A man who headbutted a social worker after he called to his home in Letterkenny for an appointment has been ordered to keep the peace.

Patrick Mongan appeared today at Letterkenny District Court charged with assault at Cashel Park on February 16th, 2018.

The court heard that social workers had called to the family home for an appointment with Mrs Mongan.

While there Mongan returned to the house and was drunk and got into an altercation with the social workers.

He became abusive and was asked to leave but he headbutted one of the social workers with a glancing blow.

He was arrested and charged with a Section 2 assault.

His solicitor Donagh Cleary had previously told the court that his client in his 30s, struggles with alcohol and is currently undertaking an anger management course.

The case had been adjourned to hear a victim impact statement from the social worker who was headbutted.

The court was told by Garda Inspector David Durkin that the social worker did not wish to make a statement as he had not been seriously hurt in the attack.

Judge Paul Kelly said that Mongan should be thankful of the gracious attitude shown by the social worker towards the case.

He ordered Mongan to sign a peace bond and be of good behaviour for a year.

A YOUNG Lifford teenager is heading to Chile this week to compete in the World Karate Championships.

The XI WKF Junior, Cadet and U21 Championships are being held in Santiago De Chile and get underway next Tuesday.

Emma Dolan from Argary, a student at the Royal and Prior in Raphoe, is part of the Irish team that is competing.

Emma is a member of the successful Three Rivers Shotokan Club in Lifford and this will be her biggest event to date.

“Three Rivers wish her and the Irish team good luck and every success in Chile,” Emma’s club said.

The event is being organised by the National Karate Sports Federation of Chile and the WKF World Karate Federation.

120 countries, representing the 5 continents, with a total of 1700 accredited athletes will take part over five days of competition at the National Stadium Sports Centre.

Donegal TD Pearse Doherty has hit out at the government over child homelessness after a photo of a young boy eating dinner on the side of a street emerged online.

The photo showed ‘Sam’, a five-year-old boy, eating food off a sheet of cardboard on the streets of Dublin.

The image was shared by Homeless Street Cafe volunteers after a busy night in the city.

“Can we really accept this?” the volunteers wrote.

The Facebook post prompted Pearse Doherty TD to raise the issue in the Dáil today, accusing the Government of hiding behind figures instead of tackling the growing child homelessness crisis.

Doherty said: “The volunteer group who met Sam made clear that his mother is trying her best to provide nutritious home cooked meals for her children.

“Like so many parents of homeless children in this State, their emergency accommodation strictly forbids families from cooking meals for their children.

“This is Sam’s life. Without a home, he is left without the comfort and security that should be the right of every child.

“That is the life that Fine Gael have condemned nearly 4,000 children like Sam to.”

Pearse Doherty TD

Doherty said that homelessness and the housing crisis in Ireland today is a ‘national shame’.

“The moral stain of child homelessness is creating a lost generation of children who are having their childhood stolen,” Doherty said.

The solutions to the crisis, Doherty told the government, lie in Sinn Féin’s alternative budget:

“Our alternative budget would have invested an additional €1bn in public housing, affordable rental and affordable purchase homes and introduced a rent freeze and refundable tax credit for renters.

“These are the solutions that are needed to deal with the housing and homelessness crisis. Instead, you and your partners in Fianna Fáil chose to ignore these people in a budget without ambition, ideas or much needed investment that would have given workers and families a real break.”

MICHAEL DUFFY has been named as the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association Player of the Month for September.

The 25-year-old bagged himself three goals, including a fabulous strike against Shamrock Rovers to seal the Lilywhites’ fifth Premier Division title in six years.

Duffy was integral to Vinny Perth’s side over an incredible few weeks for the Louth club, as they also lifted the EA Sports Cup and booked their place in the FAI Cup final.

He claimed most votes to pick up the prize ahead of Dundalk team-mate Chris Shields and Shamrock Rovers striker Aaron Greene, who was third.

“It was a mad month,” Duffy said. “It’s one that we’ll all look back on fondly.

“I was pleased because I chipped in a few big goals. There were a couple of games where I was quiet, like the EA Sports Cup final. I didn’t see much of the ball, but to score the winner right at the end was unbelievable.

