Drivers are being urged to respect the roads this weekend as the Topaz Donegal Rally celebrates it’s 40th anniversary.

The Donegal Road Safety Working Group and the RSA have launched a campaign stressing the importance of road safety during the rally.

The campaign invloves ads on Highland Radio using the slogan ‘keep the race in it’s place’.

Road Safety Officer with Donegal County Council, Eamon Browne, has appealed to everyone following the rally to drive safe this weekend:

A Donegal man has pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run incident in America.

28-year-old Damien Crossan from Trentagh was arrested on board a plane which was set to take off from JFK International Airport in New York in February, as he tried to flee to Ireland.

28-year-old Damien Crossan from Trentagh tried to flee America after the hit-and-run accident in Pennsylvania.

Police had recieved an anonymous tip that Crossan was responsible for the accident, he was arrested in John F. Kennedy International Airport after trying to board an Ireland bound flight on February 9th.

Once in custody, Crossan admitted to the incident.

His victim, 32-year-old Jane Timlin was struck from behind a week before, she was pushing a shopping trolley along the road because there was snow on the footpath.

He faces charges of reckless driving while improperly licensed causing personal injury and hit and run. If found guilty, he could go to jail for seven years for each offence.

A man who went on a driving rampage in West Donegal earlier this month has been jailed for six months.

24-year-old Martin McClelland drove for more than 20 kilometres at speeds of up to 130kph as he tried to shake off Gardai after stealing a car in Doochary.

The court was told McClelland  passed out dozens of motorists on continuous white lines in horrific weather conditions putting many other driver’s lives at risk during the pursuit on June 8th last.

Many other drivers coming in the opposite direction were forced to swerve to avoid him and he swerved across both sides of the road with his hazard lights on.

McClelland drove into the busy town of Glenties at 125kph as dozens of students were travelling to schools for the first day of their xxaminations

He then travelled onto the Glen Road at 8.25am at speeds of up to 90kph past a crèche where parents were leaving toddlers off to playschool.

Gardai, who had set up a checkpoint in a bid to stop the manic motorist, also had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit after McClelland continued at break-neck speeds.

A couple of minutes later he lost control of the car and ended up in a ditch. He escaped on foot but was captured by pursuing Gardai.

When brought to the local Garda station in Glenties, it was discovered that McClelland was not under the influence of either drink or drugs.

Judge Paul Kelly said  Mr McClelland’s behaviour was inexcusable.

He sentenced McClelland to six months imprisonment for dangerous driving, fined him €350 for failing to stop for Gardai and took a number of other charges into consideration.

Letterkenny Town Council has been told that Stevenson’s Airfield on the outskirts of the town has the capacity to bring in hunderds of flights and thousands of euro in revenue each year.

However, members were told in order for that to happen, the airstrip needs an Irish Aviation Authority license, and that will not be achieved without council support.

Since October of last year, the Stevenson Family and Operations Manager Charmaine Hughes have been working towards improving the facility, described by one user this week as the finest non-licensed airfield in the country.

Members of the Town Council were told runway improvements have been made and drainage work is being done, with 70,000 euro already spent and plans to invest further within the airstrip.

However, Ms Hughes said there is work needed outside the airstrip, particularly in terms of the access road which is in a very poor condition. She also wants the public water extended to the perimeter of the facility, which would then allow for a cafe and new toilet facilities to be developed.

Councillors were also told that the Stevenson family are seeking to retain an unauthorised hanger which was erected by previous users of the airstrip, and they are asking the council to waive planning and development charges.

Having made her case to the town council this week, Ms Hughes must nowe go to Lifford to address councillors there. The message will be the same – Stevenson’s Airfield can deliver another string to Letterkenny’s tourism bow, but can’t do so without council support.

