Health Minister Dr James Reilly says he will visit Letterkenny General Hospital again in the near future after what’s been described as a constructive series of meetings at the hospital last evening.

Minister Reilly received a comprehensive presentation from management at the hospital, and also met with health campaigners and local representitives.

One of them, Cllr Ciaran Brogan, says there’s no doubt that the minister left with a better understanding of the situation locally, and that’s significant……….

A 23-year-old woman arrested as part of the investigation into the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr has been released.

The woman was arrested in Omagh on Wednesday.

Five men arrested in raids involving 200 police officers across three counties were earlier released from custody.

The Health Minister is blaming hospital managers for the surge in patients on A and E trollies during the winter months.

James Reilly says the surge is not down to increased sickness -
but rather to badly organised staffing arrangements over the holiday period.

Speaking at the MacGill Summer School in Glenties – Minister Reilly also announced plans to cut the budgets of hospitals which fail to clear waiting lists for patients in need of treatment longer than 12 months.

The Minister says these hospitals will have their patients transferred elsewhere – and their budgets cut:

But, Senator John Crown who is a consultant oncologist, says there are simple reasons for the long waiting lists at Irish hospitals:

Gardai at Milford are appealing for information following an attempted robbery at a house at Ballyheerin, Kilmacrennan on Saturday night last.

At approximately 11:45pm, two armed and masked men entered the house and threratened a fifty year old woman before leaving empty handed. The woman, who was alone in the house at the time, was unharmed but traumatised.

The two men were armed with a small hatchet, and what appeared to be a handgun.

The first man is described as 5’10″ in height. He was wearing a dark coat and leggings. There were 2 distinctive white stripes down the back of the coat. He spoke with what is described as a local accent.

The second male is described as 5’11″ in height and of thin build.  He wore dark clothing and a grey scarf and dark woollen cap.

Both men are thought to be aged in their forties or early fifties.

The incident lasted approximately 10 minutes before the assailants made off on foot.

Gardai say they also wish to speak to the occupants of a blue van observed in the vicinity prior to the incident, who may be in apposition to assist with the investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Milford Garda Station on 074 9153060, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.

Highland Radio has again  topped the radio listenership tables.

The latest TNS/MRBI listenership survey shows that 67% of respondents who had listened to radio the previous day had listened to Highland, 7% ahead of the second station, 95fm in Cork.

Significantly for advertisers, the station has a market share of 63.5%, 10% ahead of the Cork station.

A prominent road safety campaigner in Donegal has hit out at comments made by Judge John O’Hagan this week, saying it’s time for encouragement rather than condemnation.

Judge O’Hagan referred this week to the disease of dangerous driving in Donegal, which seems worse here than in any other county in Ireland. He said he sees “doughnuts” on the road every night as he travels back to his hotel.

However, speaking to Greg Hughes on today’s Shaun Doherty Show, Mary Clinton, founder of A-Ceart, said the comments are not helpful at a time when the situation in Donegal is improving.

She accepts doughnuts are a particular issue, but says the statistics show fatalities in Donegal this year are slightly below the national average, and that trend needs to be encouraged……….

Health Minister Dr James Reilly is in Donegal for a series of meetings today.

Before addressing the MacGill Summer School this evening, he travels to Letterkenny, where he will meet with management at Letterkenny General Hospital and also campaign groups including Donegal Action for Cancer Care and Cooperating for Cancer Care North West.

DACC spokesperson Berry Holmes says comments made by the minister last week that there will be no more money for Letterkenny General this year are not acceptable, and she’ll be telling him he must rethink……….

The minister’s assertion that no more money will be given to Letterkenny General Hospital was made at the Oireachtas Health Committee last week in response to questions from Deputy Charlie Mc Conalogue.

He says the minister must meet management with an open mind, and be ready to engage in dialogue……..

Gardai are investigating the circumstances surrounding a house fire in Letterkenny last night.

The fire at Glenard Park in the Long Lane area was happened just after 11 o clock.

It’s understood a matress caught fire in the house.

The fire service extinguished the fire quickly.

Gardai said the house had been unoccupied since Sunday.

A judge has adjourned an after-hours drinks case to establish if the law covering the offence has been translated into Irish.

The case is linked to the Central Bar in Ardara, which is run by Donegal All Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy.

At Glenties District Court,  Defence solicitor Sean O’Shea said that under the Constitution all legislation must be in Irish.

However, Mr O’Shea said,  the most recent amending legislation in this case passed in 2003 has not yet been translated under a 2006 Act, and around the country, charges were being dismissed on that basis.

He said: “If we want it to be heard in Irish we haven’t the facility to carry it forward”, adding that the Office of Public Works recently said there was a personnel problem holding up translations.

Judge Kelly raised the query whether the July 2006 Act requiring translations only referred to legislation after that date but Mr O’Shea said there was a retrospective argument.

The hearing was adjourned until September 28 for mention again to permit the prosecution to study the matter.

The funeral will take place later of 17-year-old Sean McNair who drowned in Rathmullen almost two weeks ago.

The body of the teenager from Derry was recovered from Lough Swilly at the weekend.

He had been celebrating a birthday with friends iwhen he jumped off Rathmullen pier and was swept away by strong currents.

Diving teams, the coastguard and local people had been taking part in searches for over a week before he was found.