A potential move cross channel for Georgie Kelly looks almost certain now with reports that the striker has informed Bohemians that he will be making his exit from the League of Ireland.
The Donegal man had been linked with a move back to his former club Derry City but that now appears highly unlikely with Kelly weighing up interest from a host of clubs, particularly in England.
The PFAI Player of the Year scored 22 goals in all competitions last year.
The Donegal GAA County Convention was held virtually last evening and there will be two new officers on the County Executive for next year.
Ballyshannon native David McLoone was elected as vice chairperson and Michael McGeehin from Letterkenny takes over as the coaching officer.
And back on the Officer Board is Ed Byrne who was last night returned as assistant secretary.
He had resigning from the position back in September, but after a change of heart in the lead up to Convention, he allowed his name to go forward for election.
He was re-elected when he won a vote against Sinead Breen (St Mary’s, Convoy) by 50 votes to 38.
Meanwhile, Donegal GAA recorded a profit of just under €320,000 over the past 12 months. The Treasurer, Alan Boyd, in his report said the reason for the surplus was down to the shortened playing season; financial assistance from Croke Park as the sport dealt with the Covid-19 pandemic; and the continued loyalty of sponsors during that time
It was a similar story on the financial front in Derry where County Convention also took place last evening – delegates told how the accounts showed a surplus of almost 350,000 for the financial year.
Councillor Barry Sweeney has been elected Chairperson of the Donegal ETB.
He replaces outgoing Chair, Councillor Albert Doherty while Councillor Martin Harley takes over from Councillor Gary Doherty as Deputy Chairperson.
Donegal ETB is the largest education and training provider in Donegal and along with it’s Further Education and Training Service, manages 15 post-primary schools in the county.
Councillor Sweeney says while it is a challenging time within the education sector, he looks forward to his term as Chairperson:
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A retired Donegal firefighter has been found guilty by a jury of 31 counts of sexual assault including rape of a boy at various locations across Donegal between September 1995 and September 2000.
59 year old Liam Carr of Ballina, Falcarragh, does not accept the verdicts of the jury following a Central Criminal Court trial in Sligo earlier this year and intends to appeal his conviction
The jury was unable to agree on four further counts.
The victim, a man now aged 39 has described how he was put through four trials and six years of “complete torture” in his quest for justice.
It was the fourth trial to take place after the juries in the first two trials were discharged for legal reasons and the jury in the third trial was unable to agree on a verdict.
In his victim impact statement, which was read out in court by a detective, he said his childhood had been “snatched” from him as a result of the abuse.
He was aged between 13 and 18 when the abuse occurred.
The court heard that Liam Carr befriended the boy and started abusing him in September 1995, when he had just turned 13.
Mr Justice Keane adjourned the case for finalisation on January 17th next year.
Full Report:
A man who was repeatedly sexually abused by a firefighter when he was a boy has described how he was put through four trials and six years of “complete torture” in his quest for justice.
Liam Carr (59) was found guilty by a jury of 31 counts of sexual assault, anal rape and oral rape of the boy in various locations in Donegal between September 1995 and September 2000 following a Central Criminal Court trial in Sligo earlier this year. The jury was unable to agree on four further counts.
It was the fourth trial to take place after the juries in the first two trials were discharged for legal reasons and the jury in the third trial was unable to agree on a verdict.
Carr, with an address in Ballina, Falcarragh, Co Donegal does not accept the verdicts of the jury and intends to appeal his conviction, his defence counsel said. He is a retired firefighter who had reached the rank of station officer before he retired for medical reasons after 34 years in the service, the court heard.
Gerard Clarke SC, prosecuting, said the complainant had given permission for Carr to be named, but wished to preserve his own anonymity.
In his victim impact statement, which was read out in court by the detective in the case, the now 39-year-old man said his childhood had been “snatched” from him as a result of the abuse, and this was something he could never get back. He was aged between 13 and 18 when the abuse occurred.
He said that from when he first went to gardaí in October 2015 to when the jury returned with guilty pleas in October this year, it was “six years of complete torture” for himself and his wife. “We could not get on with our lives because of the length of the court process,” he said.