17 October 2019; Michael Duffy of Dundalk with the SSE Airtricity/SWAI Player of the Month Award for September 2019 at Oriel Park, Dundalk. Photo by Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile *** NO REPRODUCTION FEE ***

“Everything just seemed to fall for me, and I was in the right place at the right time. To win the title the way we did against Shamrock Rovers made it a special night.”

Duffy signed for Dundalk having returned from a spell at Celtic.

Previously, he played with Derry City and had played schoolboys football with Kildrum Tigers. His family hail from St Johnston and continue to have strong ties to the border village.

If Dundalk can see off the Hoops at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday, 3 November, they would become the first club to do the domestic treble since Derry City in 1989.

“We want to finish strongly in our last two league games, but all eyes will be on the FAI Cup final now,” Duffy added. “It’s going to be a massive day.

“If we could do the treble, I wouldn’t even know how to describe it. The fact that 30 years have passed since the last team achieved it shows that it’s not something that comes around very often.

“The boys will never forget the success they had in Europe, but if we can pull this off it will be something that stands to us for the rest of our lives.”

THE draw for the new North West of Ulster Intermediate Cup will be conducted on Saturday.

The innovative competition is a collaboration between the Ulster Senior League and the NI Intermediate League.

The Ulster Senior League’s six clubs will take part as will seven teams from the NI Intermediate League.

Bonagee United, Cockhill Celtic, Fanad United, Finn Harps Reserves, Derry City Reserves and Letterkenny Rovers will all be in the draw from the Ulster Senior League.

The NI Intermediate League will be represented by Ardstraw, Dungiven, Magherafelt Sky Blues, Maiden City, Newbuildings United, Newtowne and Strabane Athletic.

The new competition is the first of its kind as a cross-border format at intermediate level.

The draw will take place on Saturday afternoon at 4.30pm in Dungiven with the competition to get underway on the weekend ending November 10th.

A group of six and a group of seven will play off in the first phase of the competition. Three Ulster Senior League teams will be drawn in each of the two groups. Teams from the same League will not play against each other in the group phase.

“This will freshen things up for our Leagues and all of our clubs are excited about the new competition,” said Ulster Senior League secretary Niall Callaghan.

“There will be some great games in store and it will be a good standard. Something like this is just what our League needed and the clubs from the NI League feel the same. Both Leagues are in similar positions at the moment and we’re delighted to get it over the line.

“We want to run a good competition and showcase what is possible. We have had very productive discussions with Gerry Stewart and other representatives from the North West FA over the last couple of months.

“Fran Gavin and the officials at the FAI have been very supportive of this venture as have the IFA in Belfast and we acknowledge the assistance of the two Associations in getting the structure of the competition over the line.”

Job Vacancy: The long-established Magee of Donegal, located in Donegal Town, are now recruiting for a General Handyman/Driver to join their team.

We wish to recruit a General Handyman/Driver whose main responsibilities will include:-

• Opening and locking gates and doors every morning and evening.
• All cleaning requirements, including windows and toilets.  All cleaning tasks must be carried out to a high standard. Replenishing/ordering supplies for all of the toilets.
• Rubbish collection/disposal, separating recycling waste as appropriate.  Bailing cardboard boxes.
• Receiving deliveries into the store and ensuring that all deliveries go to the correct department.  Pricing and security tagging products prior to display on the shop floor.
• Dealing with the post every afternoon.
• Ensuring that all lights and electrical items are switched off at the end of each day.
• Ensuring that the external areas are kept clean and clear of rubbish including pressure-washing and weed clearing.
• Assisting with heavy lifting tasks.
• Small paint jobs.
• Deliveries/driving duties as appropriate.

This is a full-time role, Monday – Friday and would suit somebody with a good work ethic and who will be flexible and reliable.

A current clean driving licence is essential. 

To Apply: 

Please submit your cv to Ann Harley – recruitment@magee1866.com

Calling all Audi Drivers – you are invited to get exclusive access to the awesome new Audi luxury range in a test drive event this weekend.

