An 88-year-old Donegal man who raped five women is to be sentenced later at Dublin Central Criminal Court.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to raping a woman on or around dates between April 1st, 1991 to June 30th, 1991 in a place unknown in County Donegal.

He also pleaded guilty to raping a second woman on or around dates between September 1st, 1995 and September 20, 1995 in a place unknown in County Donegal.

The defendant also pleaded guilty to raping a third and fourth woman on a date on or around October 1st, 1999 and December 31st, 1999 and October 1st, 2000 and December 31, 2000 in a place unknown in County Donegal.

He also pleaded guilty to raping a fifth woman on or around August 16, 2006 and August 30, 2006 at a place unknown in County Donegal.

Mr Justice Paul Carney remanded the defendant in custody and placed his name on the sex offenders register.

He ordered victim impact statements and medical reports for the sentencing date next month when full facts will be heard.

Ulster Senior Club Championship Preliminary Round
Kingscourt 0-11 v 1-12 Noamh Conaill

Donegal Champions Noamh Conaill moved into the next round of the provincial club championship with a four point win over Kingscourt. The men from Glenties needed a 50th minute goal from Leo McLoone to secure their passage after being put to the test by the Cavan kingpins.  Kingscourt lead 8 -5  three minutes into the second half before  Noamh Conaill kicked into gear. That goal from Mc Loone and points from Dermot Molloy and John Molloy sent the Donegal men into the first round proper where they will meet Monaghan Champions Clontribret in Ballybofey on the last Sunday in October.

Noamh Conaill’s Dermot Molley spoke with Charlie Collins.
 

The Government will fight a legal challenge today, aimed at forcing the holding of a by-election, by arguing the courts can’t tell the Dail what to do.

The Coalition will also commit again to holding the three by-elections early next year.

In the unlikely event of the Government losing, it would have to hold the by-elections in the next month, which would be expected to narrow its majority even further.

At the moment Taoiseach Brian Cowen has a majority in the Dail of just four votes and is dependent on independents for survival.

The High Court is to hear a case taken by Sinn Fein senator Pearse Doherty, seeking to force the Government to hold a by-election in Donegal South West.

The State will defend the action arguing the by-elections will be held next year and it is up to the Dail — not the courts — to decide on electoral matters.

To reassure the judge of the intention to hold the by-election, the Coalition will also reiterate its intention to hold the vote in the spring.

The case is expected to take a day and a half.

Mr Doherty is bringing the challenge to the Government’s refusal to move a writ for the by-election caused by the election of Pat ‘the Cope’ Gallagher to the European Parliament last year.

Mr Doherty’s case is built around Article 16 of the Constitution, which says members of the Dail should not represent more than 30,000 people.

Due to the delay in holding the by-elections, the two remaining TDs in Donegal South West represent more than 70,000 constituents.

A couple have described their devastation at losing their four-year old son in a freak accident at their home.

Nico Price was tragically killed when the wheel of a lorry fell on him at his father Neil’s breaker’s yard at the rear of their rented cottage in Burnfoot, on Friday evening.

4-year-old Nico Price had been playing with his older brother 6-year-old Anthony when the accident happened at around 7.30pm.

The circumstances surrounding the tragedy are being investigated by gardai and the Health and Safety Authority. Initial accounts suggest the child was sitting on the wheel when it or another wheel fell on him.

Nico was rushed to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry but died a short time later. A post mortem examination was conducted in Belfast on Saturday morning before the child’s remains were removed to the family home that afternoon. Nico was the youngest in the family.

Mr Price runs his motor business, West Yorkshire Direct Imports, from the rear of ‘Riverside Cottage’, a small rented bungalow next door to the village post office.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Authority examined the scene of the accident on Saturday afternoon and a spokesperson confirmed that an investigation is under way. Meanwhile, a senior garda source said all the circumstances surrounding the incident were being investigated by gardai at Burnfoot and Buncrana.

Donegal County Council plans to carry out a Garda background check on every person who applies to them for housing.

The measure was revealed at a meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in Lifford during a presentation on the councils new draft anti-social behaviour strategy.

Chairman of the housing SPC, Cllr Dessie Larkin, said he expected the measures to be adopted at the November meeting of the council.

Cllr Larkin stressed that Garda checks were perfectly legal.

Plans for a long-awaited airstrip on Tory Island have been turned down according to Fine Gael Deputy Dinny McGinley.

Deputy McGinley said he was told this week by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs there was no money for the airstrip.

The propsed airstrip was to be situated closed to the lighthouse on the Island.

Deputy McGinley says there is a great sense of dissapointment on the Island.

League Of Ireland First Division
Salthill 1 v 5 Derry City

Derry City moved three points clear at the top of the League Of Ireland First Division with a 5-1 win away to Salthill on Saturday Night. Robbie Porter put Salthill ahead in the 18th minute  but Patrick McEleney leveled things up  from 25 yards on 20.  McEleney grabbed his second on the half hour and Mark Farren made it 3-1 four minutes later.  Barry Molloy and James McClean added two more goals in the second half as Derry took the haul of points back to the Brandywell. With two games left in the season the Candystrips are three points ahead of promotion rivals Monaghan. Next Friday night Derry play Finn Harps in huge north west derby fixture.

Two Donegal fighters have won gold medals for Ireland at the Multi Nations event in the Czech Republic. William Mc Laughlin from Illies Golden Gloves and Finn Valley’s Jason Quigley won their respective deciders on Saturday afternoon.

Mc Laughlin beat his Tunisian opponent 4-1 to take gold in the 69kg weight.
On route to the final, The Inishowen lad recorded one of the most impressive wins of the weekend when he ousted the current European welterweight champion from Hungary on a 3-2 verdict in the semi final.
 

Jason Quigley won gold after a 7-2 win against a Czech fighter in the 75kg decider. The European Youth champ beat the European bronze medalist from Belarus 6-5 to make today’s final.
 

League Of Ireland First Division
Finn Harps 1 v 0 Cork City

On a night when Monaghan United dropped more points in their chase with Derry City for league honours, Harps caused a surprise of their own by beating in form Cork City Foras at Finn Park. Kevin McHugh’s goal – his 12th in the league this season – proved the difference in the end and while Harps were on the back foot for much of the second half, they did well to hold on to take the win. The victory was Harps’ first in seven league games and means Cork’s slim hopes of sneaking into the play off positions are now over.

Harps Manager James Gallagher
 

Monaghan drew nil all at home with Limerick to move joint top with Derry City. Derry however can go three clear with victory on Saturday Night away to Salthill.

Senator Pearse Doherty has welcomed the news that his High Court challenge against the government will get a full hearing on Monday.

Senator Doherty, who unsuccessfully contested the general elections in 2002 and 2007, as well as the European election in 2004, brought the challenge earlier this year to the Government’s refusal to move a writ for the by-election.

The seat has been vacant following the election of Pat “the Cope” Gallagher to the European Parliament in June last year.

Senator Doherty said the government have shown complete arrogance by not yet calling a by election.