Ocean FM News Reports

Questions have been raised in the Dáil why a leather pistol holster worn by the Detective Garda, Colm Horkan on the night he was murdered was never examined as part of the inquest into his death.     On the 17 June 2020, Detective Horkan was murdered with his own official Garda firearm following an engagement with Stephen Silver who has since been convicted of his murder. The matter was...

A protest over the delay in passing the Occupied Territories Bill is taking place in Sligo this weekend. It's being organised by the Sligo Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, starting at 12 noon tomorrow, gathering on Connaughton Road before making its way through the town. The controversial legislation aims to ban trade in goods produced by Israel in occupied Palestinian territory. The Government ha...

Farmers in the North West who suffered storm damage can finally get some compensation. A special grant has become available for the next three weeks and will deal specifically with storm-related damage on farms. Only certain items will be covered under the scheme and applications will be accepted from now until March 28th. Fianna Fail Cllr Edel McSharry says while it'll be some help to those affec...

Acknowledging someones difficulty in paying household bills is like a wee pat on the head. Thats according to Donegal TD Pearse Doherty, who has been reacting to comments from Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe, who is ruling out any more once off credits to help people pay their energy bills. Gas prices remain 90 per cent higher and electricity charges are 60 per cent more than they were five years...

A lack of charging points has been pointed out as one of the reasons as to a low uptake of electric vehicles in Leitrim. According to the latest figures of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, there have only been 16 new EVs registered in Leitrim across January and February of this year, which is the lowest in Ireland. Leitrim is one of only two counties who had a decrease in registration of n...

The Government has been accused of washing its hands of people in North Leitrim left without basic services since Storm Eowyn. Many elderly and vulnerable residents have been without a landline and broadband for six weeks now. It means house alarms are not working with those affected now said to be living in a heightened state of fear. Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein Martin Kenny says while he understand...

Sligo Rovers manager John Russell reflects on Monday night's memorable win over Shamrock Rovers - and Friday night's trip to Turners Cross. It’s All-Ireland final week for St Claire’s Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton. It’s the opening night of the European Indoor Athletics - Former Olympian Breege Connolly takes us through the Ireland team. And – there’s just no stopping Sligo Grammar School...

It's emerged that a significant number of people in North Leitrim are still without a landline, six weeks on from Storm Eowyn. Some of those impacted are understood to be elderly and vulnerable with phone alarms also out of action as a result. The issue was raised by Sligo Leitrim Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny who says that the present situation is totally inappropriate. Responding, Finance Minister P...

A Leitrim Councillor is taking Uisce Eireann to task over their policy which is resulting in only customers that contact the body directly over service issues receive compensation.   Impacted Customers that request a local Councillor or TD to act on their behalf are omitted from receiving any compensation payments. As a result it’s feared that thousands of people are missing out on redress pa...

It's another dark day for a parish in west Donegal as the second victim from a weekend crash has been laid to rest. Teenager Shaun McClafferty, along with his friend Jamie Diver were both killed when a car they were travelling in collided with the gable wall of a house just outside Gortahork, shortly before 9.30pm on Friday night. The late Mr McClafferty's funeral mass took in Christ the King Chur...

Further concern has been raised over small private forestry owners in Sligo and Leitrim who are facing large financial losses following Storm Eowyn. Many forests were destroyed, and with owners only being able to sell the wood based on weight, their income could be affected as the wood is said to be losing value lying on the forest floor. It’s hoped that the wood value can be based on volume inste...

The OPW Minister is under pressure to get flood relief measures for Killybegs over the line. The Bridge Street area of the town was devastated by flood water in November of last year, the latest in a string of similar incidents in the area. It has been confirmed that a pilot scheme, being delivered by Donegal County Council is underway.  It'll characterise the magnitude of the flooding incide...

A Donegal Independent Councillor is warning that any cuts to Fire services resources could threaten the safety of the general public.   The Donegal Firefighters are calling on elected public representatives to intervene immediately and for management to engage in meaningful discussions with unions.   They claim a decision taken by senior management has seen a reduction in crew numbers al...

The waiting lists for occupational therapy in Donegal have been branded a disgrace. It’s after new data shows that a total of 476 people are on the waiting list across the county. The figures also show that 316 patients in Donegal have been on the waiting list for more than one year. The issue is said to centre on staffing levels, with 11 vacancies in occupational therapy currently in Donegal. Ind...

The Government is being urged to review a funding allocation for a proposed community centre in Sligo.   Three community organisations, who are working in Cranmore, are hoping to be housed under the one roof.   As part of a wider regeneration project, a community centre had been earmarked for the area however, with building costs rising, more money is now needed to get it over the line....

It’s feared that thousands of people are missing out on compensation from Uisce Eireann by complaining to their public representatives rather than the company itself.   Many households across the North West were left without water in the aftermath of recent storms and there was significant disruption due to burst pipes at the beginning of the year as the counties of Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal...

A serious lack of bus shelters across Sligo has been highlighted by members of the county council. With the development of the S3 bus service in Sligo town and the increase of local links routes, it's thought that shelters not keeping up with demand. The majority of bus stops being introduced in the county are represented by a single pole with a timetable attached. Fine Gael Cllr Thomas Walsh says...

Action has been requested to restore the roof at Sligo's Sean Mac Diarmada Train Station. The roof has faced deterioration over recent years, with many seeing it as posing potential safety and structural issues. Work is being sought for the building due to its popularity in footfall, as well as its cultural significance. Independent Sligo Cllr Marie Casserly says we can't allow this landmark to fa...

Minister of State Marian Harkin praised the efforts of all those involved:

Speed is being urged on the development of the greenway that runs from Collooney to Enniskillen. If completed in within the next four years, it will have taken up to 16 years, which is deemed too slow for such progress. Independent Sligo Cllr Michael Clarke highlighted that the greenway could connect up to the blueway in Enniskillen, and would provide further tourism opportunities. Cllr Clarke say...

The late Jamie Diver has been remembered as a perfectionist who was always willing to help others. The young man died in a weekend crash alongside his friend, teenager Shaun McClafferty near Gortahork in west Donegal on Friday night last. His funeral Mass took place today - Shaun Mc Clafferty's funeral takes place tomorrow. Two others are remain in a serious condition in hospital. Gardai are conti...

Almost €3m has been allocated for Greenways in Sligo and Leitrim. The funding will be used for the development of walking and cycling facilities. Locally, the Sligo Greenway will now further progress under this programme alongside a further funding boost for the SLNCR from Sligo to Enniskillen. The Barnesmore Gap Greenway in south Donegal is also set for a funding injection. Fine Gael TD Frank Fei...

Traffic calming measures on sections of the N15 in North Sligo may be on the cards. There's said to be major speeding issues along the stretch, with people finding it near impossible to access the main road from the various adjoining junctions. It's said to be particularly prevalent at the entrances to Henrys Restaurant and the drive through coffee dock on the other side of the road. Fianna Fail C...

A Leitrim County Councillor claims if a similar level of damage that was done throughout Leitrim during storm Eowyn took place in Kerry, Junior Michael Healy-Rae would have been on the scene immediately. Cllr Gary Prior has once again extend an invitation to the under pressure Minister of State with responsibility for Forestry, to visit Leitrim and get a sense of damage and disruption caused by ta...

Questions are being asked over the ongoing absence of the Sligo Joint Policing Committee. A decision was made last year to abolish Joint Policing Committees and replace them with new community safety partnerships. It had been hoped that the new partnership in Sligo would be formed following the June 20204 local elections, but this has not happened yet. The lack of a link between local Gardai and C...