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- Public consultation an opportunity for affected people and groups to inform the development of the disregard scheme.
- Survey will run online for several weeks, closing on Friday 9 December.
The Minister for Justice, Mrs Helen McEntee TD, has today launched a public consultation that will inform the development of a scheme to disregard historic convictions relating to consensual sexual activity between men.
Affected persons and representative organisations are being asked to provide input on a number of key issues, based on their lived experience. Their responses will inform the final recommendations of a working group who are examining the development of a scheme of disregard convictions for consensual sexual activity between men prior to decriminalisation in 1993.
Minister McEntee said: “We want to ensure that any potential scheme is as effective and accessible as possible, so that we can exonerate those impacted by these outdated laws and address some of the lingering harms of the past.
I would encourage any of the affected men, their families, loved ones and the wider LGBTQ+ community to engage with this consultation so that we can be mindful of their unique perspectives, as we move forward.”
The consultation survey will consist of seven questions, based on key issues identified by the Working Group that would benefit from stakeholder input. The survey will ask how a potential scheme could be made more accessible, how to encourage participation in the scheme and how to minimise potential for re-traumatising applicants, amongst other issues.
The deadline for completion of the survey is 5pm on Friday 9 December 2022.
Following the close of the consultation, the Working Group will prepare a summary report which will give an overview of the submissions received, identifying key themes that will inform the final recommendations of the Working Group.
Minister McEntee added: “The damage that was caused by these laws continues to impact negatively on too many people’s lives.
While we cannot undo the hurt inflicted on people who were discriminated against for simply being themselves, we can contribute to the healing process.
Both the Programme for Government and my Justice Plans commit to putting in place a scheme to disregard the convictions of people convicted of consensual same-sex activity prior to decriminalisation.
This consultation is another important step on that journey towards meeting those commitments, and to addressing the individual harm that was done to generations of gay and bisexual men, while also showing that we are willing to re-visit and confront uncomfortable aspects of our past.”
  
Thurles Gardaí have arrested a male on suspicion of drink driving after his motor vehicle lost control and crashed into an ESB pole and a fibre broadband junction box in the area of Pouldine cross located between Thurles town and the village of Horse & Jockey. The area is expected to be without a broadband service for possibly up to 7 days.
Meanwhile, Tipperary Roads Policing Unit have also removed two other cars from our roads yesterday.
The first vehicle was intercepted in Thurles, with the driver found to have no insurance and no Road Tax.
The second vehicle was seized in the Templemore area, with the driver found to be without Insurance; NCT; Road Tax; being a Learner Driver unaccompanied, and exhibiting no L-Plates.
All drivers now face court proceedings.
A former Tipperary native and homeless man, who tried to choke his girlfriend after she refused to eat a meal, which he had cooked for her, has been jailed for four years, with the final 12 months suspended to encourage his rehabilitation.
The former homeless man, named as Mr Stephen Coveney-Ryan, attacked Ms Roisin MacNeilis, after she had invited him into her home, following the pair having met on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th, 2021, at Dublin’s BusÁras bus station, just weeks earlier. Following their first meeting, the couple had communicated, keeping in contact by text messaging.
Mr Coveney-Ryan threatened to kill Ms MacNeilis and other family members, on July 10th 2021, and to inter them in a shallow grave, following his explosive fit of rage at her home.
Mr Coveney-Ryan, aged 26 years, appeared before Letterkenny Circuit Court in Co Donegal, where he admitted threatening to kill Ms MacNeilis, while also assaulting her and threatening her with a fishing knife.
Ms MacNeilis had invited him to stay with her at her home in Donegal town and they then began a relationship.
The court was told that the accused had made dinner but Ms MacNeilis said she was not hungry and decided to eat a bowl of cereal instead.
Ms MacNeilis, who was eight weeks pregnant at the time was continuously choked and abused, until she finally managed to escape by jumping out of a window.
She drove to the woods around Harvey’s Point near Donegal town, before receiving messages and calls threatening to chop her up and feed her to pigs, adding that he would also kill her parents and put them into the boot of the car and bury them in a shallow grave.
She later informed her parents about the ordeal two days later, before contacting Gardaí to make a statement.
Mr Coveney-Ryan, with an address at O’Clerigh Avenue, Donegal town, but originally from Co Tipperary, was arrested and taken to Ballyshannon Garda station.
The court was informed that Mr Coveney-Ryan had a number of previous charges for various incidents including burglary, theft, intoxication, breach of a barring order, possession of drugs and using threatening and abusive language.
Passing sentence, Mr Justice John Aylmer said that such offences, merited a sentence of five years in prison.
The Judge took into account Mr Coveney-Ryan’s plea of guilty and apparent genuine remorse; noting he had undertaken a number of courses, while remaining in custody.
He therefore reduced the five year sentence to four years, suspending the final 12 months and also backdating same to when Mr Coveney-Ryan was initially taken into custody.
He was also ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs and to comply with the prison resettlement programme.
The failure to raise Aluminium Flood Barriers at the junction of Thomond Road and Emmett Street in Thurles, and the unblocking of one drain at the base of Thurles foot bridge, is causing unnecessary flooding here in Thurles.
It should be noted that as water rises on this now flooded Thurles junction, following occasional rain showers, a storm drain, less than 5 meters away, is helping to drain new excess rising flood water, successfully, back into the river.
Anti-flood flaps/valves fitted to Emmett Street road storm drains do not appear to be functioning presently, possibly due to being prevented from closing by a build up of vegetation. This neglect is caused by the Council’s pretence love of biodiversity; latter the excuse for our local Council’s failure to properly maintain our town.
Our eye in the sky captured the above picture at 4:00pm this afternoon November 3rd, showing the true cause of the unnecessary flooding, which has homes across the road using sandbags to block water from entering their homes.
The flood barriers exist, currently shut, as can be seen in the above picture, both at the swinging gates and also across the nearby wheelchair/pram entrance.
Thurles Municipal District are now being asked to monitor and temporarily lift the flood barriers to allow the vast majority of flood water to escape back into the river and to clean the offending blocked drains.
The flooding is seen by residents as an irresponsible act, carried out by Thurles Municipal District Council officials.
It was with a great sadness that we learned of the death yesterday, Wednesday 2nd November 2022, of Mrs Catherine (Kitty) Brett (née Horgan), Drangan, Thurles, Co. Tipperary and formerly of Patrick O’Donoghue Place, Togher, Co. Cork.
Pre-deceased by her husband Tom, daughter Eileen and sons David, John and great grandchild Brooke; Mrs Brett passed away peacefully while in the care of staff at Cork University Hospital.
Her passing is most deeply regretted and sadly missed by her children Anne, Conor, Martina, Thomas and Janet, daughters-in-law, sons-in-law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, brother-in-law, sister-in-law, nieces, nephews, extended relatives neighbours and friends.
Requiescat in pace.
Funeral Arrangements.
The earthly remains of Mrs Brett will repose at her place of residence Newtowndrangan, Thurles, on Friday afternoon, November 4th, from 2:00pm until 7:00pm.
Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Saturday morning, November 5th, at 10:00am in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Lough Road, The Lough, Co. Cork, followed by interment immediately afterwards in St. James Cemetery, Chetwynd, Co. Cork.
The extended Brett family wish to express their appreciation for your understanding at this difficult time and have made arrangements for those wishing to send messages of condolence, to use the link shown HERE.
Note Please: No Flowers. Donations in lieu, if desired, to Cork ARC .
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