The Audi Sligo 201 Test Drive Event will take place at Letterkenny Golf Club this weekend October 19th and 20th.

The entire Audi range will be available for test drive which will include the all new Audi A4, the Audi A1, the Audi A8 and the Audi Q3 plus many more models. This is a special chance to see the Audi e-Tron, the all-electric SUV, in action.

The all-new Audi A4

The all-electric Audi e-tron SUV

Where?
Letterkenny Golf Club, Golf Course Road.

When?
Saturday 19th October from 10am -4pm
Sunday 20th October from 11am – 4pm

Cars on display:
Halo cars
Audi e-tron
Audi A1
Audi A3
Audi A4 (New Model)
Audi A5
Audi A6
Audi Q2
Audi Q3
Audi Q5

Book a Test Drive:
To arrange your test drive call 071 9115333 or email testdrive@connollys.ie

Anyone who takes a test drive must have a full clean and valid driver’s licence shown on the day.

Discover the Audi Sligo 201 Audi offerings this weekend at Letterkenny Golf Club or see Connollys.ie for details.

To arrange your test drive call 071 9115333 or email testdrive@connollys.ie

The all-electric Audi e-tron SUV

LETTERKENNY Institute of Technology ladies overcame Mary Immaculate College, Limerick this evening in Ballyhaunis.

LYIT 2-11 MIC Limerick 1-08

Goals in either half by Danielle McDevitt and Julie Trearty saw the Port Road students take the win.

Four point behind midway through the first half, points from Grainne O’Neill and Emma McMahon brought LyIT back into it.

A goal from Naomh Conaill’s McDevitt left the half time score 1-6 each. 

In blustery cold conditions LyIT slowly gained control of the game with Aishleen McGuinness and Kathy Ward adding points. 

Downings woman Treatry sealed the result with a goal and a point. 

Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Aoife Mc Colgan (Malin); Sarah Heneghan (Tourmakeady, Mayo), Hannah Shield (Gail Fhánada), Shauna McFadden (St. Eunans); Julie Trearty (Downings), Nicole Gordon (Moville), Aisling Nee (St. Eunans); Kathy Ward (Glenfin), Clodagh Brennan (St. Eunans); Aishleen McGuinness (Moville), Emma McMahon (Culgeals, Clare), Taylor Doherty (Milford); Danielle McDevitt (Naomh Conaill), Lauren Cregan (Carndonagh), Grainne O’Neill (Swinford Killasser, Mayo). Subs: Michelle Renaghan (Manor Kilbride, Wicklow), Nadine Friel (Glenswilly), Aoife Gillespie (MacCumhaills), Lauryn Biggins (Carnacon, Mayo), Grainne Tibby (O’Neill Shamrocks, Monaghan), Katie Long (Glenfin), Sarah Doherty (Naomh Muire), Mary Harkin (St. Michaels, Offaly).

CAPTAIN Ciaran Thompson says that Naomh Conaill have to ‘come out swinging’ in Sunday’s Donegal SFC final.

Naomh Conaill face into their third successive final and are bidding to win Dr Maguire for the first time since 2015.

“We’ll try to bring something to the table and definitely go at it,” Thompson said. 

“The backs are against the walls and we’ll just have to come out swinging.”

Although the make-up of the Naomh Conaill squad is youthful, Thompson points out the vast experience within their ranks.

He said: “There are a lot of young players there, but they have a lot of Championships experience. The average age of the team was 25 for the semi-final so it’s a good, young side, but it has a lot of experience too.”

Listen to the full interview, with Ocean FM’s Paddy McGill, below …

Irish pelagic fishermen have been given a timely and welcome boost with negotiations around next year’s mackerel catch providing for a 41% increase in quota for 2020.

The development has been welcomed by Killybegs Fishermen’s Organisation CEO, Seán O’Donoghue, who said at the conclusion of this week’s coastal states meeting in London has resulted in a very satisfactory tripartite agreement reached between the EU, Norway and the Faroe Islands.

The Irish quota for 2020 is 78,054 tonnes which represents an increase of 22,740 on this year’s quota of 55,314 tonnes.

