Gardai in Letterkenny are investigating a robbery at the Dry Arch Petrol Station on the outskirts of the town.

At 2.35 this morning, two males entered the premises, produced a handgun, and escaped with what gardai are describing as a substantial quantity of cash.

Gardai say they made their getaway in dark coloured vehicle.

Gardai are appealing for information, and are urging anyone who may have seen anything suspicious in the area to contact them.

At present, gardai are examing CCTV footage as the investigation into the robbery continues.

A Derry Councillor has said repair costs following the theft of lead piping in the City will run in to tens of thousands of pounds.

Sinn Féin Housing spokesperson Councillor Tony Hassan says that thieves have targetted over 100 homes, businesses and schools in the Greater Shantallow area alone.

He says it’s clear that an organised criminal gang have a plan of action in place and have a ready market for the lead.

Councillor Hassan has called on the police to increase resources and catch those responsible:

An inquest has heard how a father of four died after taking up to a dozen ecstasy tablets at a New Year’s Day party.

30 year-old David Orr took the tablets at a party in Letterkenny on January 1st, 2008.

Mr Orr of Trentamucklagh, St Johnston, was also drinking vodka on the night of the party.

Witness Peter McGinley, a brother-in-law of the dead man told the inquest that he saw David Orr taking 10 or 11 ecstasy tablets on the night.

After about an hour he was rolling around the floor.

Mr McGinley said he didn’t pay much attention to that because ‘that’s the way he always went when he took ecstasy’  he said they left him on the sofa then and he seemed to be okay.

A few hours later other party-goers noticed Orr was not moving and his lips had turned blue.

They rushed him to the local NowDoc service where he was pronounced dead at 8.08am.

Pathologist Dr. Catriona Dillon said the autopsy report showed that Mr Orr had up to five times the level of Ecstasy in his body than the toxic level.

She added that death was due to this and cardiac complications which arose as a result.

The jury agreed with the direction of John Cannon that Mr Orr died as a result of ‘due to ecstasy toxicity”.

Coroner John Cannon expressed his sympathy but said there were lessons to be learned from the tragedy.

Sinn Fein claims to have a document which shows that Ambulance Services for Cancer and Dialysis patients on the western seaboard will no longer be available from the end of this month.

The issue was raised in the Dail by Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin who expressed his anger that the Health Minister would not be available until early July to answer his questions in the Dail.

Deputy O’Caolain said the withdrawal of the ambulance service was a very serious matter which should be discussed immediately:

 
Responding Enda Kenny said the Health Minister, Dr James Reilly will make himself available to discuss the matter.

The Donegal ICSA has expressed concern over what it says is a lack of third level places at agricultural colleges for those wishing to enter the sector.

There has been an increase in second level students who are turning to agriculture as their career path but  the ICSA is concerned that there aren’t enough opportunities for those Leaving Cert students.

It is estimated that the agricultural colleges in Ireland are going to have to turn away as many as 400 students.

Donegal ICSA spokesperson, John Barron, says it would be a big mistake if these students were lost because of a lack of space:

Sinn Fein Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty  will this afternoon seek to introduce a Bill to the Dáil that would dramatically cut payments and salaries to politicians.

The Reduction in Pay and Allowances of Government and Oireachtas Members Bill 2011 seeks to impose pay cuts of up to 30% on senior office holders including the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

The Bill also seeks to abolish outright an additional nine types of payment including allowances for group leaders, whips and committee chairs.

Speaking in advance of introducing the Bill Deputy Doherty said there has been a dramatic decline in the disposable income of the vast  majority of people in recent years.

He adding that Unemployment is rising and wages are falling at a time of rising inflation and interest rates hikes leaving many families at breaking point.

The Reduction in Pay and Allowances of Government and Oireachtas Members Bill 2011 would cut the Taoiseach’s pay by 30%, the Tánaiste’s pay by 28%, Ministers’ pay by 27% and the Ceann Comhairle’s pay by 36%.

In addition the Bill seeks to reduce pay to Ministers of State and other  other office holders on a scale ranging from 20% to 31% and to cut the basic salary of TDs and Senators by 19% and 9% respectively.

An initiative to stress the importance of play is underway across the border counties, with a special focus  on the educational importance of play.

The Border Counties Childcare Network says 20,000 children in Pre-school services across the Border Counties will today learn and sing a special “play song” as part of Play Awareness Week which xontinues until Friday.

BCCN says the initiative is being promoted at 1,000 pre-schools in Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.

BCCN manager Denise Mc Cormilla says many people don’t appreciate the importance of play…..

Photo by rallyimage.com

For the first time in his motorsport career, Tim Mc Nulty won the Donegal International Rally last weekend. Mc Nulty along with former winning co driver Paul Kiely took victory  in their Subaru Impreza WRC with 1 minute and 20 seconds to spare after 24 stages and three days of fantastic rallying action.

Highland Radio’s Oisin Kelly looks back on an eventful weekend not just for the overall winner Tim Mc Nulty but also for the rest of the class winners.
 

A Strabane man who raced along Derry’s Strand Road with a 6 month old baby in the car deserved to be disqualified District Judge Barney McElholm has said.

23 year old Dean McCauley of 27, Millbrook Park, Artigarvan, Strabane admitted a charge of careless driving on October 10 last year.

Derry Magistrate’s Court was told that McCauley was detected driving at speeds of more than 60 mph after undertaking another vehicle on the Strand Road, the main thoroughfare in the city. When he was stopped it was found that there was a 6-month-old baby in the car.

A defence solicitor Mr. Paddy MacDermott told the court his client had been challenged to a race by another driver and had ‘foolishly’ taken up the challenge. He added that the other driver had got away. he asked the court not to disqualify McCauley as there was no premeditation to the offence.

District Judge McElholm said McCauley certainly deserved to be disqualified and added that McCauley probably did not have the brains to understand what premeditation was. He imposed 6 penalty points and fined McCauley £500.

A conference exploring the two biggst causes of deaths among young people is continuing today in Buncrana.

The event at the Inishowen Gateway Hotel, coordinated by the Irish Association of Suicidology is exploring the theme “The Road Ahead – Safer Journies and Positive Perspectives”, looking at road safety and suicide.

Practicioners on both sides of the border have been joined by experts from Australia to share knowledge and perspectives on both issues.

Road safety dominated the agenda yesterday, with suicide and positiver youth mental health the focus today.

While he was mayor of Buncrana, Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn began the process of getting the conference organised following representitives from a suicide prevention group in the town. He says it’s an important event from which a lot can be learned……….