A security alert in East Tyrone, has now ended after a controlled explosion was carried out on a suspect device this afternoon. The device has been taken away for further forensic examination.

The Moygashel Road had been closed 50 metres either side of Moygashel Mills Park. Residents who were moved during the alert, have returned to their homes, and the Moygashel Road has now reopened.

Letterkenny Dentist Dr Terence Fox’s practice is once again one of the five top earners from the Medical Card Scheme.

The practice was paid €317,355 euro last year, the second highest amount in the state.

However, in an indication of how the amounts paid under the scheme have fallen, the amount paid to the practice was  €66,000 down on what it was paid in 2009.

Gardai in Letterkenny have confirmed they are investigating a computer scam after four bank accounts were raided of thousands of euro by Nigerian fraudsters.

It is the first such scam of its kind in Donegal.

Gardai in Letterkenny confirmed that at least four bank accounts had been targeted in the phishing scam, and efforts were underway to see how many more had been hit across the County.

Garda Superintendent Vincent O’Brien appealed to people to check their accounts of they bank on-line.

He explained that the gang use random numbers to access people’s laser cards and initially take just a couple of euro out to pay a small bill to another company.

But once the gang know they have access to the account then they begin to take out larger and larger amounts of cash.

Gardai are working with officers from the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation as a part of a major investigation spanning a number of countries.

Anyone who suspects their bank account has been targeted should get in contact with their banks immediately.

Lettekenny Town Council has adopted its budget for 2012 at the first time of asking.

The council will spend €7.6 million next year, with the largest proportion, €2.2 million, going on the County Charge to cover services provided in the town by Donegal County Council.

The council’s wage bill will be just under €1.8 million. Over half the money will be raised through commercial rates, which will stay unchanged next year.

Members considered seeking a cut, but instead they decided to increase the amount of money available for marketing Letterkenny as a gateway town and a tourism and retail centre.

Town Manager Seamus Neeley has welcomed the passing of the budget, saying the fact that it was unanimous is an indication of the close working relationships that exist on the council…………

Buncrana Town Council has adopted its budget for 2012, with commmercial rates remaining unchanged. The council will spend a total of 3.27 million euro next year, 100,000 down on 2011.

Tourism and promotion have been identified as priorities, with over 30,000 set aside for that purpose in the budget.

Town Manager John Mc Laughlin says that’s an important element of what the council is about, and he’s confident the authority has passed a budget which will serve Buncrana well…….

A member of the Travelling community facing five counts of attempted murder has had a bail application refused.

46-year-old Michael Paul McDonagh of Mitford Walk, Crawley in Sussex appeared  by video link at Strabane Magistrate’s Court today.

He faces five counts of attempted murder arising out of a multiple stabbing in Strabane on St Patrick’s Day. The defendant was arrested in a London pub by the Metropolitan Police earlier this month.

It is alleged that McDonagh was the ringleader of a gang that attacked several people outside Joe’s Bar in Strabane on March 17. Five men were stabbed in the incident, one of them requiring 200 stitches and 65 staples for his injuries.

In court today, PSNI Constable Oonagh McKenna said that bail was strenuously opposed in the case.

Constable McKenna outlined how the defendant’s DNA had been found on the jeans of one of the injured men and how he had been picked out of an identity parade.

McDonagh was described as “a ghost with no traceability” by the officer, who explained how PSNI investigations had taken them as far afield as France.

Constable McKenna said that McDonagh had managed to travel to France even though there was no record of him leaving the UK or even holding a passport.

She also said it was the PSNI’s belief that McDonagh was the senior figure in the St Patrick’s Day bloodbath.

Defence Solicitor Oliver Roche put it to the Police Constable that his client had only been positively identified by one of the five injured parties and that the only evidence connecting McDonagh to the brawl was DNA.

The solicitor also pointed out that other suspects wanted in connection with the stabbings had agreed to speak to the police.

Refusing bail, District Judge Mr Liam McNally said the difficulty in tracking the defendant in the months after the attacks gave grave cause for concern.

The judge also said that a number of threatening phone calls made to one of the injured men gave rise to concerns that witnesses could be interfered with.

Mr McNally said there was a strong case to answer and remanded McDonagh into custody until January 19.

Buncrana Town Council is to look at developing a town market.

The suggestion was made this afternoon after it emerged that 5 casual trading operations in the town have been shut down in recent times.

Councillor Peter McLaughlin says that it would give casual traders an outlet in a way that would be fair to established businesses……….

Three small businesses in Strabane are to close with the loss of up to 15 part-time and full-time jobs.

Five Star Fish Spa pulled its shutters down for a final time last week.

Nearby, Priceless Shoes on Castle Street ceased trading on Sunday with the loss of five jobs.

And children’s clothing shop Nippers Corner has confirmed that it too is to shut.

Local businessowner and Councillor, Patsy Kelly, says small businesses in the Town Centre are struggling with high rates and that business has gone to the other end of the town……

The driver of a car that crashed resulting in the death of his wife and in the serious injury of a young girl has lost his claim of indemnity against his GP.

81-year-old William Barr, of Middletown, Gweedore, had claimed his GP Dr Anthony Delap was negligent in certifying him fit to drive two years before he was involved in the fatal car crash.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill ruled there had been no negligence or breach of duty on the part of the doctor.

Mr Barr was the driver of a car which crossed from its side of the road and crashed into an oncoming vehicle outside the village of Dunlewey on May 27, 2008.

Mr Barr’s wife, Maggie was killed in the crash, and the backseat passenger in the other car, Noirin McGarvey, who was four at the time, suffered serious spinal injuries and is now confined to a wheelchair.

Noirin, now aged seven, brought proceedings through her father Ronan McGarvey, Lower Dore, Bunbeg, Co Donegal, against Mr Barr.

Earlier this year, the High Court approved a €4m settlement in favour of the young girl.

Mr Barr had denied liability for the accident and claimed an indemnity against his GP, Dr Anthony Delap, on grounds that he suffered a medical ailment immediately prior to the collision that caused him to lose control of his car.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Iarfhlaith O’Neill rejected Mr Barr’s claim.

He said the reality was that at the time of the crash Mr Barr was still a robust 77-year-old and was still fully active.

In addition, he found that Mr Barr “was a fully competent, mature adult and was himself primarily responsible for ensuring that he himself could drive safely”.