The Historical Enquiries Team has opened a new investigation into the killing of a Strabane man by the British Army 40 years ago today.

A commemoration will take place this evening to mark the 40th anniversary of the killing of 24 year old Eamon Mc Devitt by a member of the Royal Marine Commandos.

Mr Mc Devitt, who was deaf and mute, was shot at Fountain Street in August 1971, with his family continuing a campaign to clear his name following an army claim that he was brandishing a gun and about to open fire.

His family say that is a lie.

Sinn Fein Councillor Karina Carlin hopes this new investigation will clear Mr Mc Devitt’s nasme, and says the fact that the inquest into his death returned an open verdict is significant………..

The family of two Donegal fishermen who died after their boat capsized off the coast of Donegal have said  a report into the accident finally brings them closure.

65-year-old Edward Doherty, from Ross Head, Malin Head, and his nephew 41-year-old Robert McLaughlin died after their vessel ‘Jennifer’ sank off Glengad on November 1 last year.

A report released yesterday by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board blamed either wind or wave action, or a combination of both, for the accident.

The report also said that the number of crab pots on board would have had an impact on the stability of the boat.

Edward Dohertys nephew, Martin McDermott has said that he accepts the report and he hopes the family can move on now with their lives.:

The Community for a Clean Estuary has said it is shocked to learn that the Council has not submitted the required information to An Bord Pleanala which is considering the Moville Greencastle Sewerage system.

Correspondents between An Bord Pleanala and the Environmental Protection Agency show that the council has yet to seek permission from the EPA to discharge in to the Foyle or Greencastle Harbour.

This despite the planning process being six years along, Enda Craig of The Community for a Clean Estuary says this is almost unbelievable:

The Head of Failte Ireland North West has played down reports that 2011 was one of the worst tourism seasons on record for County Donegal stating there are positive.

Paul McLoone says that numbers this year are in line with last and that the major population areas are still doing well.

An ad campaign has been launched in an effort to give a tourism boost to the county as the season draws to a close.

Paul McLoone says there are some encouraging signs with an increase in American visitors:

Michael Murphy has declared himself fully fit for the All Ireland semi final with Dublin on Sunday week. The Donegal Captain had been suffering with shoulder and hamstring injuries and didn’t start against Kildare in the quarter final victory. Murphy came off the bench against the Lillywhites that day. Since then he has played in the club championship in the county. The Glenswilly man says he’s only got stronger since.
 

Sea conditions and a heavy catch may have resulted in the death of two Donegal fishermen who died after their boat capsized, that’s according to a new report released yesterday.

65-year-old Edward Doherty, from Ross Head, Malin Head, and his nephew 41-year-old Robert McLaughlin died after their vessel ‘Jennifer’ sank off Glengad on November 1 last year.

A report released yesterday by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board blamed either wind or wave action, or a combination of both, for the accident.

However, the report also said the number of crab pots on board would have had a serious impact on the vessel’s ability to deal with worsening weather

The total estimated weight of pots and ropes on board the ‘Jennifer’ at the time of the incident was considered to be in the region of between 915kg and 1,096kg; the equivalent of carrying between 12 and 14 extra persons aboard said the MCBI.

Winds of Force 6 to 8 were reported, but there were also ‘eddies’ — a swirling of the sea running back in the opposite direction of the main flow of the water.

The MCBI recommended that the Minister for Transport review the Code of Practice for Fishing Vessels under 15 metres.

Almost 13,000 candidates from across Northern Ireland are receiving their A-Level results today, with UCAS also releasing its course offers.

For those who do not receive their first choice, competition for places under the clearing system is tight, with fewer places this year than previously. The University of Ulster is estimating they will have around 50 clearing places, compared to 260 last year.

Brenda Barr is a Careers Advisor with the Department of Employment and Learning in the North West – She if people are concerned, the most important thing to do is to seek advice…….

A commemoration will take place in Strabane tonight to mark the 40th anniversary of the killing of a local man by a member of the Royal Marine Commandos.

24 year old Eamon Mc Devitt, who was deaf and mute, was shot by a commando at Fountain Street in August 1971, with his family continuing a campaign to clear his name following an army claim that he was brandishing a gun and about to open fire.

His family say that is a lie, and he was gunned down in cold blood.

At 6pm this evening, Eamon Mc Devitt will be remembered in a ceremony at the spot where he was killed on Fountain Street. A plaque erected in his memory will be re-dedicated.

Sinn Fein Councillor Karina Carlin, one of the organisers of tonight’s event, says there had been some minor stone throwing in the area following an earlier town centre protest about Internment which had been introduced just the previous week.  Eamon Mc Devitt was not involved, she says.

He was walking home from a friend’s house, he was killed by a single shot fired by a British soldier.

It was later claimed by the British Army that he was brandishing a gun, a claim denied by 23 local eye witnesses. A priest who came to administer the Last Rights demanded to see the weapon that was alleged to have been branded by Eamon.  No such weapon was ever produced.

Cllr Carlin says tonight’s commemoration will also reaffirm local support for the Mc Devitt family’s ongoing campaign to clear Eamon’s name.

The wife of a Co Tyrone farmer who died from head injuries he sustained when he fell from on top of bales of hay, said yesterday she hoped other members of the farming community would learn from the circumstances of her husband’s death.

59-year-old Christopher Irwin Roulston was found by his wife Kathleen in his farmyard at Moneycannon Road, Strabane, on March 7th.

At the inquest into Mr Roulston’s death yesterday, Northern Ireland’s senior coroner John Leckey was told it was normal practice for Mr Roulston to climb up a ladder and rock or push down the bales from the top.

Each bale weighed 350kg. Mr Roulston sustained multiple head injuries when he fell head first from a height of 2.6 metres.

Brian Pryce, a member of the Health and Safety Executive, told the inquest that machinery to remove bales of hay was available.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Leckey described the circumstances of Mr Roulston’s death as tragic.

A senior Derry City Council official says the Derry Donegal Showcase at the Irishfest in Milkwaukee should lead to a noticeable increase in the number of people visiting the North West in the coming years.

Brendan Mc Menamin, the council’s Arts and Culture Officer, says three quarters of a million people will visit the festival in the coming days.

Many of those who will visit the exhibitions and see the exhibits and performances from the North West have roots in the region, and Mr Mc Menamin says the challenge is to persuade them to come home…..