“Not only was my childhood taken from me, but I am 39 and the majority of my adult life has been spent trying to deal with what happened to me and get justice,” he said.
The man said he had to take the stand four times and outline to strangers the abuse he was subjected to at the hands of Carr. “Forty-two days trying to defend my honour,” he said. “No-one will ever understand what me and (my wife) went through.”
Detective Garda John Gallagher told the court that Carr befriended the boy and started abusing him in September 1995, when he had just turned 13. The abuse began as groping and progressed to oral and anal rape. Carr was 20 years older than his victim.
He has no previous convictions.
Mr O’Higgins said Carr does not accept culpability and intends to appeal. He continues to have the support of his ex-partner of 20 years and a number of friends, the court heard.
Mr O’Higgins said that the fact there were four trials was not a matter that could be blamed on his client.
“No party, no matter what side, leaves unscathed,” he said of the justice process.
“…My client has had a cloud over him for six years. It has taken a large toll on him.”
He noted Carr has led a productive and useful life and is now facing these charges in his older years. He has health issues including high blood pressure and an aneurysm. Mr O’Higgins urged Mr Justice David Keane to extend as much clemency as he could when dealing with this matter.
Mr Justice Keane adjourned the case for finalisation on January 17 next year.
An Garda Síochána, along with the Donegal Road Safety Working Group, have launched their annual Christmas Drink Driving campaign for 2021.
This year’s appeal focuses on the devastating effect that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can have, as well as the life-changing injuries and fatalities that are caused by drink driving every year.
Donegal County Council Road Safety Officer, Brian O’Donnell is appealing to motorists to plan ahead over the festive period:
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A motion has been passed by Donegal County Council which aims to strengthen protections for people, place and the planet.
The Rights of Nature, a motion put forward by Councillor Albert Doherty calls on the Council to add protections for the local environment in County Donegal.
A similar motion was recently passed by Derry City and Strabane District Council, recognising the need to protect the local environment and the wildlife within it.
A consultation period will now take place to establish how the council can better facilitate the rights of nature.
Councillor Doherty says the passing of the motion is significant:
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Cabinet Ministers will discuss proposals for emergency energy payments to all households this morning.
It’s expected Minister Eamon Ryan will bring the idea to Cabinet that could see households paid €100 against energy bills early in the new year.
Meanwhile the Tánaiste’s expected to confirm a financial support scheme for businesses and community organisations which experienced damage due to Storm Barra, with support of up to €20,000 available.
People Before Profit TD, Richard Boyd Barrett, is critical of the government’s new energy credit plan:
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The wait time between a second Covid-19 vaccine and a booster jab has been reduced from five to three months.
Details were announced last night by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, following new NIAC advice.
It comes as the Chief Medical Officer warns the Omicron variant now accounts for 11% of Covid cases in the Republic of Ireland – up from less than 1% a week ago.
A nationwide status yellow fog warning remains in place this morning.
Met Éireann says there will be reduced visibility leading to difficult travel conditions.
The alert will remain in place until 9am.
Ballyliffin Golf Club will host the 2022 R&A Women’s and Men’s Home Internationals on the Old Links, 3 – 5 August 2022.
The very best amateur golfers in Great Britain and Ireland will do battle over the 6937-yard championship Old Links at Ballyliffin.
Ireland will defend the men’s title on home turf following victory in the 2021 R&A Men’s Home Internationals at Hankley Common, which went down to the final putt of the event.
9-man teams from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales will play against each other in a round robin format over three days.
Each match will consist of four morning foursomes and eight afternoon singles games.
The Women’s Home Internationals, won by England at Woodhall Spa in 2021, will also be played over three days with the four home nations competing against each other in individual matches.
A match will consist of three foursomes and six singles games.
In both events, the overall winner is the country with the highest number of match points.
The Old Links staged the 2008 European Tour Irish Seniors Open, won by Juan Quirós of Spain and it’s sister course The Glashedy Links which recently staged a record breaking DDF Irish Open in 2018, has previously hosted the R&A Boys’ Home Internationals in 2016, won by England.
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