Building contractor claims 2 million euro missing from account
AN Inishowen-based building contractor has threatened to sue Ulster Bank in Donegal, claiming ¤2m has disappeared from his bank accounts.
Hugh Conway, who is originally from Belfast, maintains the loss of the money has brought his business, Belmal Limited, to its knees and led to 50 men bring laid-off.
In November last year Hugh Conway and his wife Carol claimed he noticed irregularities in their bank accounts. They employed an independent financial investigator who uncovered a number of financial irregularities, he told a Sunday newspaper.
The Belfast based investigators, Thomas Cooke and Company have recommended that the matter be brought to the attention of the gardai.
The Conways have now brought the financial investigators report to their solicitor and contacted gardai.
The Malin based building company had planned to build a 450 bedroom hotel, which would have been the largest in Ireland, having paid ¤10 million to acquire the Carndonagh site.
"All that has been put in jeopardy because of this. This has crippled us financially and has nearly meant lights out. We have drained our personal accounts to keep afloat. If this isn't resolved we'll sue for ¤100 million," Mr Conway said.
No decision in rape trial
THE jury in the trial of a Donegal man, charged with the rape of a woman in a Dublin bedsit, has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict.
The 35 year old accused pleaded not guilty to raping the then 24 year old woman at an address near Dublin city centre on January 30th 2005 and to sexually assaulting her on the same occasion.
The woman had previously told the court that she was due to return to work in the US later that day and had been staying overnight with one of her friends.
She told the Central Criminal Court she had snorted a line of cocaine while socialising earlier in the night and said she woke to find the accused having sex with her.
Businesswoman shortlisted
A Donegal Town based businesswoman is among the shortlisted finalists announced by Ernst & Young for the 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year® Programme. Over 125 businesses and individual entries were received by Ernst & Young for the coveted 2007 Entrepreneur of the Year® Award, and Jenni Timony of Doolittles Ltd. is one of the 24 shortlist finalists that have been chosen.
The 11 strong panel of judges, led by former winner, Mr. Denis O'Brien, Digicel Group, assessed the entries over a two month period and selected a shortlist representing companies across technology, shipping, recruitment, retail, hospitality, food production, engineering, insurance, horticulture, supply chain management, travel and property and construction.
Waste silage wrap collection
MR William Monagle, Donegal IFA County Chairman has welcomed the new announcement of the dates for the Waste Silage Wrap Collection for the county.
The dates are as follows: Carndonagh Mart, June 6, 9 am - 7 pm; Stranorlar Mart, June 19, 9 am - 7 pm; Donegal Town Mart, June 27, 9 am - 7 pm.
"Only clean silage wraps and covers will be accepted and excess dirt can be removed from silage plastic by giving the pit covers a brush clean and by giving the bale wraps a good shake prior to storage and loading."
"Farmers should take this opportunity to get rid of their silage wraps, free of charge, as this is a "once off". He also said to try and use the local depot where possible.
He was also glad to see that following the IFA County Executive meeting in April, it was agreed to extend the hours of collection to 7 pm to allow for farmers working off farm to avail of the scheme.
Ballybofey man disqualified from driving
A 27-year-old man was disqualified from driving for three years and fined ¤550 at Letterkenny District Court on Monday for drink driving.
Ian Anderson, an unemployed kitchen fitter, of 265 Ard McCarron, Donegal Road, Ballybofey, was stopped driving a van in Stranorlar. He was arrested and a breath sample was subsequently taken at the garda station.
His solicitor told Judge Derek McVeigh, that his client had gone out for the night and when he tried to get a taxi home early on Easter Monday morning, was told that it would be at least a 30-minute wait.
His solicitor also said that the father-of-three would need his licence for work, but the judge disqualified the man from driving for three years.
No budget for pier lights
THERE is no specific budget to provide lighting at all piers and slipway structures in Donegal, Councillor Brian O'Domhnaill has been informed.
There are approximately 150 piers and slipways in the county, only 15 of which are lit to various standards.
According to Mr John McLaughlin, Director of Roads, public lighting at all piers would require significant capital investment and ongoing running costs.
"There is no specific budget for this lighting improvement in the current Budget Book 2007. If this plan is adopted then a specific budget will need to be identified," Mr McLaughlin said.
Students plan a long walk
A GROUP of 4th year students from PCC Falcarraghare plan to walk 120km of the 'Way of St. James' from Santiago De Compostela as part of their Silver An Gaisce Award.
The girls will walk an average of 80km per day for five days.
The group are Triona Kelly, Mary O'Donnell, Caitriona Coyle, Emma McKinley, Brid McDaid, Aine Lafferty, Maureen Boyle, Ciara Gallagher and Jacinta McGeever.
