Three men have appeared in Court in Derry today charged in connection with an incident on the Buncrana Road, Derry on Monday.
54-year-old Eugene McLoone of Abercorn Road, Derry, 47-year-old Daniel Martin Doyle, of Quarry Street in Derry and 49-year-old Eamon Cassidy of Glenfada Park in Derry all appeared on charges of posessing explosives with intent.
Eamon McDermott was in Court this morning….
More than 1,100 members of staff in the HSE West area which includes Donegal call in sick every day.
The total represents 5% of the 22,000 staff who work from here to Limerick.
And it costs the HSE €5M a month – the figures were released at the HSE West monthly forum.
The HSE is responding to the figures by introducing an ‘absenteeism management’ system.
Cllr Ciaran Brogan, who is member of the HSE West Regional Forum, said while the figures are startling, it must also be taken into consideration the stresses and pressure people working in the health service are under…….
Hundreds of people are expected in Derry tonight as Martin McGuinness leaves the city to embark on his bid for the Irish Presidency.
He will leave his childhood home on Elmwood Street, and head on towards Free Derry Corner were he will speak at a rally.
A number of significant political, sporting and cultural figures from Derry will also speak at the event.
Speaking to Highland Radio News, Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Raymond McCartney, wasn’t giving much away on who would be speaking at the event…
Ireland could see its tourist industry double within the next decade following an initiative endorsed by the European Parliament this week.
MEPs voted in favour of a report that aims to promote Europe as the world’s number one tourist destination.
The report recommends EU subsidies for declining areas, a European tourism card and a European quality tourism label.
Tourism accounts for 10% of GDP and 12% of total employment in the EU.
The Fine Gael MEP Jim Higgins is on the European Parliament’s Tourism committee….
The financial situation in Europe should become more stable in the future because of new rules endorsed by the European Parliament this week.
MEP’s in Strasbourg voted in favour of a new set of rules that will govern how Eurozone states manage their economies in the years ahead.
The ‘economic governance six pack deal’ provides a series of measures that should prevent the kind of housing bubbles and budget deficits that European countries have experienced.
The rules enable the European Commission to take action with member countries if they breach budgetary and economic policies.
And sanctions and fines can be imposed on countries that break the rules.
Independent MEP Marian Harkin was one of the MEP’s who supported the deal..
There are calls for restrictions on the sale of homes in rural areas of the county to be amended or lifted.
Some areas are governed by a Section 47 - it was introduced to protect residents from inflated house prices by effectively barring the sale of the property to someone outside the area.
However it has emerged that if a property is repossessed, the bank can sell the property to whomever it wants as the section 47 is automatically lifted in that case.
Raising the issue, Councillor Michael Mc Bride said, given the changes in the property market, the rules need to be changed….
Sinn Fein in Donegal are seeking a meeting with Chief Superintendent Terri Mc Ginn, after Justice Minister Alan Shatter told the Dail last evening that he cannot give any guarantees that rural garda stations in Donegal will not close.
Deputy Padraig Mac Lochlainn told the Dail there are fears for over 20 garda stations in the county stretching from Malin to Pettigo.
Minister Shatter said the bailout deal requires the government to cut garda numbers and spending.
He said the Garda Commissioner is liaising with Chief Superintendents and others to determine the best way to proceed, and some garda station closures are likely to form part of the recommendations in his final report…..
Deputy Padriag Mac Lochlainn has said he will be meeting with Chief Superintendent Terri Mc Ginn within the next few days.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn has said the Government cannot lay the blame on Gardai for the closure of rural stations……..
This Sunday Glenswilly and St. Michael’s will clash in the Donegal Senior Championship Final in Ballybofey. This year there will be a new name on the Dr.Maguire Cup with both sides having never won the ultimate prize in the Donegal football.
Glenswilly have been to a senior decider before, in 2007 they lost to St. Eunan’s. Ciaran Bonner has been troubled with a knee injury through the last few games of the championship. He says if the Glen men are in touch with fifteen minutes to go he would back his side to win.
It’s a first final for St.Michael’s, Coach with the side is Seanie Boyle and he says the delay in the championship due to the counties journey to Croke Park helped his team’s preparation.
Brian Mc Laughlin has had good and bad days with St.Michael’s through his years of service in the red and white. Brian is delighted to be in a first ever county senior final.
Glenswilly’s Gerard McGrenra is in his 21st year with the Glenswilly club. When he started Glenswilly were playing in Division Four of the league. After the win over St. Eunan’s Gerard said he knew there was something going to happen this year with the Glen men.
Throw in on Sunday is 4pm, Tune into Highland Radio Sunday Sport from 2pm for the build up, the full game live and after match reaction with Charlie Collin’s Martin Mc Hugh and Tom Comack.
The fire service has tackled a blaze at the Burnside Apartments off Lower Main Street in Letterkenny.
A woman was in a ground floor apartment which appears to have been badly damaged, but escaped unhurt.
Part of Lower Main Street was sealed off for a time as fire service personnel tackled the blaze.
The area is being monitored this evening.
Donegal North East TD Padraig Mac Lochlainn has clashed with Justice Minister Alan Shatter in the Dail over the possible closure of rural Garda stations.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn and Kerry TD Jackie Healy Rae called on Minister Shatter not to close rural garda stations, a call which MInster Shatter described as “politically naive”.
Minister Shatter drew an angry response when he said it was gratifying to see Sinn Fein supporting gardai, a different situation from the past.
Deputy Mac Lochlainn said he stands on his record in Donegal, and he accused MInister Shatter of instructing the Garda Commissioner to identify stations that can be closed……..
Responding, Minister Shatter said no garda stations are slated for closure, and he hasn’t even seen the commissioner’s recommendations.
He said the reality is that money must be saved, and his priority is to ensure a viable policing service, rather than concentrating on keeping garda stations open for political reasons………
