Thurles Information

A verdict has been delivered at the Central Criminal Court, sitting in Limerick, in the case of The People (DPP) v Mr Thomas Carroll.

Mr Thomas Carroll aged 67, with an address at Brookway, Clonmel, Co Tipperary, has been found guilty of the murder of 84-year-old Patrick O’Mahony at Ballyreameen, near Castlemaine, Co Kerry, on February 24th 2024.

Mr O’Mahony, a retired Defence Forces Captain and registered firearms dealer, was discovered dead at his home on that date. A post-mortem examination determined that he died as a result of haemorrhage and shock caused by a single gunshot wound, the bullet passing through his body.

Mr Carroll, a retired member of the Defence Forces, had pleaded not guilty to murder. A jury of eight men and four women began deliberations yesterday and resumed their considerations this morning, returning a unanimous guilty verdict, after a total of three and a half hours of deliberations.

The case had opened with evidence that Mr Carroll travelled from Co Tipperary to visit his long-time friend for the weekend, and that the two men socialised together in the days leading up to Mr O’Mahony’s death. The prosecution alleged that events between the friends “took a foul turn” and that Mr Carroll pointed a handgun at Mr O’Mahony with intent to kill or cause serious harm. It was further alleged that Mr Carroll’s initial account that his friend had suffered a fall was “self-serving”.

Sentencing has been adjourned to a later date, when victim impact statements from Mr O’Mahony’s family will be heard.

The Government has approved a €2.18 billion Sectoral Investment Plan for Justice for the period 2026–2030, with Tipperary set to benefit significantly through the delivery of the new Clonmel Garda station and further investment in Templemore Garda College.

The five-year capital package; an increase of more than €800 million on the previous National Development Plan for justice, will fund new Garda stations and courthouses, expanded prison capacity, major upgrades to Garda technology and cyber security, and modern infrastructure across the wider justice sector.

Major investment in Clonmel Garda Station
Under the plan, the construction of the new Garda station at Kickham Barracks in Clonmel is confirmed as a priority capital project for An Garda Síochána.

Construction is already under way on the Clonmel station, with works to continue into the early years of the 2026–2030 programme. The new facility will replace the existing Emmet Street station, long acknowledged as no longer fit for purpose, and will provide modern, fit-for-purpose accommodation for Garda members and staff serving the Clare/Tipperary Garda Division.

The development will deliver:

• A new district headquarters for Clonmel and its hinterland.
• Enhanced custody and operational facilities to support frontline policing.
• Dedicated space for community policing and engagement with local organisations and vulnerable groups.
• Modern IT and security infrastructure in line with national Garda technology upgrades.

Templemore Garda College to benefit.
The plan also confirms substantial capital investment in Garda College, Templemore, strengthening its role at the heart of Garda training and continuous professional development. This will support the recruitment and training of additional Gardaí and ensure facilities in Templemore remain modern and fit for growing class sizes over the lifetime of the NDP.

Nationally, the €2.18 billion Sectoral Investment Plan for Justice will deliver:

€495 million for the Irish Prison Service to increase prison capacity, including major construction projects at facilities such as Castlerea, Cloverhill, Mountjoy, Portlaoise, Wheatfield, Midlands, Dóchas and Cork prisons, as well as planning for a new prison at Thornton, Co Dublin
A further €32 million for prison fleet and technology.
€460 million for Garda technology, including the nationwide roll-out of body-worn cameras, a digital evidence management system, core policing systems and upgraded HR and corporate ICT.
€364 million for Garda buildings, funding the completion of new stations in Portlaoise, Newcastle West and Bailieborough, and progressing new builds in Clonmel, Macroom, Castletroy, Carndonagh and a new Dublin North regional headquarters, alongside investment in Templemore Garda College.
€35 million for a rolling programme of minor refurbishments to Garda stations nationwide – including accessibility, health and safety and essential infrastructure works – and
€69 million for the Garda fleet, supporting expansion, modernisation and electrification, as well as the delivery of a second new Garda helicopter, further drone capability and upgraded facilities for the equine and canine units.

Strengthening community safety in Tipperary.

For Tipperary, the combination of a new divisional headquarters in Clonmel and ongoing investment in Templemore Garda College represents the largest single capital boost for policing in the county in decades. The Government says these projects will:

1. Enhance visible policing and response capability across South Tipperary and the wider Clare/Tipperary Division
2. Provide modern working conditions for Garda members and staff
3. Support recruitment and training of additional Gardaí destined for frontline duties in Tipperary and beyond
4. Underpin the delivery of safer, stronger communities through better facilities, technology and infrastructure

The Department of Justice has said that the overall plan will ensure that communities in Tipperary, urban and rural, will see tangible benefits from the record national investment in the justice sector over the coming five years.