Confirmation that over 90 new jobs are being created in the Pension Credit service in Derry is being welcomed in the city .

Foyle MLA Pat Ramsey says the news will cushion the blow of finding out 300 pharmaceutical jobs which Derry was bidding for have gone to Tralee instead.

Mr Ramsey says Environment Minister Alex Atwood is promising to fast-track the planning process, and get the jobs into the city as quickly as possible.

He says this will be of particular interest to young people who currently work in Belfast but want to move back to the city………….

Experts are looking for help in tracing a meteorite that was seen in the skies over Ireland last week.

Astronomy Ireland says it’s almost certain that fragments of the fireball fell somewhere in the North West, probably in Sligo, but possibly in Donegal.

They’re asking anyone who saw the meteor on the night of Monday week last to go to astronomy-dot-ie and report the sighting. They’re particularly anxious to get any pictures from CCTV cameras.

Dave Moore is Chairperson of Astronomy Ireland. He says if they get the right information, they can tell people where fragments of the meteorite may be found………..

Championship summer football came to an end for Donegal last Sunday in Croke Park after a two point All Ireland Semi Final defeat at the hands of Dublin. On reflection 2011 has been a big year for the county. Jim Mc Guinness’  men won the Division Two league title having come through the series with just one defeat at the hands of Laois. For the first time in 19 years the Anglo Celt Cup returned to the hills as Donegal beat Derry in the Ulster Final. That  win lead to two appearances at Croke Park. It’s been a number of years since the county had something to cheer about, but that all changed this summer.

A league title, An Ulster Championship and an All Ireland Semi Final – its been a good year for Donegal football, here’s how it all unfolded with Charlie Collins and Declan Bonner.
 

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of the deaths of three people in a booby-trap bomb in a flat in the Creggan Estate.

Sean Dalton,  Sheila Lewis and Gerard Curran lost their lives.

In 2005, Sean Dalton’s family asked the Ombudsman to investigate allegations that the RUC had known that the flat had been booby trapped, but stayed silent to protect an informer.

They say the IRA was responsible for planting the bomb, but the RUC was responsible for ensuring that civilian lives were not put at risk and they have been trying to get to the truth ever since.

In 2008, Sean Dalton’s family was advised that a draft report of the completed Ombudsman investigation was almost ready for publication, and that the substance of their complaint had been upheld.

However, last year at a meeting with the Ombudsman and senior staff from his office, they were given a  verbal account which totally contradicted the conclusions of investigators in 2008. The final report was still not forthcoming.

Recently, the family was assured they would receive the report to coincide with the 23rd anniversary today, however, they say the Ombudsman has reneged on that promise. Al Hutchinson says this latest delay is due to the imminent release of the Criminal Justice Inspectorate Report into his office.

Sean Dalton’s son Jim died earlier this year, with the family saying their brother was denied closure because of this litany of broken promises.

The family says today marks another year where justice delayed is justice denied, and again call for the report to be published immediately.

An initiative to help companies in Donegal use the internet to promote and sell their services is being launched today in Letterkenny.

The Donegal Digital Skillnet provides companies with training in how to use Facebook and Twitter to generate sales, as well as ensuring that their company’s details feature prominently in Google searches.

The scheme is being cioordinated by Letterkenny Chamber, but Chief Executive Toni Forrester is stressing it’s an initiative for the whole county, and following today’s introductory session, she’s hopeful that companies from all over the county will get involved………

The PSNI will today begin a new round of searches for the body of Castlederg teenager Arlene Arkinson, who’s been missing for 17 years.

The 15 year old  was last seen during a night out in Bundoran in August 1994, in the company of Robert Howard, a known sex offender and child murderer.

In 2005, Howard was tried and acquitted, although at the time, the jury was unaware he was at the time serving a life sentence for the 2001 murder of a 14 year old girl  from South London.

Three years ago Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson was critical of the police handling of Arlene’s disappearance. He found that evidence in the search for her killer was unavailable because police delayed arresting Howard, and detectives “did not respond with vigour to reports that a vulnerable person was missing, having last been seen in the company of a man who was a known sex offender”.

Police said earlier this month the search could involve digs at up to 40 sites, with searchers assisted by specialist forensic officers and sniffer dogs.

Specialist archealogical equipment used in the searches for the disappeared is also being deployed.

Speaking to Greg Hughes on this morning’s Shaun Doherty Show, Kathleen Arkinson said while she had no confidence in the RUC at the time of the initial investigation, she believes the PSNI is now doing all it can.

She’s thanked all who have supported the family in the past, and is hopeful that this search will lead to the recovery of Arlene’s body……………

Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes and Siptu President Jack O’Connor were among the guests at a function this morning to mark the 30th anniversary of the Kirchhoff Automotive Plant in Letterkenny.

The gathering was told that at a time when manufacturing in the North West has traditionally struggled, this factory continues to prosper, making component parts for several international car manufacturers.

The company’s CEO Arndt Kirchhoff said there’s always been a high level of communication and cooperation between management and the workforce, and that’s been a major contributor to the firm’s success.

He says the Irish operation has put itself in a very good position………..

An SDLP MLA has said he questions if a pharmaceutical company ever had any intention of investing in Derry.

Global Pharmaceutical Centre of Excellence (GPCE) had been in talks to bring 300 jobs but has now opted for a site in Tralee, County Kerry instead.

The company’s chief executive said lower corporation tax in the Republic had been a factor in the decision.

Mark H Durkan has said he fears Derry was used as a bargaining tool to get a better deal in the Irish Republic…….

A Strabane man remains in a serious condition in hospital after he was beaten and left unconscious by a gang of teenagers.

The 38-year-old man remains in Altnagelvin hospital – where his condition is described as serious but stable – after he was found lying in the street with head injuries by a passer-by.

The attack is believed to have happened at some time between midnight and 3am on Saturday morning in the Carlton Drive area.

Strabane District Council Chairman, Brian McMahon, says there could have been a fatality….

Over 50 people, along with a number of local politicians attended a meeting in Raphoe last night over the state of the roads in the area.

The meeting was called because of the deterioration of a section of the Castlefin Road outside Raphoe.

Residents say there are now over 100 potholes on the three mile stretch between Magherahann to Shannagh and work to improve the road has not been done.

Senator Brian O’Domnhaill and Cllrs Frank McBreaty and Martin Harley all attended last nights meeting.

Last nights meeting was organised by Kathleen Nelis, and she wants to meet with the councils engineeers….