Mr O’Donoghue said: “Last year, I was extremely critical of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea or ICES and its scientific advice. That criticism was proven 100% accurate since an ICES review on May 15^th last provided for an overall figure of 770,358 tonnes for 2019 instead of 318,403 tonnes and now a further increase for 2020 to 922,064 tonnes, a figure which is an incredible increase of almost 190% on the advice it had offered in September of 2018.

“I’m extremely pleased that the Coastal States have taken on board the concerns of the KFO and others, which I have expressed regularly in numerous fora regarding the lack of quality assurance in the ICES assessment process by including a specific written reference to this in the final document.”

The KFO CEO said he fully agreed with the criticism levelled at the meeting by the EU, Norway and the Faroes at Iceland, Russia and Greenland for their decisions to increase its unilateral quotas for mackerel for 2019.

Mr O’Donoghue concluded by acknowledging the pivotal role played by Minister Michael Creed and his officials in delivering this favourable outcome.

A man who was charged with threatening and abusing a Garda who called to his home to examine his social welfare payments has been found not guilty.

Pensioner Desmond Morrison, aged 73, appeared at Letterkenny District Court facing the single charge which allegedly took place at his home at Gort na Greine in Letterkenny on June 8th 2018.

The court was told that Garda Sgt Harvey Maughan called to Mr Morrison’s home in his role as a Garda and a social welfare inspector.

Garda Maughan explained why he was there and he said that Morrison became irate and aggressive and he “square up” to him.

Sgt Maughan said he retreated back and Mr Morrison called him a “prick.”

The Garda said that Morrison then followed him out onto the public footpath and called him a “f***ing prick” again.

He then allegedly said to Sgt Maughan that it would take a better man than him to stop his social welfare payments.

Morrison then began videoing the Garda on his mobile phone and Sgt Maughan said he decided to leave the area.

Solicitor for Morrison, Ms Maureen Gallagher, put a number of allegations to Sgt Maughan which he denied.

Amongst them were that Sgt Maughan had said that he would have Mr Morrison’s payments stopped which the Garda denied.

Ms Gallagher also said that Under Section 6 of the Public Order Act, the offence would have to take place in a public place where members of the public have access to and which she claimed did not as it was outside Mr Morrison’s home.

Giving his verdict Judge Paul Kelly said that while Mr Morrison’s reply to Sgt Maughan was unpleasant and vulgar, he did not believe it met the requirements of a charge under Section 6 and dismissed the case.

NAOMH CONAILL manager Martin Regan believes his team is ‘as ready as we can be’ for Sunday’s county final showdown with Gaoth Dobhair.

In spite of losing the last two finals, against Kilcar in 2017 and Gaoth Dobhair a year ago, Regan says his men aren’t being weighed down as they head into another decider.

“I think they’re ready,” Regan told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub.

”They have really focussed in since the knock-out stage. I feel that we’re as ready we can be so we’ll see where that takes us.”

Regan guided Naomh Conaill to the Dr Maguire in 2015 and the Glenties men have been the most consistent team in the county recently. This will be their eighth final since 2005 when they first got their hands on the prize.

Disappointment might have lingered over the winter since last year, but Regan isn’t looking at this as a revenge mission.

He said: “Even winning this year won’t make up for last year, but we’re hoping for a better showing this year.

“We went into the last two finals as big underdogs and lost. We came up against two quality teams and there is no shame in losing to teams like that.”

Listen to the full interview below …

A former election candidate who attacked a security guard’s car during a stand-off at a repossessed building in Letterkenny has had a warrant issued for his arrest.

Michael Mooney failed to appear at Letterkenny District Court where he was charged with criminal damage.

The court heard how Mooney, aged 44, who is originally from Culdaff but who owns houses in Letterkenny, was at the Kube building at the Thorn in Letterkenny in January, 2017.

A security company was patrolling the premises which had been at the centre of a court battle between the banks and its original owner Brendan Gildea.

Dashcam footage of security guard Samuel Chestnut showed him arriving at the building with Mr Mooney standing on the road in front of him.

Mr Chestnut stops momentarily as Mooney refuses to move and the security guard then revs his engine.