The FAI have begun an investigation into alleged racial abuse aimed at Derry City’s Eamon Zayed by an opposing player during Monday night’s Airtricity League Premier Division match at Tallaght Stadium against Shamrock Rovers. The FAI on Tuesday announced that the FAI Disciplinary Control Unit had begun an investigation into the alleged abuse toward Zayed and the PFAI have confirmed the complaint. Zayed made a formal complaint after the game and the governing body confirmed it had featured in the referee and match delegate’s report. Meanwhile the  Rovers player at the centre of the allegation has denied the accusation, the Hoops have revealed.

There was joy for the Magee family last weekend at the Lithuanian International event. Second seed Chloe won the Ladies Singles title beating Ragna Ingolfsdottir of Iceland in straight sets. Chloe won the first game comfortably 21-11 but had a battle on her hands in the second when it looked like Ragna was going to take the game, when Chloe was down 17-20 but she battled her way back to win the game 23-21,  the match and the title.  In the mixed Final, Chloe and her brother Sam lifted the title by defeating the No 1 seeds from Poland  in a marathon match 21-9, 15-21, 21-19. This was the Raphoe pairs second mixed doubles title of the year.  Sam also took home two medals. Sam and Tony Stephenson came up against the no 1 seeds from Poland in the mens doubles final. This was a very tough match for the Irish pair who lost in straight sets but they did take the silver medals.

Carrigans Lady Natalie McCarron created history by becoming the first ever Irish Lady Professional Kickboxing Champion the World by winning the ISKA Featherweight title in dramatic style in Western Super Mare in England on Saturday 11th June. Natalie stopped her opponent Katie Sendall in the 4th round via Technical Knockout.  Natlie was straight out of the starting blocks keeping constant pressure on her English opponent wearing her down with constant kicks and punches to the head and body. In the 4th round McCarron fighting at an already frantic pace upped the pace yet again.  A powerful kick to Sendall’s midsection saw her arch over in severe pain.  The referee had seen enough and with Sendall in no position to continue, stopping the fight. Natalie now joins other PT’s professional  Kickboxing World Champions, Tommy “The Letterkenny Ghost” McCafferty, Derryman, Daniel “Pinta” Quigley & Commonwealth Champion Aidan “Lights Out” Lafferty.

Letterkenny General Hospital has been forced to cancel a number of clinics again today as staff struggle to cope with the large number of patients there.

The hospital says it will try to contact patients.

But anyone with appointments with Dr.Thomas, Dr.Steel, Dr.O’Shodi or Dr.Patel in the fracture, medical and ENT clinics should not travel before contacting the hospital.

Also the hospital are warning that no-one should attend the Emergency Department unless absolutley necessary.

The hospital can be contacted at 074 9125888.

A Donegal software company based at the CoLab centre at Letterkenny Institute of Technology has announced plans to recruit a number of additional positions over the next 12 – 18 months.

N-volve, which develops training software to meet the needs of compliance in the food industry will employ up to 15 more people as it prepares to go into the UK market in a joint venture with Staffline Group PLC.

The new Joint Venture will trade under the name Group Learner Ltd and will be primarily focused on the Food Industry in Ireland and the UK.

CEO of N-volve, Barry Harper, said the company will be recruiting for some of the postions straight away…

A leading Garda has said he is concerned a leading criminal trial cannot go ahead – unless audio visual equipment at a local courthouse is working properly.

Detective Garda James Frayne is involved in an upcoming trial during which CCTV evidence will have to be given.

However Detective Frayne revealed that he is concerned about the capability of the the sophisticated technology at Letterkenny Courthouse.

Garda Frayne told a sitting of Milford District Court that the equipment needs to be working properly or the trial cannot go ahead.

Solicitors revealed an hour of CCTV footage will have to be viewed during the trial.

Leading local solicitor Frank Dorrian, who is involved in the case, said he believes different CCTV systems have various security codes which need to be sorted before they can be shown.

Judge Kelly said he will look into the matter.

Only weeks ago it was revealed that the state-of-the-art technology was to be used to host video evidence by prisoners from Portlaoise Prison.

The video conference would save thousands of euro to the taxpayer in transporting prisoners to Donegal where they have to be escorted by two prison officers on the 260 mile round trip.