41-year-old Stephen Boyle has admitted killing but denies murdering 19-year-old Paul Boyle (19) at Early’s Bar, on Arranmore on October 3, 2009.

Mr Boyle of Austen House, Cambridge Road, Kilburn Park in London has pleaded not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter at the Central Criminal Court.

John Boyle, a brother of the accused, told Mr Michael O Higgins SC defending that a month beforehand there was an incident where the accused crashed his BMW into a wall to try and do away with himself.

The witness told the court his brother was crying after the incident and he was concerned he was suicidal.

He told Mr Vincent Heneghan BL prosecuting that after the incident he got a call and he went to collect his brother who was in bad shape and was crying.

Witness Brendan Gillespie told Mr Paul O Higgins SC prosecuting that Paul Boyle was stuck twice by the accused with a glass, which he said broke after the second blow.

Under cross-examination, he told Mr Micheal O Higgins that when Paul Boyle was struck first, his head went forward but said: “I’m sure he didn’t mean to cut him in the neck.”

He said he didn’t remember hearing any shouting or seeing Paul Boyle engaging in a blocking exercise.

The owner of the bar, Gerry Early, told Mr Micheal O Higgins that Paul Boyle had to put out of the bar over an incident earlier that evening.

The trial continues before a jury of six men and six women presided over by Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy.

A number of notes have been detected by a number of taxi drivers over the weekend.

The fake notes have a number of features that make them easily identifiable when held up to a light.

However Gardai say if staff are busy or the notes are handed over in dark premises they may be mistaken for the real article.

Local Taxi Driver Patrick Gallagher received one of the fake notes over the weekend…….

Donegal Manager Jim Mc Guinness gave his reaction to Oisin Kelly.

Management and staff at the Sandhouse Hotel in Rossnowlagh,who claimed a good season in 2011, were stunned when told today that liquidators KPMG put the property on offer at the auction in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, on March 1.

Staff are gearing up to re-open the hotel, seasonally closed since early December, this weekend prior to Valentine’s Day.

The 55-bedroom hotel, which has a spa, is on offer for €650,000 at auction.

Manager Paul Diver had a rolling contract with the liquidators to run the hotel for two years, after which he would continue to manage it, pending eventual purchase for an undisclosed fee.

Mr Diver would only say today that the hotel is re-opening as planned at St Valentine’s weekend.  He refused to discuss the auction which he only learned about today.

But a source close to the hotel management team said there had been ongoing negotiations with the banks to buy the hotel from the liquidator but the banks just aren’t interested in supporting hotels during the recession.

The hotel, originally developed from a B and B, was once a hideaway holiday spot for Mia Farrow and Woody Allen before their marriage hit the rocks.

Former British premier Tony Blair spent holidays during his childhood and mid-teens at the hotel when visiting relatives on his mother’s side in nearby Cashelard.

Teacher Treasa Doherty was charged with trying to kill her son Sean O’Connor after an incident in their Garden City home on Saturday night.

He is on a life-support machine in the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast where he is being treated for a serious head injury.

An investigating police officer told District Judge Barney McElholm that he was opposing bail in the case because he believed the defendant’s long standing alcohol addiction could result in her committing further offences.

However, in a bail application, Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said his client had no previous convictions, and both he and the prosecution accept that what happened resulted from a fall-out between a mother and son, both of whom unfortunately have developed difficulties with alcohol.

Mr Quigley said a bail address at the defendant’s father’s Baronscourt home was available to the court and a family network has been put in place to assist his client.

He said she was also willing to seek medical assistance from her GP to deal with her long-standing alcoholism and was willing to reside if necessary in any inpatient treatment centre.

The district Judge released the defendant on her own bail of £500 together with a surety also of £500, with a number of conditions, including that she doesn’t drink alcohol, and submits to unannounced police breath tests.

The statement comes after the rail lobby group “Into The West” expressed alarm at cuts in staffing and opening hours at Waterside station.

Responding, Translink say they are continually reviewing service provision in all areas, and efficiencies have been made at Waterside and elsewhere, whilst seeking to re-invest in train services. Commitments for a major upgrade of the line from Derry to Coleraine have already been given.

Into the West spokesperson Eamon Mc Cann says there is a long term plan for a new station on the Waterside, and they want that acted on as soon as possible……

Tyrone Manager Mickey Harte was pleased to get off to a winning start.

Derry1-11 v 1-15 Galway.
On Sunday Derry were undone by a young Galwayside who showed greater composure in the closing minutes to claim a four-point victory at Celtic Park. Having clawed their way back into the match the Oak Leafers trailed by only point with an hour gone and looked set to go on and claim a result. However, with Derry taking some wrong options the visitors kept their cool with late scores to secure the points.

Speaking with derrygaa.ie vice-captain Joe Diver was disappointed with the result.

The Mayor of Letterkenny says he intends meeting with Environment Minister Phil Hogan at the AMAI conference at the end of this week to discuss the issue.

Yesterday, the Mail on Sunday quoted Minister Hogan as signalling he would be bringing proposals to cabinet in the coming months to abolish all town councils.

This is at variance with comments the minister made last year which suggested that while councils in smaller towns may be abolished, bigger councils would be retained.

Cllr Mc Monagle says clarity is needed……..

The statement comes after the rail lobby group “Into The West” expressed alarm at cuts in staffing and opening hours at Waterside station.

Responding, Translink say they are continually reviewing service provision in all areas, and efficiencies have been made at Waterside and elsewhere, whilst seeking to re-invest in train services.

They say Waterside Station will be staffed from 06.30am until 5.30pm daily, ensuring coverage for all the main morning and evening peak services, with a member of train staff available to help people at other times.