally agreed a deal with the IDA, which will see land and units in Ballyshannon, Buncrana, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Milford handed over to the council.

As part of the deal,the IDA is providing €800,000 for repairs and €500,000 for road improvements.

County Manager Seamus Neely says there are already three very solid enquiries about units, and the council’s Economic Development Unit will be seeking to maximise their potential.

He confirmed the lands have been valued at €1.4 million, which will be offset by the waiving of development charges in the Letterkenny area.

A Donegal County Council debate on the introduction of an anti-social behaviour strategy has been dominated by a discussion on one clause which states that the council will seek information from gardai about prospective tenants.

Cllr Frank Mc Brearty strongly opposed this provision, saying the garda Pulse system records arrests, but not court findings, and his fear is it could be used to unfairly tarnish applicants.

He said he believes the Pulse system is unconstitutional, and legal opinion should be sought on the provision.

After County Manager Seamus Neely assured members that legal opinion would be sought, Cllr Mc Brearty seconded the proposal to adopt the policy:

Clr Dessie Larkin, who chairs the Housing Strategic Policy Committee, said he does not believe the consultation is an issue, and there is a full appeals mechanism in place.

He says any information that is received by gardai is presented to the applicant for a response, and there is no question of an application being automatically refused.

He says the new policy allows the council deal with any issues far more effectively:
 

A Derry Councillor is calling for a complete ban on the sale of fireworks in Northern Ireland over the counter.

Shantallow representative Tony Hassan says there’s been a high number of complaints about the misuse of fireworks and associated products in the city.

Incidents include fireworks being pushed into letter boxes and thrown into gardens beside oil tanks.

Councillor hassan says the law must be changed:

Local authorities in Donegal may be forced to cut services next year because of cuts in funding from Dublin.

Labour Councillor Jimmy Harte says the local government fund could be cut by as much as 10% next year, and realistically, councils cannot expect commercial ratepayers to make up the shortfall.

He says this means services such as housing, waste and water treatment will be impacted, and the council’s ability to tackle issues such as unfinished estates will be compromised.

According to Cllr Harte, the key problem is that any time an initiative is announced to allow local councils raise funds, the government deduct the amount raised from its grants to the council………..

After another paramilitary style shooting in Derry over ther weekend, Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey has called on Republican Action Against Drugs to engage in talks with the SDLP and community leaders to find a solution to violent attacks in Derry.

On Saturday night, a pizza delivery man was lured to an address in Creggan Heights, and shot on the doorstep. The people in the house, including two young children, witnessed the attack. They were not involved in any way.

Pat Ramsay says young people are being brutalised and families are being traumatised by RAAD, and it’s time to explore what alternatives are available……….

An Inishowen Councillor says a land deal being signed today between the IDA and Donegal County Council will have to be very carefully monitored.

The IDA is now concentrating all its efforts on securing investment for Letterkenny, so it is signing lands in Buncrana, Ballyshannon, Carndonagh, Donegal Town and Milford over to Donegal County Council in return for the waiving of development charges on future projects in Letterkenny.

The IDA is promising to help the council and other bodies if they identify potential investors, but the agency will not be actively marketting any other area outside Letterkenny.

Cllr Padraig Mac Lochlainn, the Mayor of Buncrana says time will tell if the deal is a beneficial one………

Speculation is mounting that Letterkenny Institute of Technology is on the verge of acquiring a 10 acre site for car parking and other developments.

Last week, when asked about the car parking issue, LYIT president Paul Hannigan told Highland Radio that an announcement is imminent, and he expects confirmation of a breakthrough in a matter of weeks.

Car parking has been a thorny issue recently, with residents of Ashlawn and Ballyraine Road objecting to an extension to the science department until what they say is dangerous and illegal parking in their areas has been addressed.

It’s reported that lands across the road from the college may now be acquired.

A campaign is growing in Derry to have the new bridge linking Ebrington and the Cityside named after John Hume.

Assembley work on what has become known as the “Peace Bridge” has been underway for over a week, with local SDLP politicians saying the awarding of the title “Ireland’s Greatest” to their former party leader strengthens the campaign to have the new structure named the John Hume Peace Bridge.

In a statement this morning, the SDLP Leader Margaret Richie lent her voice to thje debate, saying the new bridge should be named after the one man who has done the most for his city and country, as voted by the people of Ireland.

She says she first made that call on the day she launched the plans for the bridge as Social Development MInister, and she reiterates that call once again.

Ms Richie says John Hume went about his way with a determination and dignity, serving the people. He was humbled by his recognition on Friday and would be humbled by the naming of the peace bridge after him.

She says that knowing John Hume as she does, he is probably a little embarrassed by it all, but that is no reason not to do it.

In copnclusion, Ms Richie asks what better metaphor than a bridge would encapsulate the message of hope and reconciliation espoused in John Hume’s work?