Thurles Information

Man Jailed For Seven Years Following Rape Of 13-Year-Old Girl.

A 22-year-old male admitted raping a 13-year-old girl and falsely imprisoning her 16-year-old friend, having driven both teenage girls to buy cannabis in Co Tipperary on June 22nd of last year.

Both girls had been looking for a lift, and the man said he would take them “to collect weed”. Having collected the cannabis, the man drove the victims to a dark and secluded carpark area and raped the younger girl, while the other girl remained locked in his car.
He returned to the car some 15 minutes later and drove the girls to where they were staying.

The court learned that the man knew the girls age as he was already friends with her cousin. Ms Justice Karen O’Connor said that the huge age disparity between the accused and the 13-year-old minor was an aggravating factor in the offence, along with the fact that he had driven both girls to obtain drugs.

The accused was already on bail for the defilement of another teenager at the time he carried out the rape and false imprisonment. Ms Justice O’Connor said that the offences now represent both a repetition and an escalation of his previous sexual offending. The court also heard that his previous sentence of five years, with two years suspended, has now been activated and same must be served prior to this new 7 year sentence could take effect.

Ms Justice O’Connor further ordered that the accused remain abstinent from alcohol and all illicit drugs; attend mental health services, and engage with all treatment programmes and offence-focused work, as directed by the probation services, by Túsla and by An Garda Síochána. She further directed that he undergo supervision by the probation services, for a further three years following his prison release, and that his name be placed on the ‘Sex Offenders’ Register.

Life Is a River.

Vocals and Lyrics Andrew Derek Ryan.

Life Is a River.

As I went out walking, on a fine summer day,
Through hills and the valleys, I soon lost my way,
‘Til I came to an old man, kneeling down by a stream.
Gazing into the water, like he was lost in a dream
In his hand was a painting he clung to for life,
His eyes filled with tears as he tried not to cry.
Then he looked to the heavens and started to pray,
In the quiet country silence, I could hear the man say.
Life is a river, I’ll go with the flow,
And where it will take me, the Lord only knows.
I’ll miss you sweetheart, your kindness and love,
But I know one day, we’ll sail away on God’s ocean above.
He said, “Now young man, you’re a stranger to me.
Could I bother you kindly, for your company?
Today I am thinking of a time long ago,
And I need to tell someone of a girl I loved so.
It’s 42 years today, since Rose took my hand,
And proudly I lived life, her husband, her man.
‘Til only last week son, God took her away,
As I kissed her softly, these words she did say.
“Life is a river, I’ll go with the flow,
And where it will take me, the Lord only knows.
I’ll miss you sweetheart, your kindness and love,
But I know one day, we’ll sail away on God’s ocean above”.
And with that, the old man sent me on my way,
And sat by the water, I’ll kneel for the day.
I look at the river, starting out on its life,
It’s where I feel close to my beautiful wife.

END

Allergy Alert Notification.

Food Safety Authority of Ireland confirm presence of milk in batch of Dunnes Stores Tomato & Basil Sauce.

Allergy Alert Notification dated Friday, July 26th 2024.

Allergy Alert Notification: 2024.A26.
Allergen: Milk.
Product Identification: Dunnes Stores Tomato & Basil Sauce 250g.
Batch Code: 24285 use by date: 12.09.24.
Country Of Origin: Ireland.

Message:
The above batch of Dunnes Stores Tomato & Basil Sauce contains milk which is not mentioned on the label. This may make the batch unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of milk.

Unmonitored Private Drinking Water Potential Risk To Health.

Unmonitored private drinking water supplies are a potential risk to public health, says Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Many people in Ireland get drinking water from small private supplies which are not registered or monitored and may therefore be putting their health at risk.
Only 1,665 small private supplies are registered with local authorities across the country. Unregistered supplies are not being monitored by local authorities.
The number of private group schemes with E. coli failures increased in 2023, impacting approximately 4,600 people.
21 private group schemes, supplying 22,000, people failed the standard for Trihalomethanes (THMs) – up from 16 schemes serving 16,000 people in 2022.
€38.5 million of available Government funding that could have been invested in improvements to private supplies between 2019-2023 was not used.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released the Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2023 report.

