A 52-year-old Derry man who fed four schoolgirls with alcohol before sexually abusing them has been jailed for six years.

Martin Edward Coyle from Bridge Street pleaded guilty to 18 charges including gross indecency with a child, unlawful carnal knowledge, and indecent assault.

Derry Crown Court was told that Coyle used alcohol, cigarettes and money to lure the girls – who were aged between 14 and 16 – to his home.

Judge Piers Grant said Coyle was “depraved, vile and disgusting”, and his abuse was “premeditated, planned, organised and involved grooming”.

He said Coyle showed the girls pornographic films and gave them alcohol to disinhibit them before assaulting them in front of each other.

The judge said Coyle’s victims came from a vulnerable background, and were still psychologically damaged.

Judge Grant described Coyle’s actions as wicked, and said they had a profound effect on the lives of the four children.

Coyle was jailed for six years and also placed on the sex offenders’ register indefinitely.

He was also made the subject of a sexual offences prevention order which bans him from unsupervised association with children under 18 for an indefinite period

A leading scallop producer and shellfish industry representative from Donegal has been elected the new chairman of the Irish Shellfish Association.

Jerry Gallagher from Carrigart was appointed at a meeting of the new Executive Committee in the Irish Farm Centre in Dublin today.

Irish Farmers Association President, John Bryan, congratulated him on his appointment.

Jerry Gallagher said he is looking forward to leading the 45m euro industry into the future…..

Comments today from the chief executive of Derry’s Chamber of Commerce underline the severe impact the government’s 2% VAT increase may have on Donegal businesses

Sinead McLaughlin said a quarter of cars in the city’s Foyleside shopping centre car parks last weekend had Republic of Ireland registration plates, most of them from Co Donegal.

Ms McLaughlin believes that the VAT increase will result in more people from Donegal shopping to Derry:

Highland Radio News has learned that a planning application for a major nursing home development outside Letterkenny has been withdrawn.

Donegal County Council had granted planning permission for the nursing home on the outskirts of Letterkenny near Coolboy.

The plans included the construction of 68 bed nursing home, access road, retention of a partially built house, change of use of same to nursing home use and all site works.

Donegal County Council awarded conditional planning permission in September – the planning application included a representation from Donegal Deputy Joe McHugh who inquired when a decision on the application would be made.

There was also some local objection – one family noted a number of reasons why they believe the project should not go ahead.

These included claims the public access road was to narrow, that increased traffic would present a danger to other road users and that, in the event of a funeral, those attending the removal would be forced to park on the side of the road.

The planning application has now been withdrawn, it is not clear why or if it will be resubmitted.

The Donegal spokesperson for People With Disabilities Ireland has said a government decision to cut 100% of its funding will effectively wipe the group out.

James McLean was speaking following the confirmation from the Department of Justice that from January of next year the PWDI group will no longer get funding from goverment.

The news comes on the day that a major Cross Border Disability Strategy is launched in Lifford – while next week is Disability Awareness Week

James McLean says the decision must be reversed:

Donegal South-West Deputy, Dinny McGinley has said the Government cannot not give any guarantees that Lifford Community Hospital will not close.

An internal HSE document lists it as one of 10 across the country which may close – ten beds  in Buncrana, two in Ramelton and four in Carndonagh are also under threat.

Deputy McGinley met with the Health Minister and Senior personnel from the HSE  to ask about the future of the hospital.

He said at this stage the Government cannot give any assurances that the hospital will stay open:

A group set up in Donegal in protest against the proposed Septic Tank Legislation have said they want Senator Brian O’Domnhaill to publish what proposals his party has.

The Can’t Pay Won’t Pay Group believe that Fianna Fails proposals include a 200 euro charge on every household, every seven years.

Group spokesperson  Danny Brown says if these proposals are true, then they are even worse than the current Government proposals of a one-off 50 euro charge:

Derry building firm O’Neill Brothers has closed after more than 50 years in business.

More than 20 people were employed by the firm, which was based in Pennyburn Industrial Estate.

O’Neills opened in 1956, and built many high-profile buildings in Derry, including the council offices on Strand Road and the O’Doherty Fort.

Foyle MP, Mark Durkan, said it’s a major blow for the local economy:

Largo Foods increased its profitability last year despite a €4 million decline in turnover.

Latest accounts for Largo Food Exports Ltd show that the company increased its pretax profit to €2.56 million in 2010 from €1.96 million in the previous year.

Turnover declined to €84.1 million from €88.2 million in the period.

In the past couple of years, Largo has achieved a €10 million-plus reduction in its cost of sales following a restructuring of the business that reduced its employees from about 700 to some 500.

It has invested about €7 million in automation at plants in Ashbourne and Donegal.

Plans to create up to 1000 jobs along the Strabane/Lifford border have taken a step closer today.

The company behind the proposed project, Riverside Building and Development Ltd, says all that remains is a green light from the Government.

The £50m Three Rivers project will include a sports centre, wildlife centre, hotel, employment park and a retail complex.

West Tyrone MP, Pat Doherty, says he believes the planning application for the project will be accepted….