CHRISTMAS came early this year for a Derry centre which cares for children with special needs.
Little Orchids Children’s Centre in Gransha has been awarded a grant of £50,000 for its Sensory Garden – Children’s Play Area project to create a special play place to improve the lives of children with life-limiting conditions and their families.
The [...]

A former Republican prisoner has said he is under threat of execution from a local paramilitary group who have blamed him for a robbery at a local taxi firm.
And Paul Maxwell has said the group is using the false allegations to justify a sustained campaign of intimidation against his family, the latest incident in which [...]

A Derry charity which provides a lifeline for many families at Christmas has revealed that it’s suffering badly because of the credit crunch.
Each year, St Vincent de Paul (SVDP) helps hundreds of families get through the festive period.
However, this year the charity has admitted there has been a ‘notable decline’ in the level of donations [...]

By Ciaran O’Neill
coneill@derrynews.net
EMERGENCY services were stretched to the limit on Saturday during a massive power cut in Derry.
Up to 40,000 homes and businesses across the city had their electricity cut during the power cut, with some having to wait more than two hours to have power restored.
It was the largest power cut to hit the [...]

By Ciaran O’Neill
coneill@derrynews.net
AN eight year-old girl has been credited with saving the lives of two people after a house fire broke out in Derry yesterday.
Chloe McCourt raised the alarm shortly after 7am yesterday morning after spotting smoke coming from the house at Sutton Gardens in Kilfennan.
As a result, neighbours were able to wake the elderly [...]

A female street drinker who punched a male relative in the face in an attempt to get him to drop charges against her has been jailed for three months.
Rosie Mongan, 21, of no fixed abode was jailed for a further three months for a separate charge of criminal damage.
Derry Magistrates Court heard that Miss Mongan [...]

By Marianne Craig
Reporter
The mother of man killed by a hit and run driver said she is now planning to appeal the two year sentence handed down to the man.
Andrew McGlinchey of Cornshell fields was given two years in prison and two years probation at Derry Crown Court last week for causing the death by dangerous [...]

By Alan Healy
Deputy Editor
A popular local priest has stunned his parishioners after publicly announcing his departure from the priesthood yesterday.
Father Sean McKenna, parish priest at the Holy Family Parish, Ballymagroarty told mass goers yesterday that he would be departing from the priesthood after having entered into a ‘loving, beautiful and life giving relationship’ with [...]

By Ursula Duddy
Reporter
DERRY’S youngest Country and Western star is set to melt hearts after wowing the audience at his first ever gig.
Tommy Donegan, 10, took to the stage for the first time last Saturday night to belt out classics to adoring Country fans.
Young Tommy grew up listening to Country music and comes from a musical [...]

By Alan Healy
Deputy editor
A newly-formed vigilante group has vowed to execute a number of high profile drug dealers in Derry, it can be revealed today.
The group – who have identified themselves as Communities Against Drug Dealers – made their existence known to the Derry News earlier this week.
That came after this paper was supplied with [...]