There are over 370 group water schemes supplying drinking water to 190,000 people across rural communities in Ireland today.

In addition, many commercial and public premises supply water to the public from their own drinking water well. These are called small private supplies and can include schools, creches, nursing homes, self-catering accommodation and sports clubs. Only 1,665 small private supplies are registered nationally, and the total number remains unknown. Unregistered supplies are not being monitored by local authorities, creating a potential public health risk for consumers.

E. coli:
One in twenty small private supplies and private group schemes failed to meet E. coli standards in 2023. Twenty-two private group schemes failed the standard for E. coli, putting the health of approximately 4,600 consumers at risk.

E. coli failures were recorded in 71 small private supplies, that were monitored by local authorities, posing a risk to consumers that use these supplies. Meeting E. coli standards is a minimum requirement in the provision of safe drinking water and failures indicate a lack of proper disinfection.

Trihalomethanes (THM)
In 2023, 21 private group schemes supplying 22,000 people failed the standard for Trihalomethanes (THMs), up from 16 schemes serving 16,000 people in 2022. There is a legal limit for THMs which suppliers must meet in order to protect public health. Greater effort is needed by these private group schemes to improve treatment systems and minimise exposure to THMs.

Launching the report, Dr Tom Ryan, EPA Director said: “All drinking water produced in Ireland, whether it comes from a public or private supply, should be of high quality. Urgent action is needed by suppliers and local authorities to address these failings, in order to protect the public health of consumers.
Local authorities must take proactive steps to identify and register small private supplies in their areas and the legislation needs to be amended to make it an offence for a supplier not to be registered, in the interests of public health.”

The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s review of the rural water sector, completed in January 2023, identifies key issues that must be addressed to improve water quality. While some issues have been progressed, such as simplifying the application process for funding of upgrades for groups schemes; remaining issues must be tackled if improvements in private water quality are to be achieved.

Mr Noel Byrne, Programme Manager of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Enforcement said: “It is very disappointing to see an underspend of €38.5 million of Government support when there are ongoing water quality issues in group water schemes. The EPA welcomes recent improvements to the application process which should make it easier for group water schemes to access funding and deliver improved drinking water quality. However, every effort is needed by suppliers, local authorities, and the Department to get funding to the schemes that need it most.”

The EPA report on Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies – 2023 is available on the EPA website.

Death Of John Carr, Co. Tipperary.

It was with great sadness that we learned of the death, today Thursday 25th July 2024, of Mr John Carr, Reafadda, Hollyford, Co. Tipperary.

Pre-deceased by his sisters Peig, Biddy and Anna, brothers Tom, Pat, Ailbe and Joe; Mr Carr passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, while in the care of staff at University Hospital Limerick.

His passing is most deeply regretted, sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his sorrowing family; wife Eithne, daughters Maria, Joan and Theresa, sons Brendan and Declan, sons-in-law Colm, Donough and Ian, daughters-in-law Miriam and Catherine, grandchildren Daniel, Conor, Orlaith, Maria, Tessa, Cillian, Ann, Katie and John, brother Ned, sisters Josie, Kathleen, Mary, Teresa, Sr. Nora and Betty, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives, neighbours and friends.

Requiescat in Pace.

Funeral Arrangements.

The earthly remains of Mr Carr will repose at Whites Funeral Home, Cappagh, Cappawhite, Co. Tipperary (E34 WR83) on Saturday afternoon, July 27th from 5:00pm before being received into the Church of St. Joseph, Clonmurragha, Hollyford, Co. Tipperary at 7:00pm same evening.
Requiem Mass for Mr Carr will be celebrated on Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm, followed by interment, immediately afterwards, in nrarby Hollyford Cemetery, Clonmurragha, Co. Tipperary.

The extended Carr family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time, and have made arrangements for those persons wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.