The driver’s car then appears to strike Mooney who suddenly bangs his mobile phone off the bonnet of the car and then proceeds to kick the passenger wing-mirror  of the vehicle.

Mr Chestnut is then heard saying “That was Michael Mooney” as he drives on.

The security guard said that the damage to the car was over £250 sterling to repair as the wing mirror was smashed and there was a dent in the bonnet.

Mooney, who stood in the 2016 General Election as an Independent candidate, was later arrested and admitted he was there in support of Mr Gildea but denied any wrongdoing.

He told interviewing Gardai that he was not interfering with anybody’s business and that Mr Gildea had merely wanted to maintain ownership of the building and he was offering support to him.

He said he had been crossing the road when a car approached him on the wrong side of the entrance into a building and then struck him.

He said he had to go to hospital after developing a pain in his back and was still having physio as a result.

Judge Paul Kelly said Money had originally been in court on March 25th and he had refused to enter a plea.

“I told him he should get legal advice and he declined to agree to that and I told him I was entering a not guilty plea on his behalf,” said Judge Kelly.

He added that having heard the facts he was finding matters proved and issued a bench warrant for Mooney’s arrest for sentencing.

Gardai in Donegal have detected two drivers flouting the speed laws – on National Slow Down Day.

The drivers were caught Newtowncunningham and Ballintra.

Since 7am, Gardaí and GoSafe have checked the speed of 18,785 vehicles with 23 vehicles detected travelling in excess of the applicable speed limit.

The first motorist was caught doing 119km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N15 Ballynacarrick in Ballintra.

The second involved a truck doing 89 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N13 at Moyle in Newtowncunningham. Trucks are limited to 80 kph in a 100 kph zone because of their weight load.

Other notable speeds include:

• 138km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R675 Ballykinsella Waterford Waterford
• 181km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M1 Lusk Dublin
• 63km/h in a 50km/h Zone on the Whitemill Road Wexford Wexford
• 136km/h in a 120km/h Zone on the M3 Bracetown Dunboyne Meath
• 89km/h in a 80km/h Zone on the R445 Curragh Kildare Kildare
• 110km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N24 Killaloan Lower Clonmel Tipperary
• Truck @ 89 km/h in a 100km/h Zone on the N21  Blossomhill Rathkeale Limerick

On National Slow Down Day, An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority continue to remind drivers of the dangers of speeding and urge motorists to drive carefully and abide by the speed limits.

More than 30 pupils from St Eunan’s National School in Laghey joined other children for a morning of Izak9 maths workshop activities, celebrating Maths Week, the all-island festival of maths and numeracy. 

Developed by mathematician Franz Schlindwein, Izak9 uses cubes populated with combinations of colours, numbers and shapes providing unlimited access to the skills of the maths curriculum.

Children work together in small groups where the learning is open, visual, shared, rich and curious.

Maths Week Ireland is the annual all-island festival dedicated to raising awareness and appreciation of maths and numeracy among young people, parents and the wider population.

Over 400,000 people, including students and the general public, will take part in events this week, across the island, focused on driving home the benefits of maths and all the opportunities it brings for individuals, society and the economy.

Co-ordinated by Calmast, Waterford Institute of Technology’s STEM Engagement Centre, Maths Week is funded through the SFI Discover Programme, the Department of Education and Skills, the Department for the Economy Northern Ireland and tech firm Xilinx. It is run with more than 50 partner organisations including universities, institutes of technology, libraries, schools, training colleges, visitor centres and employers.

Research carried out for Maths Week Ireland 2019 shows that a majority of parents believe their child’s attitude to maths is more positive than their own when they were the same age, while 86% of people believe maths is important in creating future career opportunities for their children.

REPUBLIC of Ireland legend and former Irish manager John Giles has suggested that Seamus Coleman is ‘taking on too much’.

The Killybegs man’s dip in form has been a topic of conversation this week.

Speaking on Off The Ball last night, Giles took the side of the Irish captain.

“I think what happens with Seamus, with him being captain, I think he takes too much on himself,” Giles said.

