Crime - Thurles Information

Garda Seek Assistance Following Co. Tipperary Serious Assaults.

We learn yesterday that two teenagers were hospitalised following an assault which occurred one week ago, on Monday morning August 7th last, in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

The early morning assault happened between the hours 1:30am and 2:30am, on Silver Street in the town, executed by a group of other males, who then quickly fled the scene.

Both of the men, who suffered serious, but non-life threatening injuries, were removed to University Hospital Limerick, and the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise respectively.

Investigating Gardaí are now appealing for witnesses to this incident to come forward, by contacting Nenagh Garda Station Tel: 067 50450, the Garda Confidential Line on Tel: 1800 666111, or indeed any garda station.

Any person who may have phone camera or dash-cam footage are also asked to make same available to Gardaí.

Straw Bales Maliciously Set On Fire On South Tipperary Farmland.

South Co. Tipperary farmer, Mr Seán O’Reilly, suffered the loss of some 40 straw bales, following a fire maliciously set alight, sometime around midnight on Wednesday night, August 9th, last.

The fire, which was first spotted by his wife, latter having spotted the flames from their nearby home; was restricted to a field which had just been harvested on Sunday last, on land in the townland of Ballinree, Cashel, Co. Tipperary, situated off the Cashel to Mitchelstown Motorway.

Flames from the fire could be spotted from a distance, before Gardai and Emergency Services, who quickly attended at the scene, got the blaze under control.

Investigating Gardai are now anxious to hear from anyone who may be in a position to assist them in their ongoing enquiries. Witnesses and those with any information are asked to contact either Cashel, Tel: (062-75840) or Cahir Tel: (052-744 5630) Garda Stations.

Inland Fisheries Ireland Prosecute Tipperary Land Owner.

A land owner resident in South Co. Tipperary, named as Mr Milo Cuddihy, has been convicted of carrying out in-stream works on some 300 metres of the Lingaun River at Breanormore, Glenacunna, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
The work undertaken, we understand, affected the habitats of resident fish, including populations of salmon, trout, lamprey and eel.

**Realignment of Lingaun River bed and bank.**
*Pic: Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI)*

Ms Lynda Connor, South-Eastern River Basin District Director at Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) noted that this was an act of ecological destruction, and further declaring this action, by the defendant, as demonstrating a real disregard for the river, their fish species and the local habitat.

Ms Connor said “Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) would continue to prosecute such illegal activity in fulfilment of its remit to protect and conserve Ireland’s important inland fisheries resource. The decimation and removal of a river’s habitat can be devastating in terms of its effects on fish. It can also impact in-stream biodiversity, such as vegetation and insects.”

Mr Cuddihy had carried out the in-stream works on the interior of the river bed and its banks, at the Lingaun River, Co. Tipperary, destroying 300 metres of the river channel.
IFI had learned of the issue first on January 28th 2023, and the case was heard at Carrick-on-Suir District Court on July 5th 2023 last, with Mr Cuddihy fined a total of €4,000, and directed to pay a further €750 in costs directly to IFI.

Ms Connor concluded by stating, quote; “Landowners need to seek all necessary and relevant information from their advisors, and from Inland Fisheries Ireland, before carrying out any works near, or on, a watercourse adjacent to their land. The appropriate window for any in-stream works is strictly between July and September, but only with the guidance and permission of IFI. During the closed season, from October to June, no works should take place in a river.
IFI continues to encourage members of the public to report incidents such as this, and those of water pollution, fish kills, and illegal fishing to its 24/7 phone number, TEL: 0818 34 74 24.”

Additional Appointments Made To Parole Board

Two additional Board members bringing total membership to 15 including Chairperson.

The Minister for Justice Mrs Helen McEntee has today announced the expansion of the Parole Board from 13 to 15 members and has appointed Dr. Lisa Cuthbert and Ms Justice Margaret Heneghan to the Board.

The Parole Board, established under the Parole Act 2019 on July 31st, 2021, is an independent statutory body responsible for considering the eligibility for parole of people serving life sentences, once they have served at least 12 years of their sentence.

The Parole Board, in accordance with Section 10 of the Parole Act 2019, is composed of no fewer than 12 and no more than 15 members, including the Parole Board Chairperson. The Minister has now approved the expansion of the membership of the Board from an original 13, bringing the membership up to 15 including the Chairperson. The appointment of the two additional Board members was made following a Public Appointments Service (State Boards) selection process.

In addition to these new appointments, the Minister is also reappointing the representatives of An Garda Síochána, the Bar Council, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland and the Law Society, each of whom has been re-nominated by their representative body.

The Minister also recently reappointed Ms Ann Reade and Mr Kieran Kenny for another 4 year term.

Minister McEntee said: “I am pleased to announce this expansion of the Parole Board. The two additional members will help support the Board and ensure it has the capacity to undertake its important work in a more efficient and effective manner.
The work of the Parole Board is essential to ensuring fair decisions are made on the continued imprisonment of people who have been convicted of the most serious of crimes, while also ensuring that victims’ voices are heard.
I want to wish the members of the Board, new and old, well as they undertake this important work.”

Under the Parole Act, the majority of members of the Parole Board are nominated by specified nominating bodies and specified post-holders as set out in Section 10, and appointed by the Minister for Justice in accordance with the relevant legislative provisions.

Ensuring gender balance among the membership is an important element of the process and is built into the legislation in a clear and constructive manner.

Policy Paper On Restorative Justice Published.

The Minister for State with responsibility for Law Reform and Youth Justice, Mr James Browne T.D., has today published the Department of Justice’s policy paper on Restorative Justice.

The Programme for Government Our Shared Future makes the commitment to “work with all criminal justice agencies to build capacity to deliver Restorative Justice, safely and effectively”. Publishing this policy paper, entitled Promoting and supporting the provision of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice system, works toward fulfilment of this pledge.

Publishing the paper, Minister Browne said; “This policy paper is a culmination of a body of work carried out by the Department since the 2020 Programme for Government was published. At the same time, it signposts the next steps for continuing to ensure the safe and effective delivery of Restorative Justice initiatives, and sets out a roadmap for present and future attainment of the highest standards in this area.
In light of the clear and positive benefits of Restorative Justice to victims, offenders, and the State, and mindful of the opportunity to increase current levels of provision of Restorative Justice services, the path forward that this paper identifies – to strengthen existing capabilities within current structures – provides the best prospect to make the most significant impact with the greatest efficiency.”

Restorative Justice aims to enable all those affected by an offence to participate actively in repairing the harm done and to find a positive way forward. Restorative Justice is now legislated for, and widely used, in many countries throughout the world. In Europe, a recent legal framework supports making Restorative Justice available with all offences and at all stages of the criminal justice process.

Most recent figures for Ireland, prepared by Restorative Justice Strategies for Change (RJS4C: Ireland), estimated that the total number of Restorative Justice cases reported was 1,056 in 2020. While initial figures have been produced for 2022, they do not yet include youth cautions. After removing youth cautions from the relevant previous year figures, while they show a slight increase for 2022 (413) based on 2021 (395) and 2020 (340), they are significantly down on the 2019 figure of 721.

Minister Browne further stated: “It is reasonable to conclude that Ireland is yet to use Restorative Justice to its maximum potential, and that the use of this process would increase greatly if it is more widely available. To that end, the very title of this paper is indicative – Promoting and supporting the provision of Restorative Justice at all stages of the criminal justice system. And, at all stages, our unwavering commitment to continued improvement, toward achievement of this goal, will remain.”