The funeral takes place today of a 76 year old man who died after a tractor accident near Glenties at the weekend.
Owen Ward was rushed to Letterkenny General Hospital after his tractor left the road as he drove up a laneway leading to his home at Mully at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon.
He was pronounced dead later.
The counting of votes cast in the Seanad election is due to resume at around 10 O’clock, with the remaining 9 seats on the Agricultural panel to be filled.
Labour’s James Heffernan took the first seat on the Agricultural panel, with Fine Gael’s Paddy Burke elected after midnight last night.
Of the remaining candidates, outgoing Donegal Senator Brian O’Domhnaill of Fianna Fail is in fourth place, with Labour’s Susan O’Keefe from Sligo polling very strongly and close to a quota.
Last night, the five seats on the Educational and Cultural panel went to Fianna Fáil’s Labhrás Ó Murchú and Thomas Byrne, Fine Gael’s Michael Mullins and Deirdre Clune and Labour’s John Gilroy.
Of the three panels to be counted, there is Donegal interest in the Industrial and Commercial Panel, which was contested by Danny Byrne and Cllr Jimmy Harte.
Councillor Terence Slowey says he has no intention of resigning his council seat despite calls from Sinn Fein for him to do so.
A recent report in to the Councillor’s double expenses claim by the Standards in Public Office commission found he had breached guidelines and acted recklessly.
When the issue came up for discussion at today’s council meeting Cllr Slowey said he was full of regret at what happened, but he repeated his claims that he made a genuine mistake.
He also said he had no plans to resign as a county councillor:
The resignation calls were lead by Sinn Fein
Speaking on behalf of his party, Cllr Mick Quinn said he felt that Cllr Slowey had no other option but to step down:
Emergency services have recovered the body of a Donegal fisherman who went overboard in Castletownbere in West Cork last night.
The 43 year old man from Killybegs had been returning to his fishing trawler from shore when the accident happened.
It is understood the vessel with several crew had pulled in to the harbour to overnight and take on supplies.
His body was recovered from the harbour shortly after 1 o’clock this afternoon.
Local Deputy Thomas Pringle says the people of Killybegs are shocked by the news:
The Mayor of Buncrana says he’ll be contacting gardai after a group of over 100 youths took part in a beach party on the Shorefront on Good Friday. It’s understood the youths had arrived on buses from Northern Ireland, with several complaints about their behaviour, and the condition in which the Shorefront was left.
Gardai say a quantity of alcohol was seized, and one arrest was made.
Mayor Cllr Michael Grant says it’s an extremely serious situiation which may impact on Buncrana’s future tourism prospects.
He says it’s particularly disappointing after what was a very successful clean up in Inishowen the previous weekend………..
The Mayor of Buncrana says he’ll be contacting gardai after a group of over 100 youths took part in a beach party on the Shorefront on Good Friday. It’s understood the youths had arrived on buses from Northern Ireland, with several complaints about their behaviour, and the condition in which the Shorefront was left.
Gardai say a quantity of alcohol was seized, and one arrest was made.
Mayor Cllr Michael Grant says it’s an extremely serious situiation which may impact on Buncrana’s future tourism prospects.
He says it’s particularly disappointing after what was a very successful clean up in Inishowen the previous weekend………..
The Spokesperson for the Derry Diocese and Administrator of St Eugene’s Cathedral Fr Michael Canny has said he would be prepared to meet face to face with those people who made threats against police in Derry yesterday.
At an Easter Commemoration in the City Cemetery, the masked member of the organisation read a statement threatening more attacks against catholic PSNI members.
Fr Michael Canny says their message is in sharp contrast to the central theme of Easter, and he’s prepared to tell them that face to face………….
Sinn Fein’s whip on Donegal County Council has called on FG Cllr Terence Slowey to resign. Cllr Mick Quinn made the call, saying while everyone on council holds Cllr Slowey in high regard, his double expenses claim has brought the council into disrepute at a time when politics is at a very low ebb.
In his opening comments to council during a debate on the Standards in Public Office commission hearing into his case, Cllr Slowey reiterated that he had made a mistake which he immediately sought to rectify when he became aware of it.
He indicated it is his wish to continue to represent the people of the Glenties Electoral Area.
A major garda investigation is underway in Bundoran after an armed robbery in a fast food premises last night.
Gardai say staff members were tied up and locked in a room at the KFC premises in the town shortly before it was due to close.
A substantial sum of money was taken by the thieves, and gardai are trying to determine their movements both before and after the robbery.
Inspector Dennis Joyce has been speaking to Greg Hughes on the Shaun Doherty Show………..
The political future of Fine Gael Councillor Terence Slowey may become clearer today when Donegal County Council considers a report into his double expenses claim in October 2008.
A recent report by the Standards in Public Office commission found he had breached guidelines and acted recklessly.
During the same weekend in October 2008, Cllr Slowey attended a local authority conference in Cork and a cross border conference in Kerry. However, he submitted two seperate travel expenses claims, and was overpaid by almost a thousand euro.
When what happened came to light, he immediately repaid the money, acknowledged his mistake and apologised.
However, after he appeared at a Standards in Public Office commission hearing last month, Cllr Slowey’s actions were described as “reckless” in the subsequent report. He was deemed to have breached ethical guidelines, and the case was described as a serious matter.
The council, and the Ministers for Environment and Finance were formally informed of the judgement, with the Department of the Environment saying it’s a matter for the council to decide what action, if any, to take.
The council’s April meeting takes place today, with consideration of the commission’s report the second item on the agenda.