“The main contribution you can make as captain is to play well yourself. 

“And I think with Seamus, I think he knows we’re not playing well and he was getting the ball in the full-back positions a few times and in my opinion, he was trying to do what the midfield players weren’t doing. 

“It’s not right but I can understand where he’s coming from. He’s such a good lad that he thinks, ‘I’ve got to get it going because I’m the captain’…

“Seamus does his own job. And he’s falling down a little bit because he’s trying to do other people’s jobs for them.”

Coleman was sent off in the second half of Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in Geneva. With 14 minutes to go in the Euro 2020 qualifier, Coleman, who was already on a booking from the first half, received a second yellow card for a handball in the penalty area.

It follows a red card for Everton against Burnley at the beginning of the month.

Watch John Giles’ analysis, with host Nathan Murphy, below …

FOR THE first time since 2011, Kilcar are ready to contest the Senior B Championship final – and the Towney men are quite content to play the role of the underdogs.

Kilcar upset the odds with a 2-10 to 2-9 win over Naomh Conaill – last year’s beaten finalists – in their semi-final two weeks ago.

Kilcar will face St Eunan’s, who are the raging favourites, in Sunday’s final, the curtain-raiser to the SFC final between Gaoth Dobhair and Naomh Conaill.

Gerard McBrearty and Pauric Sweeney played on the Kilcar team that beat Four Masters 0-10 to 1-5 eight years ago.

“It’s a whole new tam now,” McBrearty says.

“It’s great to have a buzz about Kilcar and we just want to do ourselves justice. We have a lot of young players coming in now and we have a few older bucks there so there’s not a bad mixture.”

Cormac Cannon and Kenny Doogan hit the goals in the semi-final while Shane Gillespie hit four points as they edged Naomh Conaill to book a place in the final.

“We went in against Naomh Conaill as underdogs, too,” Sweeney points out.

“The group stage went well for us and we had some tight enough games. It was great to come out of it.

“It’s brilliant to be in the final now. It’s been a long time since 2011 when we were last there. We’re up against St Eunan’s, who have been excellent this year.”

St Eunan’s, the defending Senior B champions, blazed their way to the Division 1 Reserve title this year and are hotly fancied this weekend.

Kilcar can call on plenty of experience. Young guns Dillon O’Gara and Ryan O’Donnell played for the seniors in this year’s League, while Dara O’Donnell comes with plenty of senior games under his belt.

The likes of corner-back Patrick ‘Cricket’ Gallagher – a former senior captain – corner-forward Glenn McBrearty, who has recently returned to action, and Noel Hegarty are others with vast swathes of experience on the senior fields of Donegal. 

“We have nothing to lose, which is a great thing,” says Gerard McBrearty.

“St Eunan’s set the standard at reserve level. They’re a fantastic team with a lot of good senior players.

“We’ll give this our best shot. We don’t mind being the underdogs.”

GAOTH DOBHAIR Mervyn O’Donnell expects Naomh Conaill to show a ‘curveball’ in Sunday’s Donegal SFC final.

Gaoth Dobhair put their Donegal and Ulster titles on the line against a Naomh Conaill side reeling from back-to-back final defeats.

Gaoth Dobhair only hit the top gears in their semi-final win over Kilcar.

“Finals are completely different to any other game,” O’Donnell told Donegal Daily/Donegal Sport Hub. 

“Different things happen and no-one can predict finals. 

“Glenties haven’t gone away. You can tell that they’re an organised outfit.

“When you’re around football like Martin Regan and these guys, they’ve looked at all the scenarios.

“They’ll throw some curveballs that we’ll have to deal with.”

Listen to the full interview below …

THE DONEGAL Novice Championships glove off this Sunday morning in Letterkenny.

The Championships will see boxers from Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Sligo and Leitrim pit their wits.

There are 118 entrants for the Championships – 108 male and 10 female.

There will be 32 contests on Sunday, including six semis and 26 finals, at the Letterkenny ABC clubhouse.

The remaining six finals will be boxed on Tuesday night in Letterkenny.

Weight-in on Sunday is from 9.30-10.30am with boxing underway at 11.30am.