AT the recently held Fermanagh People’s Assembly, the President of Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, said that an ‘awful lot of work’ needs to be done ahead of a potential united Ireland. A huge crowd turned out to the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen last month for the panel-led discussion, which talked about the possible make-up […]
Michelle Gildernew selected for EU elections
FERMANAGH and South Tyrone MP Michelle Gildernew has been officially selected by Sinn Féin to contest the upcoming European Parliament elections later this summer. On June 7, the Sinn Féin politician is set to run alongside party member Chris McManus in a bid to secure election as an MEP in the Midlands/North West constituency. Sinn […]
Gildernew gets €10k for breaking leg in Leinster House
SINN Féin’s Michelle Gildernew has received a €10,000 payout after breaking her leg in Leinster House in 2012. The MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone sought damages from the Houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin after falling down stairs while attending a committee meeting. She was paid a €10,000 settlement through the State Claims Agency in 2019. […]
Quinn writes to MLAs
FOLLOWING on from his letter to the Oireachtas Justice Committee in Dublin, Seán Quinn has now written to all MLAs in the North, alleging the PSNI had failed to investigate reports of “multiple acts of fraud and criminality.” Last month Mr Quinn wrote to TDs and senators who are members of the Justice Committee, calling for an investigation into alleged fraud during […]
MLAs making some nice cash on the side
By John Carney NEW FIGURES have revealed the business interests of MLAs recently elected to the Stormont Assembly and many are getting some handy extra cash on top of their £51,500 salaries. All 90 members are required to declare information on a register of interests of any financial interest that “might reasonably be thought by others to […]
Call for urgent work to repair vital road bridge
CALLS for repairs to a ‘vital’ bridge over Lough Erne which caters for hundreds of vehicles every week have once again been made. Roscor bridge was blown up by the Army during the Troubles and to date it remains in what has been said to be an ‘unsuitable’ condition. The bridge had previously been singled […]
Poor broadband growing worry for local farmers
FUNDING for our forests, animal health, the environment and fisheries, and for food and farming is all to be slashed by the newly restored Stormont Executive. On top of that, a new digitalisation plan by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) could see farmers here in Fermanagh disadvantaged due to the county’s […]
‘Out-of-work’ MLAs ‘can’t justify travel expenses’
FERMANAGH’S MLAs must show exactly what they are doing to help the county and exactly what value local people are getting for the money they are paying them. That’s the view of former Stormont official and local debt advisor Kevin Lawrenson, who said people had been outraged by news the five Fermanagh South Tyrone MLAs […]
MLAs come out fighting in Stormont travel expenses row
TWO Fermanagh MLAs have defended their decision to obtain travel allowances of over £6,000 each solely for travel to Stormont – the highest figures claimed by any Assembly representatives The travel allowance was paid to MLAs for travelling to Stormont between the last election in March 2017 and June 2018 despite the North being without […]
Ex MLA involved in serious car crash
FORMER SDLP Assembly member Tommy Gallagher, described as ‘the heart and soul of the SDLP’ in Fermanagh was airlifted to hospital in Belfast on Monday following a serious road collision on the Pettigo Road just outside Kesh. The 75-year-old was flown by air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast after he sustained serious […]