The Donegal Domestic Violence Service has been told that it’s core funding is to be cut by 6% next year. The money is provided through a service agreement with the HSE.

The news came this afternoon, less than a month after capital funding was confirmed for a new purpose built shelter.

The current refuge had to turn away 33 women and 27 children last year as they didnt have enough space.

However, Service Manager of the Centre Fiona Doherty says they are already operting at a deficit, and today’s news takes the shine off November’s announcement……

A police officer told Derry Magistrate’s Court that they believed a 39-year-old man charged with rape was ‘a predatory attacker’ who posed a risk to females in general.

Kieran Brian Coyle of 65, Forest Park, Killyygordon in County Donegal was charged with rape and sexual assault that were said to have occurred on December 15.

The court heard that on that date a young woman went to Strand Road PSNI station where she reported she had been raped in a taxi.

She told police she had been out for a night and was in her own words drunk and had flagged the taxi down in Shipquay Street.

CCTV was examined and the defendant’s car was identified and Coyle also fitted the description given by the alleged injured party. She said the taxi had stopped in the Galliagh area of Derry and the taxi man had got In beside her and proceeded to touch her then rape her.

She alleged she then left the taxi and the man followed her and indecently assaulted her.

She added that although she knew she shouldn’t have but as she had no coat, money or phone she got back into the taxi and asked to be taken to a friend’s house.

Coyle denied her version of events and said that he never touched her. Police opposed bail on the grounds they were fearful he could re-offend.

An officer said there had been two set of allegations made against Coyle in the past but not proceeded with.
She added that they were fearful he would interfere with witnesses as he had a previous conviction for intimidating a witness.

Defence solicitor Mr. Ciaran McGuinness asked the officer were there inconsistencies in the girl’s story and she admitted that the alleged victim said she could not remember everything.

District Judge Barney McElholm said that they were serious allegations and remanded Coyle in custody to appear again on January 12.

Three school projects in Letterkenny are to begin construction in the New Year.

Gaelscoil Adhmanain in Glencar will begin while work on the Irish-speaking secondary school Colaiste Ailigh will start at its location in Carnamuggagh.

It has also been confirmed that work on the extension to St.Patrick’s National School in Lurgybrack, on the outskirts of Letterkenny, will also begin in the New Year.

Donegal North-East Deputy, Joe McHugh said its positive news for Letterkenny…….

Hundreds turned out in Letterkenny yesterday for a protest against Budget 2012.

The protest, which was organised by Buncrana man, Joe Murphy, was held in Market Square at 3 o clock.

It was the second protest in County over the weekend, hundreds also came out in protest in Falcarragh on Saturday.

Joe Murphy, says there will be another protest on the 8th of January…….

The Council is looking to introduce charges for parking in a number of towns across Donegal.

Six towns are to be considered for the charges in the first quarter of 2012.

A further four towns that already charge for parking are to see charges increased.

Donegal County Council is proposing to introduce car parking charges in Carndonagh, Dungloe, Falcaragh, Killybegs, Milford and Moville.

Whether or not charges will be introduced or not will first be discussed with elected councillors for the areas affected.

It is envisaged that where car parking charges are introduced, the monies raised would be ring fenced for local road upkeep and improvements in the towns that generate the money.

The council has highlighted the importance of  appropriate traffic management being introduced to accompanied car parking charges.

Meanwhile it will cost more to park in Ballyshannon, Donegal Town and Ballybofey/Stranorlar.

Early next year the cost per hour is set to increase by 10 cent – this will bring parking up to 40 cent per hour in existing car parks and 60 cent per hour on the streets.

Donegal County Councillors will have the final say on the council’s proposals.

The Government won’t consider any inquiry into clerical child sex abuse until church-run audits into 24 more dioceses are completed.

Deputy Charlie McConalogue says the decision of Children’s Minister Frances Fitzgerald not to order an inquiry into Raphoe and other dioceses now fails victims of abuse.

Mrs Fitzgerald has not ruled out a state commission of inquiry in the future.

But calling for a State commission now, Deputy McConalogue, the Fianna Fáil spokesman on Children said it was “critical that the voices of the victims, were heard”…….

Speed gardai have launched a search for motor cyclist who clocked 240 kilometres per hour on an 80 kmh road in Donegal

He has put up a Youtube video of his danger-drive on the narrow road, which has a single white line over much of it to prevent traffic crossing.

The 6 minute 44 second video, placed on the Internet on October 7, boasts that the driver is speeding at 150 miles per hour – 240 kilometres – on an R6 Yamaha on the Pettigo road.

Gardai who know the road leading from Laghey to Pettigo – a village on the border with County Fermanagh – have spotted from the video that the biker drove several kilometres towards Pettigo and then, riding across a gravel siding, did a u-turn to go back some distance in the other direction.

South Donegal Traffic Corps chief, Sgt Iggy Larkin, said it was absolutely crazy driving on a regional road with an 80 kmh limit and a lot of very dangerous bends.

The biker passed six cars on the road and met 22 others travelling in the opposite direction.

Sgt Larkin said gardai are determined to find the culprit and prepare a danger-driving file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A man and his two children have been found dead at a house in County Sligo.

The bodies of the 52 year old father, his 12 year old daughter and 9 year old son were found at the house at Morgara in Gurteen before ten o’clock last night.

Gardai were called to the house at Morgara in Gurteen at twenty to ten last night, after the bodies of the man and two children were discovered.

A local doctor was called to the scene, and pronounced the three dead shortly before 11 o’clock.

It’s understood Gardai are investigating the possibility that the three died as a result of a suspected gas leak.

The services of the State Pathologist have been requested by Gardai, and it’s expected that post mortem examinations will be carried out.

The scene of the discovery remains sealed off for a technical examination, and Gardai at Ballymote have launched a full investigation.

Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Simon Coveney says it’s a positive day for the Irish fishing industry, following an overnight agreement on quotas at a council meeting in Brussels.

Mr Coveney says he has secured 141,000 tonnes of open sea fish and tuna quotas and 36,000 tonnes of whitefish.

The Minister said the  total value of next year’s fishing opportunities will reach a record level of over 250 million euro.

North West MEP Pat The Cope Gallagher says as ever, the gap between the scientific evidence quoted by the industry and the restrictions sought by the commission was wide, but it’s been closed significantly……

A 34 year old man has been arrested followeing the death of a 48 year old man at an enmtertainment complex in Portrush.

The man died after falling down stairs at the Playhouse on Main Street in the early hours of this morning.

Police are investigasting, and are asking anyone who witnessed an altercation outside the Playhouse shortly before 1 o’clock this morning to contact them.