Crime « Thurles Information

Tipperary: Woman & Teenage Girl Charged Following Serious Roadside Assault.

The charges relate to an incident on the R494 at Birdhill, Nenagh on Saturday, March 21st, during which a woman, Ms Scarlett Faulkner, sustained severe injuries. She remains in critical condition in hospital following the attack.

An adult woman and a teenage girl have been formally charged in connection with a serious assault that occurred in Co. Tipperary earlier this month.

Both accused are due to appear before a special sitting of Limerick District Court today Saturday March 28th.

Gardaí have confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing and continue to appeal for witnesses to come forward.

In particular, anyone who was travelling on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5pm and 6pm on the day of the incident is asked to contact investigating officers. Road users who may have relevant footage, including dash-cam recordings, are urged to make this material available to Gardaí.

Investigators are especially interested in information regarding the movements of two vehicles; a grey 162 Ford Transit van and a blue 161 Volkswagen Touran, both of which were observed travelling in convoy or being driven dangerously between approximately 4:30pm and 5:30pm. The vehicles were seen in and around Birdhill village and the surrounding townlands, including Cooleen, Crag Cross, Shower Cross, Kylebeg, Annaholty, and Thornhill.

Gardaí are also aware of video footage of the incident circulating online. Members of the public are strongly urged not to share this content on social media or messaging platforms, but instead to provide it directly to investigating Gardaí.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.

Man Pleads Guilty To Manslaughter In Co. Tipperary 2023 Case.

A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of a Polish national in County Tipperary, bringing a significant development in a case that dates back more than two years.

Mr Tomasz Rozpeda, of no fixed abode, entered the guilty plea before the Central Criminal Court on Friday morning. He had originally been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Mr Maciej Nowak, who died following an incident in late December of 2023.

The court heard that the unlawful killing occurred on or about December 26th or 27th, 2023, at Ballycranna, Kilross, Co. Tipperary. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions confirmed that the State has accepted the plea to manslaughter.

During proceedings, the court was informed that the victim’s family, who are based in Poland, wish to attend the sentencing hearing. In light of this, a sentencing date has been scheduled for May 18th next.

Ms Justice Karen O’Connor adjourned the case to that date and directed that a victim impact report be prepared. Mr Rozpeda was remanded in custody pending sentencing.

The court also heard that a nolle prosequi, (not to wish to prosecute), will be entered on the original murder charge at the conclusion of sentencing proceedings, meaning the State will not pursue that count further.

Further details, including sentencing, will be determined at the next court hearing.

Gardaí Appeal For Information Following Serious Assault In Co Tipperary

An Garda Síochána has issued an appeal for information following a serious assault that occurred in Birdhill, Co Tipperary, on Saturday evening.

A woman in her 20s remains in a critical condition in hospital after sustaining significant injuries during the incident, which took place on the R494 at approximately 5.30pm.

Gardaí have confirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that they are examining all available evidence. They are aware that video footage of the incident is circulating online and are urging members of the public not to share such material. Instead, any footage or information should be provided directly to investigating officers.

Authorities are particularly seeking information from individuals who were travelling on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5:00pm and 6:00pm, and who may have dash-cam or other recordings.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.

Gardaí Appeal For Witnesses Following Serious Assault In Birdhill, Co Tipperary.

Gardaí have appealed for witnesses following a serious assault on the R494 at Birdhill, Co Tipperary, on Saturday evening. The incident happened shortly before 5.30pm on March 21st 2026.

A woman in her 20s was seriously injured in the incident and was airlifted to hospital, where she remains in a critical condition.

The scene has been preserved for a technical examination, while the road remains closed with local diversions in place.

Investigating Gardaí are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward. They are also appealing to motorists who travelled on the R494 between Birdhill and the M7 motorway between 5:00pm and 6:00pm on Saturday afternoon, and who may have camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, to make that material available to investigators.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station, Tel: (067) 50450, the Garda Confidential Line, Tel: 1800 666 111, or indeed any Garda station.

As expected investigations remain ongoing.

Gardaí Report More Than 200 Drink and Drug Driving Arrests During St Patrick’s Weekend.

Over 5,000 Speeding Offences Detected as Gardaí warn of ongoing road safety risks.

An Garda Síochána has described road safety compliance during the recent St Patrick’s bank holiday enforcement period as deeply disappointing, with more than 200 motorists arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over the past seven days.

In Tipperary, within the past 7 days at least several arrests linked to drink- and drug-driving enforcement were reported during the St Patrick’s bank holiday period, including a drink-driving arrest in Cahir, a serious drink-driving incident in Cashel, and a suspected drug-driving arrest in South Tipperary.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland, Superintendent Mr Liam Geraghty of the Garda Press Office said the provisional figures showed a troubling level of dangerous behaviour on Irish roads, despite widespread public discussion about road deaths, road safety, and increased Garda enforcement over the holiday period.

Superintendent Geraghty said the level of offending was especially concerning given the visibility of the Garda road safety campaign and the additional checkpoints put in place during the St Patrick’s operation.

Gardaí also expect that more than 5,000 drivers will have been detected speeding during the same seven-day period. According to Superintendent Geraghty, this represents a significant rise on the 2025 average of approximately 500 speeding detections per day, with the bank holiday weekend seeing daily detections exceed 700.

He highlighted one particularly serious example in which a vehicle was detected travelling at 112 km/h in a 50 km/h zone on the R183 in Monaghan, describing it as motorway speed on a small urban road in a built-up area.

Superintendent Geraghty said it was a major concern that, despite advance notice of increased checkpoints and enforcement activity, such high numbers of road users continued to take the risk of speeding or driving under the influence, placing themselves, their passengers, and other road users in danger.

He further noted that six people had died on Irish roads since the Garda road safety operation was launched the previous Wednesday at the Road Safety Conference in Killarney.

Referring to public attitudes, Superintendent Geraghty said there appeared to be a disconnect between what people say about road safety and how some behave in practice. He pointed to RSA survey findings indicating that 12 per cent of Irish motorists admit to driving under the influence of alcohol, while more than 25 per cent believe driving a short distance after drinking is acceptable.

Superintendent Geraghty also defended current Garda road policing resources, stating that 647 personnel are now assigned full-time to roads policing duties. He said this is the largest specialist area within An Garda Síochána and is supported by uniformed and plainclothes members across the organisation.

He added, however, that enforcement alone cannot eliminate dangerous driving, noting that even if every Garda member were deployed on the roads, there would still be many stretches without visible Garda presence. He said personal responsibility remains essential and urged all drivers to act safely for their own sake and for the safety of all road users.